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			{{Short description\|1997 American horror rock musical}}
	]
			{{Infobox Musical
	'''Bat Boy: The Musical''' is an ] ] based on the character of ], whose antics regularly appear in the ] tabloid. The story about a half-boy, half ] found living in a cave inspired bookwriters ] and ] to write a stage adaptation. They were joined by ]/] ] and their first production premiered on ] ].
			\|name=Bat Boy: The Musical
			\|image = Bat_Boy_Original_off_Broadway_Poster.jpg
			\|image_size = 200px
			\|caption = Original off-Broadway poster
			\|music=]
			\|lyrics=Laurence O'Keefe
			\|book=] <br> ]
			\|basis='']''{{'}}s ]
			\|productions=1997 World Premiere (Los Angeles)<br>2001 ] <br>2003 ]<br>2004 ]<br>2021 ]
			<!-- Please do not include production-specific (acting, directing, etc.) awards -->
			\|awards= ]<br>2 ]<br>]
			}}

			'''''Bat Boy: The Musical''''' is an American horror ] with a book by ] and ] and music and lyrics by ], based on a June 23, 1992 '']'' story about a half-boy, half-], dubbed "]", who grew up living in a cave.
	The musical differs in a few of its plot details from the Weekly World News portrayal of Bat Boy. In the musical, Bat Boy learns to speak from his adoptive family, yearns for acceptance and tries to join society, only to face hatred and violence from a town that fears him and jealous rage from his foster father. Although full of blood, violence, incest and interspecies sex, ''Bat Boy: The Musical'' has won several awards and rave reviews and is regarded as one of the funniest and most imaginative musicals in years. ] of ] observes "this is the only play in the history of the theatre whose hero ends Act I with a rabbit in his mouth, and who moves on in Act II to an entire cow's head."

	~~This~~ ~~musical~~ premiered at ]' ] ~~on Halloween,~~ 1997 and has since been produced ], in ]'s ], ~~and in scores of productions throughout the world. The musical was awarded best Off-Broadway musical by both~~ the ] ~~Award~~ and ~~the ]~~ in ~~the~~ ~~year ]. Regional~~ productions ~~of Bat Boy have been nominated for and won dozens of awards, including~~ the ~~Norton awards (New England's equivalent of the Tony) and Ovation awards (Los Angeles' equivalent). The show has also proven quite popular in Korea and Japan~~.		''Bat Boy'' premiered at ] in 1997 and has since been produced ], in ]'s ], at the ] and in scores of productions throughout the world.

			== Production history ==
			''Bat Boy: The Musical'' was developed at the Directors Company<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://directorscompany.org/The_Directors_Company/History.html \|title=Directors Company History \|website=DirectorsCompany.org \|access-date=2013-03-27 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408063835/http://directorscompany.org/The_Directors_Company/History.html \|archive-date=April 8, 2012}}</ref> and premiered at ]' ] on October 31, 1997. Directed by ], and choreography by Derick LaSalla. The cast featured ] as Bat Boy and ] as Meredith Parker.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Bat Boy \|url=http://www.theactorsgang.com/archives/batboy.htm \|website=TheActorsGang.com \|access-date=February 26, 2009 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820183850/http://www.theactorsgang.com/archives/batboy.htm \|archive-date=August 20, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://theatredb.com/QShowCastOrig.php?sid=s2668 \|title=ITDb: Show Original Cast: Bat Boy \|website=TheatreDB.com \|access-date=2012-01-15}}</ref>

			The musical opened ] at the ] on March 21, 2001, and closed on December 2, 2001. Produced by Robyn Goodman<ref>{{Cite web\|title=Bat Boy: The Musical\|url=http://www.iobdb.com/production/72\|access-date=2020-10-28\|website=Internet Off-Broadway Database}}</ref> and ] and directed by Scott Schwartz, with choreography by ], the cast featured ] as Bat Boy and ] as Meredith, ] as Dr. Thomas Parker, ] as Shelley Parker, ] as Maggie/Ron Taylor, Daria Hardeman as Ruthie Taylor/Ned, Trent Armand Kendall as Rev. Hightower/Mrs. Taylor/Roy/Institute Man, Jim Price as Bud/Daisy/Pan, Richard Pruitt as Sheriff, Doug Storm as Rick Taylor/Lorraine. The swings and understudies included ], ], and J.P. Potter.<ref name=lortel>{{cite web\|url=http://www.lortel.org/LLA_archive/index.cfm?search_by=show&title=Bat%20Boy%3A%20The%20Musical \|title=Bat Boy: The Musical \|website=Lortel.org \|access-date=2013-03-27 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012065000/http://www.lortel.org/LLA_archive/index.cfm?search_by=show&title=Bat%20Boy%3A%20The%20Musical \|archive-date=October 12, 2012}}</ref> Raquela Burt originally played Ruthie Taylor/Ned, but had to discontinue the show due to illness.<ref>{{Cite news\|url=https://www.raquela.com/about\|title=About\|author=Michael Jefferies\|website=Raquela\|date=2023}}</ref> The show was musically directed/keyboards by ], keyboards/assistant musical director Jason Debord, acoustic/ electric guitars Greg Skaff, electric bass Matt Rubano, drums Ed Fast. For the original cast album, the band was augmented by cello (Jeanne LeBlanc), French horn (Jeff Lang), flute/clarinet/oboe (C. Anderson), trumpet (Robert Millikan), and trombone (]).<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.masterworksbroadway.com/music/bat-boy-the-musical \|title=Bat Boy: The Musical – Original Cast Recording 2001 \|website=MasterworksBroadway.com \|date=2001-06-05 \|access-date=2012-01-15}}</ref>

