Altar Boyz: Neil Haskell returns for one week

Neil Haskell, featured on Fox's hit reality show 'So You Think You Can Dance,' will return to the cast of Altar Boyz, the musical comedy at New World Stages, reprising the role of 'Luke,' for one week only, beginning 30 Oct 2009. He temporarily replaces Lee Markham who will return on 4 Nov 2009.

Haskell previously played thr role of 'Luke' in Altar Boyz from Apr 2008 - Mar 2009. He left the show to join the company of the Broadway musical '9 to 5.'

Haskell made his Broadway debut in Twyla Tharp/Bob Dylan's 'The Times They Are A Changin.' His TV credits in addition to "So You Think You Can Dance" include "One Life to Live," and the film "The American Mall."

Altar Boyz, now in its fifth year, is currently booking through to 17 Jan 2010 at New World Stages / Stage 4, where it opened on the 1 Mar 2005, following previews from the 15 Feb.

Altar Boyz is a musical comedy about a struggling Christian boy-band riding the wave of America's latest fascination with religion. Armed with catchy melodies, freaky moves and product in their hair, the self-anointed apostles of pop (Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan . . . and Abraham (He's Jewish) bring their soul-saving tour to New York City, with their heavenly hits like "Girl, You Make Me Wanna Wait" and "Jesus Called Me On My Cell Phone".

The show now stars Neil Haskell (Luke), Michael Kadin Craig (Matthew), Mauricio Perez (Juan), Travis Nesbitt (Mark) and Ravi Roth (Abraham).

Conceived by Marc Kessler and Ken Davenport, Altar Boyz has a score by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker with book by Kevin Del Aguila.

The musical is directed by Stafford Arima and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, with set designs by Anna Louizos, lighting design by Natasha Katz, and sound design by Peter Hylenski. Lynne Shankel is the music director and Co-Orchestrator.

The show received mostly Good to luke-warm reviews from the popular press. Click here to read Polly Wittenberg's review and what the other critcs said about the musical.

Altar Boyz received the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical Off-Broadway and earned Christopher Gattelli the 2005 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Choreographer.