Trophy Boys (2025 – At MCC Theater) – Review
Trophy Boys honors the chaos which comes from male youth as it both challenges and embraces the patriarchy.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.
Trophy Boys Details
- Language: English
- Duration: 1 Hour 10 Minutes
- Performance Date: June 5, 2025
- First Performance At This Venue: June 6, 2025
- Opening Night Performance: June 24, 2025
- Last Performance At This Venue: July 27, 2025
- Venue URL: https://mcctheater.org/tix/trophy-boys/
- Tickets Starting At: $44.00
- Director(s): Danya Taymor
- Writer(s): Emmanuelle Mattana
- Scene/ Set Design: Matt Saunders
- Costume Design: Marion Talan De La Rosa
- Lightning Design: Cha See
- Sound Design: Fan Zhang
- Choreography: Tilly Evans-Krueger
- Theatre Name: MCC Theater
- Address of Theater: 511 W 52nd ST New York, NY 10019.
- Genre(s): Play, Comedy, Drama, Young Adult, LGBT+
Summary
It’s senior year for the imperium boys debate team, and with taking on their sister school one last time, winning all three previous times they think they have this in the bag. Owen, the first up, has the strong argument, Jared, second up, has the charm, and Scott has the intensity. Add David keeping them on task, and they couldn’t lose.
That is, until they learn that their topic is feminism has failed women. With them having to argue in the affirmative, trying to process how they can win this argument, without tanking their futures, is hard. However, even before they get on stage, a whole separate topic may upend their futures first.
Characters and Cast
Owen (Emmanuelle Mattana)
Owen sees himself as the star of the Imperium Boys Debate Team, and from what you see, he may not be wrong. He comes up with the best means of handling the topic, tries to refocus everyone, but there is more to him than his political ambitions. Owen also has a side to him that is a bit ruthless.
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
Scott (Esco Jouléy)
With both his parents being lawyers, Scott is notably blessed, and it seems he takes full advantage of what he can say and do because of their backing. Which isn’t to say he seeks scandal in every waking moment, but he is high energy, and that passion can be destructive when not refined.
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
David (Terry Hu)
David’s job on the debate team is to keep them focus, which he handles in conjunction with Owen. But, unlike Owen, David doesn’t actively debate. He still benefits from his association, which he believes will help him follow his mom’s path into a high position at a Fortune 500 company, but like the others, there is more to David than meets the eye, and it could tarnish his relatively clean reputation.
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
Jared (Louisa Jacobson)
Jared is Scott’s best friend, and the two sometimes have some eyebrow-raising interactions with one another. But, Jared loves women, his girlfriend is actually the opposition during the next debate, and the topic worries him just as it does the rest of the boys. However, also like the others, certain things in his past raise a red flag, which could make debating how feminism failed women a hard sell out of his mouth.
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
Review
Highlight(s)
The Physicality [83/100]
The whole play takes place in a classroom, and nothing is static or safe. The actors utilize and test the craftsmanship of the entire space, using the scenic design created by Matt Saunders in such a way that the set isn’t just for blocking and other practical purposes. Tables, chairs, podiums, the whole set is used for everyone’s performance and to establish who they are.
I’d even say, when it comes to Trophy Boys, despite usually preferring to sit in the front row, you’d probably do yourself a disservice to sit so close unless you want to feel the energy when the high energy moments remind you these are supposed to be young guys with a notable amount of testosterone pumping through them, as they get prepared and hyped for their debate.
The Humor [84/100]
From Jared’s running gag, to Scott’s jokes which are tinged with homosexual undertones, to Owen’s desire to appear innocent but ambitious, each person plays a role and like many group of kids without adult supervision, when the kids are left to play on their own, wild things are said and done.
Scott, especially, will raise an eyebrow for you, with Jared joining in the fun, which often will make the other two the straight men to their madness. However, don’t let this push the idea that Owen and David are boring. If anything, watching them trying to wrangle the other two back into prepping for the debate can be just as hilarious as when Jared and Scott go off the rails.
