Bat Boy: The Musical

The McManus Studio at The Grand Theatre
London, Ontario, Canada

Showtimes:

Thursday, February 14 - 8pm
Friday, February 15 - 8pm
Saturday, February 16 - 8pm
Tuesday, February 19 - 8pm
Wednesday, February 20 - 8pm
Thursday, February 21 - 8pm
Friday, February 22 - 8pm
Saturday, February 23 - 2pm
Saturday, February 23 - 8pm

What's the story?

Ripped from the headlines of the Weekly World News: “Found in West Virginia Cave – a half boy, half bat!” When three spelunking teens are attacked by a mutant creature in a cave outside of Hope Falls, WV, they drag him back to the town Sheriff. Unsure where to put him, the Sheriff delivers the bat boy to the local veterinarian Dr. Parker, whose wife takes in the bat boy to raise as her own. Renamed Edgar, the bat boy learns to speak, becomes civilized, and falls in love with the vet's daughter.

Meanwhile, strange things are happening around Hope Falls and with a jealous Dr. Parker determined to undermine Edgar's hold on his family, things don't look too hopeful for Edgar. Will Edgar be able to convince the townsfolk to accept him or will shocking events reveal horrifying truths?

Background

Bat Boy: The Musical debited in 1997 at the Actors Gang Theatre in Los Angeles. The musical, written by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming with music by Laurence O'Keefe (Legally Blonde), moved to Off-Broadway in 2001, winning the Lucille Lortel and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Musical and later became Best of Fringe at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival   Featuring and eclectic score that ranges from rap to gospel to classical, the show is a mix of affectionate irreverence and hilarious plot twists. The New York Times declared “it's remarkable what intelligent wit can accomplish” and Curtain IP called Bat Boy's wacky buy witty cult in-the-making show much like The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Dare to be spooked and laugh out loud at this surprising tale that exposes the best lurking in all of us.

Video

Photo Gallery

Reviews & Articles

Bat Boy explores dark humour's limits
London Free Press
The show is an exploration of the limits of dark humour. Part Rocky Horror, part Little Shop of Horrors, past 
Jesus Christ Superstar, part Dracula, part My Fair Lady, this is a masterpiece of issue-strewn, big-hearted, comic horror.

Are you ready for Bat Boy?
The Londoner
Full of humorous satire but not light on meaning, Bat Boy: The Musical doesn’t necessarily take traditional musical conventions too seriously but is also giving the local cast a good vocal workout.

Bat Boy: The Musical ready to fly into the McManus Studio Theatre
The Beat Magazine
At its heart, Bat Boy is about being yourself, finding acceptance and facing diversity in life - but it gets to do this in a way that is off-beat, funny and somewhat darker than your typical musical.

The mysterious Bat Boy to excite London’s theatre scene
London Community News
Imagine a play that uses humour and music to address issues ranging from bigotry and bullying to finding acceptance and even interracial dating. Well, considering the lead character is half-boy and half-bat, maybe inter-species dating.

Bat Boy: The Musical - an evening of pathos, poignancy & comic relief
The Beat Magazine (review by Iain Paterson)
Director/Producer Garrett Rodman and Choreographer Kathryn Mitchell should be given credit for assembling such a strong cast and presenting a show whose aesthetic is at once morally complex but at the same time a production that is exhilarating and delightful.

Tweets

Where is the McManus Studio (The Grand Theatre)?

471 Richmond St., London, Ontario, Canada

Cast and Crew

CAST (alphabetical):
Nicole Alcaidinho is LORRAINE
Kaywyn Allison is ENSEMBLE
Ian Badger is ROY & INSTITUTE MAN
Storm Davis is RICK TAYLOR 
Kate Deman is SHELLEY PARKER
Jenn Floris is MAYOR MAGGIE
Kyle Haugen is RON TAYLOR
Helen Heikkila is RUTHIE TAYLOR
Tammy Heisel is MR. DILLON
Dale Hirlehey is DR. PARKER
Ximena Huizzi is NED 
Yurisa Kawamoto is QUEEN OF THE FOREST
Mark de Medeiros is SHERIFF REYNOLDS
Laura Neilsen is MRS. RANDI TAYLOR 
Nicole Newell is MEREDITH PARKER
Kyle Stewart is REVEREND BILLY HIGHTOWER & DAISY
Henry Truong is BUD & DOCTOR
Adam Zess is BAT BOY

Crew:
Producing Artistic Director: Garrett Rodman
Music Director: Angela Southern
Choreographer: Kathryn Mitchell
Stage Manager: Kelsey Stables
Assistant Stage Manager: Jeremy Hewitson
Assistant Stage Manager: Danell Meier
Stage Hands: Tara Howard Portiss, Kassidy Anderson, Phil Alcatrao  
Scenic Design: Garrett Rodman
Wardrobe Design: Lia Karidas
Lighting Design: Shannon Charnock
Sound Design: Dariusz Korbiel
Make-up Design: Melanie Richards
Make-up Assistants: Sarah Taylor, Monica Pavez, Rachel Turner