			The musical opened in the ] at the ] on September 8, 2004, and ran through January 15, 2005. It again starred ] as Bat Boy, along with Rebecca Vere as Meredith, Johnny Barr as Dr. Parker and ] as Shelley. It had previously played at the ].<ref name=albemarle>{{cite web \|title=Archive Page For - Bat Boy The Musical \|url=http://www.albemarle-london.com/Archive/ArchiveShow.php?Show_Name=Bat%20Boy%20The%20Musical \|website=albemarle-london.com \|access-date=February 26, 2009 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917100616/http://www.albemarle-london.com/Archive/ArchiveShow.php?Show_Name=Bat%20Boy%20The%20Musical \|archive-date=September 17, 2010}}</ref><ref name=curtain>{{cite web \|last=Loveridge \|first=Lizzie \|title=Bat Boy Wings It To London \|url=http://www.curtainup.com/batboy.html \|website=CurtainUp.com \|date=September 8, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|last=Hanks \|first=Robert \|title=A batty musical with bite, 3 stars \|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/bat-boy-the-musical-shaftesbury-theatre-london-546049.html \|website=The Independent \|date=September 13, 2004}}</ref>

			It entered ] in 2002 beginning with the ] in ],<ref>{{cite web \|title=Phoenix Theatre history, 2002 \|url=http://www.phoenixtheatre.org/flash.html \|website=PhoenixTheatre.org \|access-date=February 25, 2009 \|archive-date=February 27, 2009 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227151428/http://phoenixtheatre.org/flash.html \|url-status=dead }}</ref> followed by ] in ], in 2003 and 2006. Performance rights are currently administered by ].<ref>{{cite web \|title=Bat Boy: The Musical \|url=https://www.dramatists.com/cgi-bin/db/single.asp?key=3013 \|website=Dramatists.com}}</ref>

			== Background ==
			The '']'' 1992 story about ], a half-boy, half-] found living in a cave inspired writers ] and ] to write a stage adaptation. They were joined by American ]/] ], and their first production premiered on ], 1997.<ref>{{cite web \|last=Rosati \|first=Nancy \|title=An Interview with Laurence O'Keefe \|url=https://www.talkinbroadway.com/page/rialto/past/2001/4_22_01.html \|website=Talkin' Broadway \|date=April 22, 2001}}</ref>

			The later London production introduced significant changes to the script and score, including the replacement of the song "Inside Your Heart" with "Mine, All Mine".

			The musical differs in a few of its plot details from the ''Weekly World News'' ]. In the musical, Bat Boy learns to speak from his adoptive family, yearns for acceptance and tries to join society, only to face hatred and violence from a town that fears him and jealous rage from his foster father.

			The book deals with serious themes (such as hypocrisy, acceptance, forgiveness, racism, revenge and scapegoating) but often punctures the most serious moments with slapstick, surrealism, camp-horror and irony. The show also contains religious themes with ] ]s, such as the quoting of ] and ] 9:4 in scene 9. Act II begins with a religious revival tent meeting featuring a ].

			The score was written to be played by a five-piece band of guitar, two keyboards, bass and drums, but the original cast album (]) contains seven extra instruments (], ], ], ], ], ], ]). The music covers many styles, from ] to ] to horror-movie film score and ]. The musical was written to be performed by a cast of 10, with six men and four women playing all the roles.

	==Synopsis==		==Synopsis==
			===Act I===
			In the fictional town of Hope Falls, ], three teenage ], Ron, Rick and Ruthie Taylor, discover the Bat Boy, a deformed humanoid creature. Bat Boy attacks Ruthie and is taken captive by Rick and Ron ("Hold Me Bat Boy"). Ruthie is taken to the hospital, and the Bat Boy is placed in the care of Sheriff Reynolds who brings him to the home of local veterinarian Dr. Parker. Meredith, Dr. Parker's wife, agrees to take him in ("Christian Charity").

			Shelley, the Parkers' teenage daughter, is repulsed by the Bat Boy and infuriated by his constant screaming, but Meredith pities him and christens him with a new name: Edgar ("Ugly Boy"). Rick Taylor, Shelley's boyfriend, arrives and, infuriated by Edgar's presence, threatens to kill him with a knife ("Whatcha Wanna Do?"). This upsets Shelley, and Meredith makes Rick leave. Meredith attempts to comfort Edgar ("A Home For You").

			Meanwhile, the Mayor of Hope Falls and the local ranchers are worried by their cattle which are dying inexplicably. The rumours of the discovery of a Bat Boy lead them to believe he must be preying on the cattle ("Another Dead Cow").

			Dr. Parker returns home and is about to euthanize Edgar when Meredith intervenes. Meredith begs Dr. Parker not to kill Edgar, and he consents when she agrees to sleep with him. Dr. Parker celebrates what he sees as an upturn in his failing marriage and feeds Edgar animal blood ("Dance With Me Darling"). At the hospital, Ruthie is delirious from her injuries, but her mother promises the Sheriff will kill the Bat Boy or be fired ("Mrs. Taylor's Lullaby").

