Debra Winger, Josh Lucas, Eddie Izzard & Kevin McHale Join Dustin Hoffman In ‘Boychoir’

The story of a troubled 12-year-old Texas boy who ends up at an East Coast boychoir school began production today in Connecticut. The Red Violin director Francois Girard’s indie drama Boychoir has added Debra Winger, Josh Lucas, Eddie Izzard andKevin McHale, alongside star Dustin Hoffman. The Informant Media film features newcomer Garrett Wareing as the angry young boy who is completely out of his element in the new school and finds himself in a battle of wills with a demanding choir master Carvelle (Hoffman) who recognizes a unique talent in the kid and pushes him. Lucas will play the boy’s estranged father, with McHale as a young music teacher who champions the kid. Winger will play the principal at the boy’s Texas school, and Izzard is a teacher at the new school who is Carvelle’s right-hand. (Alfred Molina originally was set to play the role but withdrew because of scheduling conflicts.) Joe West and River Alexander also star as fellow choristers, and Kathy Bates has a supporting role as the school’s headmistress. Ben Ripley penned the script, and Judy Cairo, Carol Baum and Jane Goldenring will produce. Michael A. Simpson and Eric Brenner are exec producing with Ripley. Embankment Films is international sales on Boychoir and already has presold more than 30 territories including the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, Australia and all Latin America. Winger is repped by Framework Entertainment, Izzard by APA and Conway Van Gelder Grant, Lucas by WME and Principato Young Entertainment and McHale by Greene & Associates Talent Agency and manager M/C Talent Management.