[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of The Group Rep’s world premiere of The Altruist, Bill Fitzhugh’s new satirical play with music, directed by Bruce Kimmel, choreographed by Cheryl Baxter, and running January 16-February 22.
The Group Rep kicks off 2026 with a wonderfully satirical, boldly original musical, The Altruist. A contemporary comedic drama about a dying man with months to live, trying to find a way to donate all his organs before his death.
Strangely, this task is not as easy as one might imagine, as it would require a doctor to actually kill you and then harvest. Usually, with a donor, death comes naturally before the rush to save other souls with the bits and pieces of a body. So, this is a tad peculiar to say the least. However, his two best friends, one a doctor and one a lawyer, once they recover from the shock of it all, are fully supportive and do their best to facilitate his last request. But it’s more than an uphill battle for his full body autonomy. I think I know how he feels…
All these profoundly large questions on life and death and our rights to do with our body what we want are liberally peppered with unexpected and hugely creative musical numbers. Every one of them choreographed to the absolute max. Performed with skill and a lot of heart by the good people of the Group Rep, who are clearly enjoying every minute!
When the news gets out about his life/death choice, he is quite the celebrity as well as being deeply polarising, of course. Everyone wants his story, but one particularly intrepid Broadway producer finagles his way into their lives and convinces him to sell him exclusive rights, all while writing songs and imagining dance sequences as the story unfolds.
The Altruist asks a lot of questions about our freedom while it entertains, using parodies of some of the very best songs from the American songbook: Give My Regards to Broadway, Yes, We Have No Bananas, Toot, Toot, Tootsie (Goo’bye), andCalifornia, Here I Come. But although the themes are deep, the entertainment is as light as a feather. Everyone is fabulous and full of joy, dancing and singing with beautifully choreographed abandon! Another hit from the always surprising and wildly talented Group Rep Theatre!
The Altruist is a brilliant new musical from NoHo’s very own Group Rep. It is a funny, heartbreaking, innovative, and absolutely unmissable delight. I highly recommend it!!
We are so lucky in Noho to have such a well-supported and well-loved theatre! Bravo!!!
Tickets:
https://thegrouprep.com/show/the-altruist
When:
January 16-February 22
Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm.
Talkbacks after the show with cast and crew are Sundays, January 18 and January 25.
Where:
Lonny Chapman Theatre
10900 Burbank Blvd, NoHo Arts District, CA 91601
The Cast
The cast features the talents of Tori Austin, Joe Clabby, Julie Davis, Lindsey Garcia Freiberg, Lee Grober, Angie Lin, Constance Mellors, Lloyd Pedersen, Isabella Sawoski, Larry Toffler and Htet Waiyan.
The Team
The production team includes Genu Lee (Associate Producer) Carter Vickers (Set Design), Devin Harris (Lighting Design), Shon LeBlanc (Costume Design), John Harvey (Sound Design), Cady Loeb (Assistant Costumer), Denise Downer (Marketing), Nora Feldman (Public Relations), Doug Haverty (Graphic Design), Kristin Stancato (Webmaster & Online Marketing), Sylvie Wylie (Stage Manager), Jackie Shearn & Hartley Powers (Social Media), and Doug Engalla (Promotional Video & Photography).