			With the help of Meredith's patient teaching and Dr. Parker's secret feedings of blood, Edgar learns speech, etiquette and how to dress and obtains a high-school equivalency diploma ("Show You A Thing or Two"). The town council implore Dr. Parker to prevent the reviled Edgar from attending the upcoming ]. Dr. Parker protests, insisting Edgar is not a threat to anyone, but is pressured into giving his word that Edgar will not attend the revival ("Christian Charity (Reprise)")

			Edgar begs the Parkers to let him go to the revival ("A Home For You (Reprise)"), and Meredith eventually relents. Incensed by Meredith undermining his word, Dr. Parker grabs her aggressively, and Edgar instinctively attacks him. Meredith runs to comfort Edgar over her husband, leaving Dr. Parker humiliated and furious. Dr. Parker begins to devise a way to destroy Edgar and save his marriage to Meredith; he taunts a hungry Edgar with a live rabbit, and Edgar struggles with his feral urges to kill. Just as it seems Edgar is overcoming his hunger, Dr. Parker draws blood from the rabbit and Edgar eats it. Dr. Parker gives Ruthie Taylor a lethal injection in her hospital room, intending to blame her death on Edgar ("Comfort and Joy").

			===Act II===
	{{spoiler}}
			At the revival meeting Reverend Hightower offers a faith healing ("A Joyful Noise"). Meredith, Shelley and Edgar arrive, and Edgar volunteers himself for the faith healing. The town are disgusted by his presence, but Edgar implores them to accept him ("Let Me Walk Among You"). The townsfolk are won over by Edgar's eloquence and civility and embrace him ("A Joyful Noise (Reprise)").

			Dr. Parker arrives at the revival and reveals Ruthie has died, blaming her death on Edgar. The townsfolk are furious and, once again, turn on Edgar. In the ensuing struggle Edgar attacks Rick Taylor; under the pretense of tending to his wounds, Dr. Parker administers Rick with a lethal injection to serve as further proof that Edgar is dangerous. The townsfolk form a mob, led by Dr. Parker, and pursue Edgar into the woods.
	Time: the present. Place: ]. Three thrill-seeking teenage ] (Rick, Ron, and Ruthie Taylor) discover a half-bat, half-boy in a cave. After this "Bat Boy" bites Ruthie on the ], they pummel the ] and take him to the sheriff of their small town, Hope Falls. A ghostly chorus sings of the extraordinary meaning of this pivotal moment in ] ('''HOLD ME, BAT BOY''').

			In the woods Shelley and Meredith look for Edgar. Together they decide that they will run away from Hope Falls and Dr. Parker. Shelley tells Meredith she is falling in love with Edgar, and Meredith's horrified response causes Shelley to run away deeper into the woods ("Three Bedroom House"). There she meets Edgar, and the two comfort each other and confess their love for each other. The Greek God of nature ] arrives to preside over the union of Edgar and Shelley, with the help of the woodland creatures ("Children, Children").
	]

			Ron Taylor, determined to get revenge for his brother and sister, searches the slaughterhouse for Edgar. The mob mistake the noise coming from the slaughterhouse as a sign of Edgar's presence, and Mrs. Taylor sets fire to the slaughterhouse, inadvertently burning her remaining child to death. The Sheriff asks Dr. Parker to placate the mob but, instead, he whips them into a bloodthirsty frenzy, and the hunt for Edgar resumes ("More Blood/Kill The Bat Boy!").
	Sheriff Reynolds brings the creature to the house of the town ], who isn't home, but the vet's ] (Meredith) and daughter (Shelley) put Bat Boy in a cage ('''CHRISTIAN CHARITY'''). While they await the return of Dr. Parker, Bat Boy screams incessantly and refuses all food, and Shelley begins to have second ] about her new pet ('''UGLY BOY''').
	While Meredith is in the ] trying to cook up something Bat Boy will actually eat, Shelley's ] Rick comes over and, seeking revenge for Bat Boy's biting his sister in the ], menaces him and leaves Bat Boy cowering and whimpering in the corner of his cage ('''WHATCHA WANNA DO?'''/'''HEY FREAK''' ''(since 2004)''). Meredith enters, angrily ousts Rick, and sends Shelley to ]. Meredith consoles Bat Boy by promising him acceptance and love ('''A HOME FOR YOU''').

