Altar Boyz' James Royce Edwards Appears on WABC News, March 17

James Royce Edwards, currently starring through March 19th as Matthew in the Off-Broadway show Altar Boyz, will appear on WABC-TV Channel 7, this Friday, March 17th in the 6 am hour of the news broadcast.

"Edwards won't be wearing his 'acting' hat, but his 'personal trainer' hat as he discusses what is and isn't proper gym etiquette. Filmed at New York Sports Club, Edwards will discuss and demonstrate how one should act when working out in a gym or fitness center," according to press notes.

Born and raised in San Diego, CA, Edwards had worked with and became friends with legendary lyricist Sheldon Harnick while working on The Umbrellas of Cherbourg at the Sundance Theatre. It was through Harnick that he received his first Equity job as Jean Valjean in Theatreworks' production of Les Miserables, from Sheldon's brother Jay. For the last couple of years, Edwards was on tour with the national companies of Mamma Mia! and Hairspray. Regionally, Edwards was seen in Children of Eden and The Scarlet Pimpernel at the Musical Theatre West in Long Beach, Sound of Music and Miss Saigon at the American Musical Theatre of San Jose, Footloose and Sound of Music at the Sacramento Music Circus, and an 8-month run with San Diego's resident company of Forever Plaid. Edwards not only holds a B.F.A in Music, Dance and Theatre and a minor in Spanish from Brigham Young University, but also he is an A.C.E. certified personal trainer.

"Full of sharp parody, sinfully spectacular dancing, and irreverent humor, this spoof about a heavenly guy-group is adored by audiences and critics alike. With an extraordinary mix of side-splitting songs 'convincing enough to be played on MTV,' uncontrollable laughs and lighthearted fun, this award-winning and totally original new musical is 90 minutes of pure delight that's suitable for all ages and will have the whole family laughing and singing along," state press notes for the show, which is directed by Stafford Arima, choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, and features a score by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker, as well as a book by Kevin Del Aquila.

Altar Boyz opens April 12th at ChungMu Art Hall, Seoul, Korea; a national tour (following recent acclaimed engagements in Detroit and Des Moines) kicks off in the fall, playing Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, among other cities.

For more information, visit www.jamesroyceedwards.com. For more on Altar Boyz, visit www.altarboyz.com.