It may be cold outside, but The Green Room 42 keeps on sizzling with The Boy Band Project Holiday Edition, a new seasonal version of the group’s super-popular Sunday afternoon cabaret The Boy Band Brunch. Delivered by a rotating roster of magnetic musical theater stars from both on and off Broadway, the steaming show pays homage to the iconic guy-groups of the ‘90s and beyond with stellar covers of their greatest hits and songs from their holiday albums, spot-on recreations of their seductive moves and signature stylings, and a live performance of The BBP’s own newly-released original Christmas single “Jingle My Bells.” Jingling!
This week’s hot hot hot foursome (oh, wait, that’s one more hot – My bad!) of Bentley Black (the sporty one), Travis Nesbitt (the boy next door), Daniel LeClaire (the bad boy), and Jamison Scott (the sensitive one) spread love, cheer, and elevated temperatures through the sold-out house with a set list that included timely renditions of “Funky Funky Christmas” by New Kids on the Block, *NSYNC’s “Kiss Me at Midnight,” and Backstreet Boys’ “Christmas Time,” backed by a live DJ (and accompanied by some festive and funny scarf flinging). The holiday songs were interspersed with such smoldering boy-band favorites as “I Want It That Way” and “All I Have To Give” by the Backstreet Boys (the latter sung directly to one very appreciative member of the audience who was more than delighted to be brought up on stage and surrounded by The BBP) and Boyz II Men’s smooth and sexy “I’ll Make Love To You” (under the dazzling dizzying light of a silver reflector ball).
Then the energy in the room reached a climax, building from romantic to explosive, with the group’s killer choreography and high-voltage vocals on New Kids on the Block’s “You Got It (The Right Stuff),” Backstreet Boys’ “Quit Playing Games with My Heart,” One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful,” and Justin Timberlake’s 2002 smash “Rock Your Body” (they did). All were highlights of a thoroughly electrifying show with just “the right stuff” – flawless harmonies, expressive solos, perfectly synchronized movements, provocative attitude, and cheeky innuendo. They followed the vintage set with their own characteristically campy and catchy new holiday anthem “Jingle My Bells,” composed by Michael Mott and available for download and streaming on YouTube and Apple Music.
In between the musical numbers were nostalgic video montages of TV shows and movies from the ‘90s, and a hilarious R-rated video they created for Christmas called “Name That Package” (and they’re not talking about presents under the tree or in Santa’s sack of toys). It all left the fans singing along, laughing, sighing, screaming for more, and not wanting to leave (which had absolutely nothing to do with the winter weather outside, but everything to do with the heat generated inside). The BBP happily obliged, with two pumped-up blockbuster encores – *NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye” and One Direction’s “Story of My Life” – and a personal meet and greet after the show.
Aside from all the fun and the outstanding quality of the performances, there’s more good news for those of you who delayed getting your tickets for The Boy Band Project Holiday Edition. It was just announced that another date has been added to the December run, so you have two more chances to catch this terrific show at The Green Room 42, before the January return to the original and equally entertaining Boy Band Brunch. Awesome!
Running Time: Approximately 60 minutes, without intermission.
The Boy Band Project Holiday Edition plays December 1, 15, 22, and 29, 2019, at The Green Room 42 – 570 10th Avenue, Yotel, 4th floor, NYC. For tickets, call (646) 707-2990, or purchase them online.