			Back in the woods Edgar is hungry for blood and begs Shelley to leave him for her own safety. Instead Shelley offers her arm to Edgar for him to feed on ("Inside Your Heart"). Just as he is about to bite, Meredith arrives and reveals she is Edgar's mother. Overcome with grief and shame, Edgar kills a cow and runs away to the cave where he was discovered. Incensed at Dr. Parker's betrayal and Meredith's deceit, Edgar pledges to kill the pair of them and embrace his inner beast ("Apology To A Cow").
	Meanwhile, the ] of Hope Falls admit in a town ] that their cows are dying for mysterious reasons, and all the townspeople at the meeting search for the potential cause, ultimately wondering if Bat Boy might have something to do with it ('''ANOTHER DEAD COW''')

			The mob arrives at the cave as do Dr. Parker and Meredith. Together they reveal to the town that Edgar was the result of an experiment gone wrong; a young Parker accidentally spilled a prototype pheromone on Meredith which caused him to go mad and sexually violate her. As Meredith ran home in tears, the pheromone also attracted a colony of bats that violated her as well. Nine months later she gave birth to Shelley and Edgar. Repulsed by the deformed Edgar, Meredith asked Parker to kill him, but he could not and instead left him at the mouth of the cave where the bats adopted him.
	As a ] rages and the ] goes out in Hope Falls, Dr. Parker finally arrives home from his goose-hunting trip. He is shocked by the creature he finds in his living room and drunkenly commiserates with Bat Boy, comparing the creature's ] to that of his own lifeless ]. After a brief examination, the vet decides to put Bat Boy out of his "misery" with a ].

	As Dr. Parker is poised with the needle, Meredith enters and begs her husband not to kill Bat Boy. Dr. Parker agrees, but not before he extracts a ] from Meredith to "be a wife to me" ('''DANCE WITH ME, DARLING'''). Dr. Parker, overjoyed that there might be a chance that Meredith truly loves him again, then slashes the necks of the ] he has brought home and feeds Bat Boy the ], which is exactly what Bat Boy needs to live.
			Edgar begs Dr. Parker to kill him, but he cannot; so Edgar reveals that he slept with Shelley. Furious and overcome with grief, Dr. Parker slits his own throat, causing Edgar to leap upon him and feed, whilst Dr. Parker stabs him in the back. Meredith tries to intervene but is stabbed as well, and the three fall to the ground, dead ("Finale: I Imagine You're Upset/I Am Not A Boy").

			In the aftermath, Shelley and the townsfolk reflect on the tale and the lessons they have learned ("Hold Me Bat Boy (Reprise)").
	As the mother of the injured ] demands that the Sheriff punish Bat Boy ('''MRS. TAYLOR'S LULLABY'''), the oblivious Parker family gives the remarkably intelligent and eager Bat Boy a full education. With the help of regular (and secret) feedings by Dr. Parker, Bat Boy quickly earns a mail-order ] and transforms into an erudite and sophisticated young man, whom the family calls "Edgar" ('''SHOW YOU A THING OR TWO''').

			==Characters==
	But the town finally delivers to Dr. Parker their concern about the "critter," and to keep them at bay Dr. Parker promises that Bat Boy will not attend the upcoming tent ] meeting ('''CHRISTIAN CHARITY—REPRISE'''). Bat Boy, however, desires to go out and see the world, and his passionate expression of this desire ('''A HOME FOR YOU—REPRISE''') wins Meredith over.
			{{col-begin}}
	Knowing that her husband made a public promise to the contrary, Meredith nonetheless tells Bat Boy that she will take him to the revival meeting. When Dr. Parker angrily objects, Bat Boy reverts to his animal state and attacks Dr. Parker, knocking him to the ]. Meredith is overcome with concern — not for Dr. Parker, but for her dear "Edgar." Now Dr. Parker knows with certainty that Meredith, despite her recent softening toward him, truly does not love him, and, going mad, he privately vows to turn her ] around — whatever it takes.
			{{col-2}}
	While the town, Meredith, and Shelley all express their hope that the revival will bring joy and renewal, Dr. Parker puts in motion his sinister plot. After taunting Bat Boy with a live rabbit, Dr. Parker steals away to the ], where he kills Ruthie Taylor with an injection ('''COMFORT AND JOY''').
			* ] - Also referred to as "Edgar". A bat boy.
			* Meredith Parker - Wife to Thomas.
			* Dr. Thomas Parker - The town ]. Husband to Meredith.
			* Shelley Parker - The rebellious daughter of Thomas and Meredith. Girlfriend of Rick. Falls in love with Edgar.
			* Sheriff Reynolds - The local ], coming up for re-election. Sometimes doubles as Delia.
			* Rick Taylor - A rowdy, spelunking teenager. Kin to Ron and Ruthie, son of Mrs. Taylor. Boyfriend of Shelley. Commonly doubles as Lorraine and Mr. Dillon.
			* Ron Taylor - A rowdy, spelunking teenager. Kin to Rick, and Ruthie, son of Mrs. Taylor. Usually a ] role. Commonly doubles as Maggie.
			* Ruthie Taylor - A rowdy, spelunking teenager. Youngest of three. Kin to Rick and Ron, daughter of Mrs. Taylor. Commonly doubles as Ned.
			* Mrs. Taylor - An overprotective, aggressive mother. Mother of Rick, Ron, and Ruthie. Usually a ] role. Commonly doubles as Reverend Hightower, Roy and Institute Man.
			{{col-break}}
			* Lorraine - A townswoman. Usually a ] role. Commonly doubles as Rick and Mr. Dillon.
			* Delia - A townswoman. Usually a ] role. Sometimes doubles as Sheriff.
			* Maggie - The mayor of Hope Falls. Commonly doubles as Ron.
			* Daisy - A townswoman. Usually a ] role. Commonly doubles as Bud and Pan.
			* Mr. Dillon - A rancher. Sometimes doubles as Lorraine and Rick.
			* Bud - A rancher. Commonly doubles as Pan and Daisy.
			* Ned - A rancher. Usually a ] role. Commonly doubles as Ruthie.
			* Roy - A townsman. Often doubles as Mrs. Taylor and Rev. Hightower.
			* Clem - A townsman. Usually a ] role. Often doubles as Ron and Maggie.
			* Reverend Billy Hightower - A preacher and faith healer who holds a travelling Tent ]/Barbecue. Commonly doubles as Mrs. Taylor and Roy.
			* ] - The ] ]-god of nature. Commonly doubles as Bud and Daisy.
			* A Doctor - Commonly doubles as Bud, Daisy and Pan.
			* Institute Man - Commonly doubles as Mrs. Taylor, Roy and Rev. Hightower.
			* Chorus - Singer/dancers, additional townsfolk
			{{col-end}}

