Fresh off his first Tony Award nomination, Ali Louis Bourzgui is reaching new heights… quite literally. The star of Broadway’s The Lost Boys spends eight performances a week flying above the stage at the Palace Theatre in the musical adaptation of the beloved 1987 film.
When he’s not flying through the air, Bourzgui is fully immersed as David, the magnetic leader of Santa Carla’s punk-rock vampire crew, a role originally made famous on screen by Kiefer Sutherland. The production demands a wide range of physical work (stunts, fights, choreography, and aerial performance) that requires constant stamina and precision.
In conversation with Deadline, Bourzgui discusses the challenge and excitement of the role, and how he keeps finding new details and instincts as the show evolves. Pulling inspiration from rockers like David Bowie and Billy Idol, Bourzgui is completely unrecognizable in the role from his hair, to his distinctive voice, and everything in between.
The 26-year-old Tony nominee also offers a look behind the curtain, from his first glimpse of the fully realized set to the secrets of backstage life during intermission. The conversation also touches on Sutherland’s role as a producer of the stage adaptation, along with a lighter moment discussing other films he thinks could work on Broadway.
Finally, Bourzgui reflects on what has meant the most to him so far throughout the whole experience: the ensemble at the center of the production, and the shared work that sustains the show night after night. Watch the full video interview above.
