‘Beau the Musical’ Dazzling Lead Matt Rodin On the Importance of Queer Representation [VIDEO]

A true star performance is on display seven times a week in a smallish off-Broadway house on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village. Matt Rodin takes the stage at Theater 154 and metaphorically sets it ablaze in Douglas Lyons and Ethan D. Pakchar’s queer-empowering Beau the Musical.

Set in Nashville, the non-linear story is focused on Ace Baker (Rodin), along with his trusted guitar Rosetta, and his journey from perplexed bullied 12-year-old to scarred but liberated adult singer-songwriter. Further plot can be found in my review.

To say that Rodin commands the stage is an understatement. During the course of 100 uninterrupted minutes, the actor/singer weaves in and out of scenes taking place in different time periods, going through all the angst and confusion of being a closeted teen in love with his bully and finding some solace in a grandfather he never knew existed while also realizing his newly discovered musical abilities. That, and he takes to the stage to perform his revealing songs to a hometown audience (well, really to us).

Rodin grew up in Northbrook, a suburb of Chicago. He began performing in children’s theater in roles like Peter Pan, Harold Hill, Nathan Detroit, and Tevye. He graduated from The Boston Conservatory with a BFA in Musical Theater.

His regional theater credits include Roger in Rent (Paper Mill Playhouse, NJ), Berger in Hair (Weston Theater Company, VT), Hedwig in Hewing and the Angry Inch (Milwaukee Rep), Henry in Next to Normal (Baltimore Center Stage) and Doody in Grease (North Carolina Theater).

The thesp writes a weekly newsletter about the industry called “The Fourth Wall” and created the Broadway.com series “The Red-Carpet Challenge.”

Last year he won the role of Jamie in the first National Tour of Company where he got to master the lyrically challenging ditty, “Getting Married Today.”

A few months ago, Rodin made his off-Broadway debut in the acclaimed musical All the World’s a Stage as closeted math teacher Ricky Alleman.

And now he’s stepped back into the role of Ace, one he’s been involved in developing for the last seven years.

Beau has been extended through August 3, 2025, at Theater 154. For tickets visit https://www.ootbtheatrics.com/beau-the-musical

The Contending enjoyed a chat with Rodin about Beau as well as his career and the importance of queer representation.