The Boy Band Project gave their adoring fans the happiest of holidays with the December installment of their monthly Boy Band Brunch series at City Winery. Playing to a super-enthusiastic packed house, the all-new Holiday Edition featured a sensational set list of sixteen songs and medleys of Christmas classics and Boy Band favorites, high-octane choreography, up-close-and-personal audience interaction, and pop-culture videos (with tech by VJ Tamra Sheehan) from the height of the boy-band era, along with their own original hit “Jingle My Bells,” written for them by Michael Mott, which they also performed live on stage. It was the consummate combination of masterful homage, parodic humor, and holiday spirit, with “all the feelings” of the boy bands and all the blockbuster talent of the group, which can always be counted on to take it to new heights with every single performance – an amazing feat, since every show I’ve ever seen of theirs has consistently been the best yet, even though the previous one was already there at the pinnacle. I don’t know how they do it, but they do.
All dressed in winter white with light-up silver sneakers and accents of silver glitter that accentuated their well-toned physiques and stunning good looks, the rotating group of stars from the Broadway, off Broadway, and concert stages featured Chris Messina as the Sporty One (miming a basketball shot), Jesse Corbin as the Bad Boy (you’ll have to see for yourself the suggestive and salacious things he does!), Nic Metcalf as the Sensitive One (sweet and sincere, so the others fake bullying him for a bit), and The BBP founding member and lead Travis Nesbitt as the Boy Next Door (everybody, and he means EVERYBODY, loves him), who delivered the “holiday musical fantasy” with over-the-top energy, astonishing vocals, flawless richly layered harmonies, a section of rap, and in-character banter and innuendo that kept the crowd effusively cheering and laughing.
Each of the Boys is given their time in the spotlight with lead and solo vocals, and each one is a standout; Travis can be credited with putting together a group of expressive, empathetic singers, who truly do bring “all the feelings” and hit all the right notes, moves, and fun, without exception. The camaraderie among them is obvious, as they joke (the one about their inclusion of “My Heart Will Go On” from the movie Titanic is especially funny, as was Jesse surprising everyone with – and their reactions to – his air guitar solo), sing, and move around the stage in synchronicity, take some time to power down in the seated stool segments (their favorites, so they can catch their breath!), then pump it up again to an even higher level in an upbeat “Dance Medley” and a later dance break. Their heartfelt appreciation of the audience is also clear, as they move through the house, sing to some directly, and even bring a lucky two up on stage (who are then rewarded with The Boy Band Project tee-shirts, which the group makes even more special with a hilarious and risqué personal touch). And they generously stay after the set to meet everyone who came to the show and to pose for photos with them.
The entire song list was terrific, but I was especially thrilled that they included two of my boy band favorites, “The Story of My Life” and “What Makes You Beautiful,” which they performed to perfection. Of course, the ardent fans wanted an encore, so the show ended with an ebullient rendition of “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Back at you, Boys.
If you missed this fabulous holiday treat, Boy Band Brunch will be coming to town again on January 13, 2024, and they’ll also be making their debut at City Winery Philadelphia next month, so get your tickets now (links below) and start the new year with a bang!
Running Time: Approximately 90 minutes, without intermission.
Boy Band Brunch Holiday Edition played on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at City Winery, 25 Eleventh Avenue, NYC. The Boy Band Brunch returns to City Winery NYC on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at noon (doors open at 11 am). For tickets (priced at $25, plus fees), go online.
Boy Band Brunch plays on Sunday, January 21, 2024, at noon (doors open at 11 am), at City Winery Philadelphia, The Loft, 990 Filbert Street, Philadelphia. For tickets (priced at $20-25, plus fees), go online.