			===Doubling===
	The next day, ] Billy Hightower lifts the depressed spirits of the people of Hope Falls at the revival meeting ('''A JOYFUL NOISE'''). When Bat Boy, Meredith and Shelley arrive, the ] is aghast — until Bat Boy wins them over with an ardent plea for acceptance ('''LET ME WALK AMONG YOU'''). The townspeople gather around Bat Boy and embrace him ('''A JOYFUL NOISE—REPRISE''').
			The musical is written for a cast of ten people to play all twenty-two roles. Except for the actors playing Bat Boy, Meredith, Dr. Parker and Shelley, every cast member plays multiple roles, including at least one of another gender. The cast breakdown is usually thus:
	But the uplifting mood is dashed when Dr. Parker arrives and tells the town that Ruthie Taylor is dead — and that Bat Boy's ] is responsible. Rick Taylor enters with a ] and threatens to kill Bat Boy, who attacks Rick and flees the scene. Dr. Parker then pretends to try to save Rick, but actually kills him with an injection. Now convinced that Bat Boy is a murderous ], the town vows to find and kill him.

			* Sheriff Reynolds/Delia (male actor)
	Dr. Parker has managed to turn the town against Bat Boy, but, in his ], he has failed to turn Meredith's feelings around. As Meredith and Shelley search the woods for Bat Boy, Meredith convinces Shelley that their only hope is to find Bat Boy and move without Dr. Parker to a safe and secure location ('''THREE BEDROOM HOUSE'''). But when Shelley reveals that she has fallen in love with Edgar and wants to marry him, Meredith shocks her daughter by calling such an ] "hideous."
			* Rick Taylor/Lorraine/Mr. Dillon (male actor)
			* Ron Taylor/Maggie/Clem (female actor)
			* Ruthie Taylor/Ned (female actor)
			* Mrs. Taylor/Roy/Reverend Billy Hightower/Institute Man (male actor)
			* Daisy/Bud/Pan/Doctor (male actor)

			==Songs==
	<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: ] -->
			(As they appear in the Piano/Conductor Score)
	Shelley flees Meredith and eventually finds Edgar, who obviously shares her romantic feelings. But as the two awkward youth cannot find a way to express how they feel, the forest god ] emerges from a nearby tree and calls upon the animals of the woods to show Shelley and Bat Boy how to love ('''CHILDREN, CHILDREN''').
			{{col-begin}}
	Meanwhile, Ron Taylor decides to search for Bat Boy at the old slaughter house. Mrs. Taylor mistakes Ron for Bat Boy and sets him on fire. She is devastated when she discovers who her victim really is.
			{{col-2}}
	Dr. Parker quickly arrives with another syringe but is surprised to find Ron is already dead. Reynolds asks Parker to calm the fears of the townfolk. Instead, Parker tells them of the horrible atrocities that Bat Boy is capable of. The townfolk start a crazed rampage and pledge to obliterate the monstrosity('''KILL THE BAT BOY'''). While the angry townspeople continue to search for Bat Boy, the two young lovers repose in post-coital ]. Bat Boy, however, is now hungry, and Shelley tries to convince him to drink her blood ('''INSIDE YOUR HEART'''/'''MINE ALL MINE''(since 2004)'').
			* 1. Overture
	But just as Bat Boy is about to sink his ] into Shelley's arm, Meredith enters and calls their union an "abomination." When Bat Boy moves to attack Meredith for trying to keep them apart, Meredith blurts out a shocking ] — one that makes Bat Boy and Shelley realize that they can never be together. Ever.
			* 1a. The Cave
			* 2. Hold Me, Bat Boy* - Company
			* 2a. Living Room Cue
			* 3. Christian Charity* - Sheriff, Meredith, and Shelly
			* 4. Ugly Boy* - Shelly
			* 5. Whatcha Wanna Do?* - Rick and Shelly
			* 6. A Home for You* - Meredith and Bat Boy
			* 7. Another Dead Cow* - Company
			* 8. Dance With Me, Darling* - Dr. Parker
			* 9. Mrs. Taylor's Lullaby* - Mrs. Taylor
			* 10. Show You a Thing or Two* - Meredith, Shelly, Bat Boy, Dr. Parker, and Company
			* 11. Christian Charity (reprise)* - Sheriff, Dr. Parker, and Company
			* 12. May I Have This Dance?
			* 13. A Home for You (reprise)* - Bat Boy
			* 14. Parker's Epiphany - Dr. Parker
			* 15. Comfort and Joy* - Dr. Parker, Meredith, Shelly, Bat Boy, Sheriff, and Company
			* 15a. Comfort and Joy (part II)* - Dr. Parker, Meredith, Shelly, Bat Boy, Sheriff and Company
			{{col-break}}
			* 16. A Joyful Noise* - Reverend Hightower and Company
			* 16a. Come on Down!
			* 17. Let Me Walk Among You* - Bat Boy
			* 18. A Joyful Noise (reprise)* - Reverend Hightower and Company
			* 18a. A Joyful Noise (playoff) - Reverend Hightower and Company
			* 19. All Hell Breaks Loose - Company
			* 20. Stop the Bat Boy! - Company
			* 21. Three Bedroom House* - Meredith and Shelly
			* 21a. Babe in the Woods
			* 22. Children, Children* - Pan and Company
			* 22a. Burn, You Freak, Burn
			* 23. More Blood/Kill the Bat Boy! - Company
			* 24. Inside Your Heart* - Bat Boy and Shelly
			* 25. Is All That You Taught Me a Lie?
			* 26. Apology to a Cow* - Bat Boy
			* 26a. Hello, Father
			* 27. Revelations
			* 28. Finale: I Imagine You're Upset* - Bat Boy, Shelly and Company
			* 28a. Finale: I Am Not a Boy* - Bat Boy
			* 29. Finale: Hold Me, Bat Boy* - Shelly and Company
			* 30. Bows
			* 1opt. Optional Overture
			{{col-end}}

