“The Boys In the Band” heads to Netflix!
Last year, I got the chance to see the Tony winning Broadway revival of Matt Crowley’s “The Boys In The Band”. What a Joy to see it on the Broadway stage with what will become a legendary cast, and will now be immortalized (just as the original production was ) on film!
The new Netflix production brings together the full Broadway cast, produced by Ryan Murphy and directed by Joe Mantello, and premiers on September 30. Netflix just released the trailer, and here’s a somewhat spoiler-laden synopsis.
“In 1968 New York City — when being gay was still considered to be best kept behind closed doors – a group of friends gather for a raucous birthday party hosted by Michael (Jim Parsons), a screenwriter who spends and drinks too much, in honor of the sharp-dressed and sharp-tongued Harold (Zachary Quinto). Other party-goers include Donald (Matt Bomer), Michael’s former flame, now mired in self-analysis; Larry (Andrew Rannells), a randy commercial artist living with Hank (Tuc Watkins), a school teacher who has just left his wife; Bernard (Michael Benjamin Washington), a librarian tiptoeing around fraught codes of friendship alongside Emory (Robin de Jesús), a decorator who never holds back; and a guileless hustler (Charlie Carver), hired to be Harold’s gift for the night. What begins as an evening of drinks and laughs gets upended when Alan (Brian Hutchison), Michael’s straight-laced college roommate, shows up unexpectedly and each man is challenged to confront long-buried truths that threaten the foundation of the group’s tight bond.”
THE BOYS IN THE BAND (2020) Zachary Quinto as Harold, Charlie Carver as Cowboy and Robin De Jesus as Emory. Cr. Scott Everett White/NETFLIX ©2020 
THE BOYS IN THE BAND (2020) Jim Parsons as Michael and Matt Bomer as Donald. Cr. Scott Everett White/NETFLIX ©2020 
THE BOYS IN THE BAND (2020) Jim Parsons as Michael, Robin De Jesus as Emory, Michael Benjamin Washington as Bernard and Andrew Rannells as Larry. Cr. Scott Everett White/NETFLIX ©2020 
THE BOYS IN THE BAND (2020) Jim Parsons as Michael, Brian Hutchison as Alan and Tuc Watkins as Hank. Cr. Scott Everett White/NETFLIX ©2020
The Netflix film is not the first adaptation of “The Boys in the Band.” Fifty years ago, the 1968 Broadway company also starred in their own big screen translation, directed by William Friedkin.
“The Boys in the Band” is just one of many on Netflix’s ever-expanding list of Broadway acquisitions. The streaming service recently released “Springsteen on Broadway”, and an onscreen adaptation of the play “American Son” with Kerry Washington. Next up is another Murphy production, “The Prom,” as well as Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut “Tick… tick… Boom!”
“The Boys in the Band” will be released on Netflix on Sept. 30!
I saw the original movie as part of a double feature with “The Boston Strangler” (go figure) and loved it. Have it on VHS and have viewed it dozens of times. My favorite line has always been “Who do you have to fuck to get a drink around here”? followed by “Oh Mary, don’t ask”. Can’t wait to see it on Netflix!