How It Disassembles Each Character To What Might Just Be Their Core [87/100]
When introduced to the boys of Imperium, the initial adjustment comes from knowing, whether non-binary or trans, each actor is in drag and crafting a perception of what it means to be a teenage (roughly 17 to 18) boy. Yes, this leads to comedic moments and notable physicality, but it also creates quite a bit of commentary. Whether it is about the topic of virginity, masculine ideals, vulnerability, especially with there seemingly being a push to represent Gen Z perspective, it illuminates the challenging, but still evolving, perception of what it means to be a boy.
But, it isn’t all fun and games, with a dose of philosophical moments. As much as these can sometimes seem like caricatures, there comes a point where Owen’s actor, and writer of Trophy Boys, Emmanuelle Mattana, pushes you to realize these are based on, or potentially are, real people. The names are generic for a reason, and when the façade of private school boys who are being molded to become future leaders drops, you see the darker parts of them.
Yes, insecurity is one of them, a sense of fear since high school is nearly over and the expectations are high, but there is also what we see from characters like Owen. He’s brilliant in debate, thus agile when it comes to presenting logic, but there seems also to be a switch there. The ability to go from agreeable, all the words that can be associated with nice, to something completely different.
In fact, all the boys, as something comes up which distracts them from the debate, each reveal a dark side to them willing to use their privilege, what they’ve gained in debate, and maybe even each other. It causes the ending, even if it has someone stick out their tongue in a haughty way, to be a dark reminder that it isn’t just the local politician you have to worry about, but a swath of kids coming of age who are lining themselves up to eventually come into power.
On The Fence
At Times It’s Do Chaotic You Don’t Know Where To Direct Your Focus [77/100]
For what’s positive in Trophy Boys, there are equally negative aspects. The physicality and humor isn’t handled in the usual style of everyone taking turns and having their moment in the sun. At times, it’s a competition. One that still allows the actors to feel collaborative, but at times it can appear they are all vying for your attention in moments when just focusing on one or the whole cast isn’t the best option.
This can come during odd, sexually suggestive dance breaks or in the form of when they are talking over one another or in conflict. In these moments, you are reminded that these are supposed to be teenage boys, all with some level of ability to break the fourth wall, and each with a sense of bravado, insecurities, and the ability to create the situation they are accused of.
Overall
Our Rating (82/100): Positive (See Live)
Trophy Boys delivers a bold and immersive theatrical experience that’s equal parts physical, humorous, and introspective. With being set entirely in a classroom, the production transforms its stage into a battleground of adolescent energy, where every desk and chair becomes a prop in a chaotic dance of dominance and identity. Then, add in homoerotic humor, sharp banter, and flashes of emotional vulnerability; the play explores what it means to grow up male under the weight of privilege, pressure, and societal expectation.
Further, the actors blur the line between caricature and character study as they peel back each teen’s carefully constructed façade to reveal raw insecurity, ambition, and fear. Then, as the debate team’s polished personas begin to unravel, Trophy Boys reveals itself not just as satire but as a reflection on the future of leadership shaped in elite institutions.
Now, admittedly, the overlapping dialogue and frenzied pace can be overwhelming at times, but the disarray serves a purpose—mirroring the volatility of youth and the performative nature of masculinity. Making it so, in the end, Trophy Boys doesn’t just entertain—it confronts, challenges, and leaves you questioning who’s being groomed to lead us next.
Content Information
- Dialog: Cursing, Derogatory Language
- Violence: Nothing Notable
- Sexual Content: Sexual Situations (Implied)
- Miscellaneous: Nothing Else Notable
What To Check Out Next
The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window (2023) – Review/ Summary
While it sometimes feels like it says too much to make things more complicated than they need be, as time goes on, you realize avoiding simplicity is the point.
Familiar – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
While I don’t see plays often, I figure why not crack open another section as I try to get out more. Now, focusing on Familiar, as with past Danai Gurira plays, like Eclipse, the focus is strongly about being totally African, yet there is this small desire to look at what American has and does….
The Coast Starlight (2023) – Review/ Summary
Taking place barely over a day, “The Coast Starlight” is packed with a series of what-if conversations that leave you longing for connection.
Check out our Live Performance page for our latest reviews and recommendations.