			<nowiki>*</nowiki>Appears on the Original Cast Recording.
	Bat Boy flees into the ], finds a wandering cow, rips its head off and slakes his animal thirst. Bat Boy soliloquizes his ] to the bloody cow head he holds in his hands ('''APOLOGY TO A COW'''). The townspeople arrive and are about to kill Bat Boy when Meredith enters and begs them to spare Bat Boy's life. She promises that if they will only listen to the story she and Dr. Parker have to tell about Bat Boy's origin, they will understand why it is wrong to kill him. Dr. Parker and Meredith then reveal the astonishing tale, to the ] and disbelief of all assembled.

			"More Blood/Kill the Bat Boy!" is included on the Original London Cast Recording. For the London West End production and cast recording, "Inside Your Heart" is replaced with the song "Mine, All Mine", and "Ugly Boy"/"Whatcha Wanna Do?" are replaced by a song called "Hey Freak". This recording begins with the end portion of dialogue before (and segues into) "Hold Me, Bat Boy". It is underscored by a portion of the song "The Cave". The track is titled "Dude! What is It?".<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://music.xcess.info/bat_boy_original_london_cast_recording.aspx \|title=Bat Boy (Original London Cast Recording) \|website=Music.Xcess.info \|date= \|access-date=2013-03-27 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315234039/http://music.xcess.info/bat_boy_original_london_cast_recording.aspx \|archive-date=March 15, 2012}}</ref>
	But the story only arouses more ] from the town, who scream for Dr. Parker to "kill the freak." Bat Boy, so devastated by the story he has just heard about himself, shocks Meredith and Shelley by agreeing with the ] — he wants to die, too. He goads Dr. Parker by calling him a coward and revealing the recent violation of his daughter.
	Despite the pleas of his wife, Dr. Parker is now ready to kill. With his ], he slices his own neck open, causing Edgar instinctively to feed. With Bat Boy attached to his throat, Dr. Parker stabs him in the back. As Dr. Parker raises the knife for a second thrust, Meredith jumps on top of Bat Boy, and she receives her own fatal blow. Meredith and Dr. Parker fall to the ground, dead ('''FINALE: I IMAGINE YOU'RE UPSET''').

			==Awards and critical reception==
	Shelley catches Bat Boy as he falls, and she alone hears his final words, with which he renounces the world of humankind and chooses to embrace what he has obviously come to see as his better half: "I am not a ], I am an ]." ('''FINALE: I AM NOT A BOY''') Shelley mourns her loss, and the townspeople transform into a ghostly ], reminding us of the lesson of the play: "Don't deny your ] inside." ('''HOLD ME, BAT BOY—REPRISE''')
			''Bat Boy: The Musical'' won the awards for best Off-Broadway musical including the ] Award, two Richard Rodgers Awards from the ], and the ] in 2001.<ref name=lortel/> Regional productions of ''Bat Boy'' have been nominated for and won awards including the 2003 ] (Boston, Massachusetts).<ref>{{cite web \|title=21st Elliot Norton Awards: 2003 \|url=http://www.stagesource.org/pages/1978_21st_elliot_norton_awards_2003.cfm \|website=StageSource.org \|access-date=February 25, 2009 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327172001/http://www.stagesource.org/pages/1978_21st_elliot_norton_awards_2003.cfm \|archive-date=March 27, 2009}}</ref> and the 1998 ] (Los Angeles).<ref>{{cite web \|title=Ovation Awards nominations, 1998, Musical/smaller, Writing of a world premiere, Leading actor/musical, Leading actress/musical \|url=https://www.allbusiness.com/services/amusement-recreation-services/4364318-1.html \|website=AllBusiness.com \|date=November 12, 1998}}{{Dead link\|date=November 2021}}</ref>

			The off-Broadway production received very positive reviews. In his review for '']'', Bruce Weber wrote, "It's remarkable what intelligent wit can accomplish".<ref>{{cite news \|last=Weber \|first=Bruce \|title=THEATER REVIEW; Who's the Guy Who Ordered the Bloody Mary on the Rocks? \|date=March 22, 2001 \|work=] \|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/22/theater/theater-review-who-s-the-guy-who-ordered-the-bloody-mary-on-the-rocks.html \|access-date=November 27, 2021 \|url-access=subscription \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031222139/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/22/theater/theater-review-who-s-the-guy-who-ordered-the-bloody-mary-on-the-rocks.html \|archive-date=2010-10-31 \|url-status=live}}</ref> ] of '']'' called it "a giggling cult hit" and "the only play in the history of the theatre whose hero ends Act I with a rabbit in his mouth, and who moves on in Act II to an entire cow's head."<ref>{{cite magazine \|last=Lahr \|first=John \|title=Bloodsucker's Ball: Camp, cult, and Complicite \|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2001/04/09/bloodsuckers-ball \|magazine=The New Yorker \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031172400/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2001/04/09/bloodsuckers-ball \|archive-date=October 31, 2020 \|date=April 1, 2001 \|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Curtain-Up'' praised : "Laurence O'Keefe's peppy and melodic pop-rock score... played by a five piece combo".<ref>{{cite web \|last=Sommers \|first=Elyse \|title=New York Review of ''Bat Boy'' \|url=http://www.curtainup.com/batboy.html \|website=CurtainUp.com \|date=March 22, 2001 \|access-date=June 9, 2009}}</ref> ] received the ] for his performance as Bat Boy.
	{{endspoiler}}

			The West End reviews were less positive. The ''CurtainUp'' reviewer wrote, "nless ''Bat Boy The Musical'' gathers a cult audience, I fear it will not linger. The newspaper critics do sometimes get it wrong, ... but they have been less kind to ''Bat Boy'' than the ]ns portrayed in the musical." The subsequent sell-out 2006 ] production of the revised score used in the West End received very positive reviews, with many suggesting the show suited this more 'scaled-down' style.<ref name=albemarle/><ref name=curtain/>
	==Controversy==
	The musical production contains depictions of ], ], ], and ] which has roused some debate. In 2005, a ] high school attempted to perform ''Bat Boy: The Musical'' for the school's spring play, but several parents objected to the play's content saying that it "was not age-appropriate". Many within the school defended their right to perform it. National radio program ] discussed the story, expressing some criticism towards the play. However, Independence High School of ] finished its closing night production of Bat Boy on March 25, 2006, though the production became very close to being shut down by several disgruntled parents, as well as the school board. However there have been schools that have been able to tone down the themes of the play to turn it into a successful High School Musical. Scotts Valley High School in California, for instance, influenced the play with Kabuki themes to make it less bloody, sexual, and controversial. The most recent high schools to stage the play are: ] in Concord, Massachusetts on April 28, 2006 through April 29, 2006; Berkeley High School in Berkeley, California, whose unabridged performance opened on Friday, May 5, 2006; El Dorado High School in Placerville, California opened on Wednesday May 3, 2006; Quinte Secondary School in Belleville, Ontario, Canada on May 4,5, and 6, 2006 and Winthrop High School in Winthrop, Massachusetts, performances on May 11, 12, and 13, 2006;A student directed and produced production was put on at East Hampton High School, Connecticut, June 2, 3, and 4, 2006.

	==~~Adaptations~~==		==References==
			{{reflist}}
	''Bat Boy: The Movie Musical'' will be filmed in ], directed by ], director of '']'', '']'' and '']''.

	==External links==		==External links==
	*		*
			*
	*
			* at Internet Off-Broadway Database
	*

	]		]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]
			]

Latest revision as of 01:42, 29 December 2023

1997 American horror rock musical

Bat Boy: The Musical
Original off-Broadway poster
Music	Laurence O'Keefe
Lyrics	Laurence O'Keefe
Book	Keythe Farley Brian Flemming
Basis	Weekly World News's Bat Boy
Productions	1997 World Premiere (Los Angeles) 2001 Off-Broadway 2003 St. Louis 2004 West End 2021 Auckland
Awards	Lucille Lortel Award 2 Richard Rodgers Awards Outer Critics Circle Award

Bat Boy: The Musical is an American horror rock musical with a book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming and music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe, based on a June 23, 1992 Weekly World News story about a half-boy, half-bat, dubbed "Bat Boy", who grew up living in a cave.

Bat Boy premiered at Actors' Gang Theatre in 1997 and has since been produced off-Broadway, in London's West End, at the Edinburgh Festival and in scores of productions throughout the world.

Production history

Bat Boy: The Musical was developed at the Directors Company and premiered at Tim Robbins' Actors' Gang Theatre on October 31, 1997. Directed by Keythe Farley, and choreography by Derick LaSalla. The cast featured Deven May as Bat Boy and Kaitlin Hopkins as Meredith Parker.

