Jeremy Pope of "Choir Boy" Talks About Stage Role Hailed for his "magnetic, moving performance" as Pharus Jonathan Young in the Manhattan Theater Club production of "Choir Boy," 21-year-old Jeremy Pope had to work up his courage to audition for the role after being turned down for the play's premiere run in London. Mr. Pope, an Orlando, Fla., native, portrays the effeminate yet defiant student who longs to be accepted at the tradition-bound black prep school where he leads the choir. Tarell Alvin McCraney's play with music runs through Aug. 4 before moving to the Alliance Theater in Atlanta this fall. Mr. Pope talked with Felicia R. Lee about landing his first New York part, his identification with Pharus and advice from a fellow cast member. These are excerpts from their conversation. Q. I understand you pursued acting over your mother and stepfather's objections? A. They weren't supportive of me coming to New York and going to a performing art school [the American Musical and Dramatic Academy]. I ended up getting kicked out of my house and moving in with my Dad. I snuck away to audition for AMDA. When I got in, I had to call them and tell them my sob story: I needed all the scholarship money I could get because I knew I was going to have to take out student loans. That was a rough time. How did you land "Choir Boy"? I graduated last June. I was going to be a lead vocalist on Royal Caribbean [cruise line]. Then I got an agent. They thought: "You can go and do this show and make your money, but it's going to pull you away from New York. We don't think you're making enough money to do that. You're fresh. I kind of trusted my gut. My first audition was for "Choir Boy" in London. They told me that they weren't bringing anyone over for London, that they would call me back in. I thought that was their generous way of saying "hell no." I ended up doing "Skippyjon Jones," a Theatreworks production, a children's show, for three months and got my Equity card. What interested you about the role of Pharus? What Pharus was having to deal with, I feel like I had to deal with a lot of that in school. Being in the arts, you know, yes, you're talented, but there's always that "He's the gay kid" or "He's gay" because he sings - that homophobia thing going on. As soon as they heard me sing, they wouldn't say anything anymore. I'm not effeminate like Pharus, with the wrist and all that, but I could very much relate. Was it a challenge to avoid making him campy and stereotypical? Because Pharus is a lot of character, they gave me the time I needed to find those layers. He's trouble, but I had to find that soft spot of him just wanting to be accepted, wanting to feel that love. It's easy once an audience is on to him to almost amp it up 10 notches. It was like: No, don't do that, don't do that. Tell the story that you know, that you learned, that you rehearsed. Do you think about your mom when you're up there singing "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" and those other spirituals? Right now, we're probably the closest we've ever been. She's just so proud. We smoothed things over. Have you learned anything about yourself from the show? The one thing that's been on my heart and on my mind lately I got from Chuck [Cooper, who plays the headmaster]. The producers were saying the show needs to pick up its pace. Chuck pulled me aside and said, "Take your time." In that moment it was take your time with the scene, but overall: Jeremy, take your time. There's no right or wrong, there's no rule book on how things should be done. All I know is I am ready to work. I'm auditioning. I don't know what's next.