Boyband Breakup is a musical sketch show about the chaotic, on-stage collapse of multi-ethnic boyband, the Groove Guys. But who causes the breakup?! Sing along to parodies of your favorite boyband songs from Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Boyz II Men and New Edition as the mystery of who breaks up the band unfolds live on stage.

The show takes place at the first concert of the Groove Guys's 10 year reunion tour. Watch the personalities and media personas of each member come to a head as the band reminisces and relitigates their past, in full view of the audience during the concert. With flashback sketches to the good old days and brand new song releases (parodies of your favorite boyband songs from Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Boyz II Men and New Edition), the show unfolds like a murder mystery as we try to answer the question: who killed the institution, the backbone of all art, the least harmonious most harmonizing music that defined a generation? Who ended the boyband?

Written by Izaak Sunleaf and Ja-Ron Young and very loosely based on their experiences being profiled as a multi-ethnic musical group, the show explores perceived identity vs real identity - particularly along the lines of race and class - in the dumbest, funniest, most irreverent way possible; with song parodies that slap!

Starring:

Ja-Ron Young is a New York based comedian, writer, actor, and 8 hour sleeper. Originally from Philadelphia, Ja-Ron moved to New York to study theatre and fell in love with Stand Up Comedy 6 years ago. Ja-Ron was a finalist in the New York Comedy Club Competition and The Trial By Laughter Festival, and has been featured in The Cinderblock Comedy Festival in Brooklyn, The Diverse AF Festival at Caveat, & Caroline's March Madness. He co-produces “6pack At Britpack,” a sold out, monthly show, which was named “one of the best underground comedy shows in New York City” by Insidehook.com. Ja-Ron is a regular at New York Comedy Club, The Lantern Comedy Club and The Grisly Pear Comedy Club. He’s also a writer and actor in the Unusual Culprits sketch group and a writer for the experimental Sketch group BoogieManja, in NYC. More at: https://www.jaronyoung.com or follow him on Instagram at @jlyoungcomedy.

Izaak Sunleaf is a writer and comedian whose work has been featured in SF Sketchfest, Toronto Sketchfest, Philly Sketchfest, and Greener Pastures. He is one-half of the cross-country comedy duo, Serendipity Comedy Duo. Previously, Izaak was a producer and co-head writer for movie trope sketch comedy show, Turner Classic Sketches; writer and actor for multiple BoogieManja teams; an improviser on the Armory improv house team, Goliath; and a writer for Blackout Improv, a comedy troupe focused on social justice and arts access for black performers. More at: www.izaaksunleaf.com.

James Koroni is an award-winning Queer Iranian American comic. Koroni’s worked with Pharrell, Daniel Arsham, Madonna, Misterwives and Liza Koshy, GIPHY, MTV, Heineken, 7UP, PETA, and the ACLU. More at: www.JamesKoroni.com.

Warren Chao is a multi-talented actor who is so honored and happy to be apart of this show. He hopes his background of being a himbo, stunt double, outdoor sports enthusiast lends well to the characterization of an aging boy band member. You can follow him on Instagram or TikTok @warchao.

Devin O'Neill is a NY-based performer/writer/director and only child (yikes!). Her short film, We Broke Up, won the 2021 Raindance Script Competition. In 2022, Devin wrote and directed, “Kourtney Kardashian Alone Without a Phone” for Bustle. She has performed all over NYC, her improv team, The Cast, was featured in the New York Times, and her two-woman play “Opening Night” received critical acclaim at its NYC Fringe Festival debut. She is currently on Magnet Theater sketch team, Rococo, as well as UCB Maude Team, Villain! Ask her about her long-haired dachshund named George, she really wants to tell you about him. More at: www.devinoneillcomedy.com.

Connor Bowen is a performer in Brooklyn, known as one-half of the rock collective, Patrick Hayes and the Old Money. Connor produced The Sketch Blacklist and he directs with indie sketch theater, Boogie Manja. He has been featured at Montreal Sketchfest, Austin Sketchfest, DC Sketchfest, and Medieval Times.

Directed by:

Reva Grimball is a queer comedy writer and actor currently living in New York City. She is a Saturday Night Live Scholarship recipient and was also accepted into the Diverse As Fuck Onion writing program. She is the creator of the Drunk Bathroom Girl series, co-produces the independent sketch comedy collective BoogieManja, sings with her musical improv team The Understudies, writes for the comedy news podcast The Dump, directs teams around the city, and teaches sketch writing at Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) and The Second City. More at www.revagrimball.com or follow on Instagram @revagrimballcomedy.

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