The musical opened off-Broadway at the Union Square Theatre on March 21, 2001, and closed on December 2, 2001. Produced by Robyn Goodman and Michael Alden and directed by Scott Schwartz, with choreography by Christopher Gattelli, the cast featured Deven May as Bat Boy and Kaitlin Hopkins as Meredith, Sean McCourt as Dr. Thomas Parker, Kerry Butler as Shelley Parker, Kathy Brier as Maggie/Ron Taylor, Daria Hardeman as Ruthie Taylor/Ned, Trent Armand Kendall as Rev. Hightower/Mrs. Taylor/Roy/Institute Man, Jim Price as Bud/Daisy/Pan, Richard Pruitt as Sheriff, Doug Storm as Rick Taylor/Lorraine. The swings and understudies included John Treacy Egan, Stephanie Kurtzuba, and J.P. Potter. Raquela Burt originally played Ruthie Taylor/Ned, but had to discontinue the show due to illness. The show was musically directed/keyboards by Alex Lacamoire, keyboards/assistant musical director Jason Debord, acoustic/ electric guitars Greg Skaff, electric bass Matt Rubano, drums Ed Fast. For the original cast album, the band was augmented by cello (Jeanne LeBlanc), French horn (Jeff Lang), flute/clarinet/oboe (C. Anderson), trumpet (Robert Millikan), and trombone (James E. Pugh).

The musical opened in the West End at the Shaftesbury Theatre on September 8, 2004, and ran through January 15, 2005. It again starred Deven May as Bat Boy, along with Rebecca Vere as Meredith, Johnny Barr as Dr. Parker and Emma Williams as Shelley. It had previously played at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

It entered regional theatre in 2002 beginning with the Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis, followed by New Line Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2003 and 2006. Performance rights are currently administered by Dramatists Play Service.

Background

The Weekly World News 1992 story about Bat Boy, a half-boy, half-bat found living in a cave inspired writers Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming to write a stage adaptation. They were joined by American composer/lyricist Laurence O'Keefe, and their first production premiered on Halloween, 1997.

The later London production introduced significant changes to the script and score, including the replacement of the song "Inside Your Heart" with "Mine, All Mine".

The musical differs in a few of its plot details from the Weekly World News portrayal of Bat Boy. In the musical, Bat Boy learns to speak from his adoptive family, yearns for acceptance and tries to join society, only to face hatred and violence from a town that fears him and jealous rage from his foster father.

The book deals with serious themes (such as hypocrisy, acceptance, forgiveness, racism, revenge and scapegoating) but often punctures the most serious moments with slapstick, surrealism, camp-horror and irony. The show also contains religious themes with biblical allusions, such as the quoting of Psalm 23 and Genesis 9:4 in scene 9. Act II begins with a religious revival tent meeting featuring a faith healer.

The score was written to be played by a five-piece band of guitar, two keyboards, bass and drums, but the original cast album (RCA Records) contains seven extra instruments (cello, flute, clarinet, oboe, French horn, trumpet, trombone). The music covers many styles, from rock to rap to horror-movie film score and opera. The musical was written to be performed by a cast of 10, with six men and four women playing all the roles.

Synopsis

Act I

In the fictional town of Hope Falls, West Virginia, three teenage spelunkers, Ron, Rick and Ruthie Taylor, discover the Bat Boy, a deformed humanoid creature. Bat Boy attacks Ruthie and is taken captive by Rick and Ron ("Hold Me Bat Boy"). Ruthie is taken to the hospital, and the Bat Boy is placed in the care of Sheriff Reynolds who brings him to the home of local veterinarian Dr. Parker. Meredith, Dr. Parker's wife, agrees to take him in ("Christian Charity").

Shelley, the Parkers' teenage daughter, is repulsed by the Bat Boy and infuriated by his constant screaming, but Meredith pities him and christens him with a new name: Edgar ("Ugly Boy"). Rick Taylor, Shelley's boyfriend, arrives and, infuriated by Edgar's presence, threatens to kill him with a knife ("Whatcha Wanna Do?"). This upsets Shelley, and Meredith makes Rick leave. Meredith attempts to comfort Edgar ("A Home For You").

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Hope Falls and the local ranchers are worried by their cattle which are dying inexplicably. The rumours of the discovery of a Bat Boy lead them to believe he must be preying on the cattle ("Another Dead Cow").

Dr. Parker returns home and is about to euthanize Edgar when Meredith intervenes. Meredith begs Dr. Parker not to kill Edgar, and he consents when she agrees to sleep with him. Dr. Parker celebrates what he sees as an upturn in his failing marriage and feeds Edgar animal blood ("Dance With Me Darling"). At the hospital, Ruthie is delirious from her injuries, but her mother promises the Sheriff will kill the Bat Boy or be fired ("Mrs. Taylor's Lullaby").

With the help of Meredith's patient teaching and Dr. Parker's secret feedings of blood, Edgar learns speech, etiquette and how to dress and obtains a high-school equivalency diploma ("Show You A Thing or Two"). The town council implore Dr. Parker to prevent the reviled Edgar from attending the upcoming revival meeting. Dr. Parker protests, insisting Edgar is not a threat to anyone, but is pressured into giving his word that Edgar will not attend the revival ("Christian Charity (Reprise)")

Edgar begs the Parkers to let him go to the revival ("A Home For You (Reprise)"), and Meredith eventually relents. Incensed by Meredith undermining his word, