BY EILEEN SHAPIRO CELEBRITY CORRESPONDENT THE BOYBAND PROJECT Contemporary cover group The Boy Band Project is an effervescent, energy-ridden, talented bunch of sexy boys, all complete with Broadway credits, the members having met in the off-Broadway show Altar Boyz. The group covers boy bands from the ‘90s such as , , O-Town, , Boyz II Men, *NSYNC and beyond, including , The Four Seasons, The Jackson , The Beach Boys and The . The group’s shows are interactive and nostalgic as well as funny and entertaining. Travis Nesbitt, “The Sensitive One” and self-proclaimed leader of the group, has appeared in Altar Boyz, The Producers and The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. He originates from Orange County, , and takes his inspirations from of *NYSNC and of New Kids on the Block. Jesse Johnson, “The Edgy One,” hails from Denver, Colorado, and is inspired by AJ of Backstreet Boys and JC of *NSYNC. He has been cast in 9 to 5, Wicked, Grease, Altar Boyz and Xanadu. Marshal Carolan, “The Sporty One,” has been in Hair, Altar Boyz, Mamma Mia and The Radio City Spring Spectacular. His influences are of Backstreet Boys and of New Kids on the Block. He is originally from Newport Beach, California. Neil Starkenberg, “The Boy Next Door” aka “The Baby,” is from Long Beach, California, and is inspired by of Backstreet Boys and Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block. His credits include Mamma Mia and Altar Boyz. I had the unique and joyfully fun opportunity to speak to the band, all except Neil, who stood me up for an audition. They were refreshing and entertaining in a dazzling, flamboyant way. As hard as it may be to imagine, the band sounds better than the original groups that they cover. They will be joining Get Out! Magazine on June 25 for Pridefest at our booth, and will be singing, signing autographs and just about anything else anyone asks for. that show finished, we’re all super talented, I got the idea for and we are in shows all developing a ‘90s the time. You were lucky THE BOYBAND PROJECT boy band cover to catch the original four Travis, tell us about the group. The ‘90s are guys. group. kind of like the new wave Travis: We are of retro entertainment, so What is the official an international, I made a concept video. name of the group, and contemporary, boy band It started going, and how long have you been cover group, and what we’re having a lot of fun together? we do is, we reimagine with it. Travis: We are “The Boy the boy band hits from Band Project.” We made the ‘90s and beyond. Well, it sucks that when it in 2014, and we’ve When I say reimagine, I you’re a cover band-- been going ever since. mean we do the moves, you sound better than the energy, we have a the originals. How old are all of you? lot of fun. The way we Travis: It’s the best thing Travis: Oh, here’s where came about, we were all ever! the truth comes out. I’m in an off-Broadway show 33, Marshal is 32 and called Altar Boyz, about a Who is your favorite Jesse is 31. Neil is 28. Christian boy band. What boy band? I think that’s probably we did was we saved the Travis: I’m kind of partial why we know this music souls of New York in 90 to the Backstreet Boys, inside and out. When minutes through our because they have been the Backstreet Boys and amazing hip-hop. When around the longest, and *NSYNC were on top, we your first is always your were living our lives. We favorite. were like their perfect audience. But we all look Jessie: Probably Boyz II like we’re 12. Men or New Kids on the Block, because those OK, then send a picture, were my first. darling. Travis: Photoshop! Marshal: I would have to say, hands down, So you boys are going *NSYNC. to hang out with us at Pride, correct? OK, Marshal, I agree Travis: We are. We will with you. be at the table with Travis: Do you really? you, signing magazines, bringing our T-shirts with . Do you guys do our logo. original stuff as well? Travis: Some of our guys I want a T-shirt, please. write their own music, but Travis: You can have we have just kind of been anything you want as promoting ourselves as a long as you make us look ‘90s cover band. cool.

Are you all original I’ll make Jesse look members? cool. He’s my favorite. Travis: We are all original Travis: He’s only said five members. We have subs words. Everybody likes once in a while, because Jesse. It’s not fair. So, where are you going . I was also in to go with your band? the Radio City Spring Travis: Right now what Spectacular, then I did the we do is, our show is revival of Hair. extremely customized. We can do a show for 90 Jesse: I’m currently doing minutes, and the show Wicked. I did Altar Boyz, is very interactive. We I did 9 to 5, the Dolly look at all the hilarious Parton musical, and I did things that boy bands Grease a bunch of times, did during the ‘90s. So and Xanadu. JESSE JOHNSON right now we are doing the casino circuit, we are So I heard that you were doing private events, on my favorite radio performing arts centers, show yesterday with and eventually I would Jimmy Star and Ron like to set up a tour and Russell. tour the country. I’m Travis: We were. He also working on going mentioned you. They overseas, to London, were great. They tried to Europe, and who get personal with us, but knows, maybe the Boy we got a little nervous. Band Project will be on We sang some stuff, and Broadway. You never they invited us to come to know, right? Palm Springs with them.

They were really cool. TRAVIS NESBITT You are all Broadway boys as well? You all sound like you Travis: Yes, we are all are a lot of fun. Broadway boys. I’ve done Travis: That’s the thing, The Producers, Altar Boyz. it’s not even work. It’s so I’ve done a bunch of much fun. productions of Hairspray, and I did The Radio City Be sure to meet Spectacular. the boys on June OK, I’m impressed with 25 at the Get Out! you, Travis. Are you the Magazine table for leader, or just the one Pridefest. with the most to say? Travis: I am the leader. MARSHAL CAROLAN This is my baby. The Boy Band Marshal: The first show Project will be I did out of college was performing at The Mamma Mia. That was probably the longest Monster after the one I did. I did that in Gay Pride March.

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PHOTOGRAPHER - ERIC TRONOLONE I LOCATION - DRIFT STUDIO HAIR AND MAKE-UP - GRACE AND EMILY STOCKDALE NEIL STARKENBERG