Chad Doreck
Currently: Leading the boyz in the band as Matthew in the long-running off-Broadway musical hit Altar Boyz, after finishing fourth in the reality TV casting show Grease: You're the One That I Want.
Hometown: Long Beach, California. This self-proclaimed "California guy" attended Orange County High School of the Arts, which boasts alums like Stephanie J. Block, Susan Egan, Anneliese van der Pol and Doreck's close friend Matthew Morrison. "There's just oodles and oodles of us working in theater," he says, explaining that the school's part-conservatory, part-academic curriculum allowed him to get a solid education and participate in student government while auditioning and booking commercial and TV gigs.
Back to Reality: "I didn't go to the open call," the engaging actor confesses of You're the One that I Want. Instead, at an L. A. audition for the role of Kenickie, Doreck recalls, "The casting director—bless her soul—said, 'You're fantastic, but you're not Kenickie. We think you should be Danny. We're creating a short list of people to get in front of the producers, and you should go.'" Hair slicked back, Doreck skipped the first cut and found himself performing for the show's judges, who tapped him immediately.
I Hope I Get It: Despite You're the One That I Want's lukewarm reception from viewers and critics, Doreck stands by the show that made his a recognizable face. "I had a fantastic experience," he says now. "I'm very proud of the work we all did. People were able to look at performers who were actually feeling something and acting in a song, rather than just delivering fancy licks." And Doreck doesn't mind admitting it: "I really wanted to win. A lot of people were like, 'I just want to come in second,' but I'm competitive, and I'd love to have the performance Max [Crumm] is getting every night [as Danny]." But having seen Grease on opening night, does he feel like he dodged a bullet in light of the show's less-than-glowing Broadway reviews? "Everyone was prepared for that—and they're getting standing ovations every night [anyway]. Jesus Christ could have performed in the competition and been slaughtered by the reviewers!"
The Calling: Speaking of the Gospels, Doreck felt comfortable immediately in Altar Boyz, a show he saw for the first time four days into his own rehearsals as Matthew. "I like the fact that it's not jaded," he says of the long-running musical. "I don't like camp. I love broad humor, like Mel Brooks. There's a fine line to ride, and I think the answer lies in being truthful. Altar Boyz is multi-layered—it's not a satire on boy bands or a satire on religion, but a cross between the two, which makes it brilliant."
Channeling J.T.: Doreck is not only a blast of fresh talent in Altar Boyz, he's already sparking debate among the show's diehard fans dubbed Altarholics. "The Matthews traditionally have worn blue jeans and a black shirt," Doreck notes. "But not me. They wanted to go for a Justin Timberlake-y thing, so I have a button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a vest and a tie. I have to say, the Altarholics are a little peeved!" He might be bringing sexy back to Altar Boyz, but ambitious Danny's…ahem…ambitions actually lie in bringing funk back. "I love and live soul and funk music," Doreck says. He has already released an independent album of music he calls "Chad Funk" with roots in late-'70s funk by his idols Rufus with Chaka Khan, Parliament and Prince, and hopes to get his music career moving while in New York. But… Chad Funk? Really? "What else is it going to be?" he says with a laugh. "Chad Doreck is not sexy! That's not a rock-and-roll name."
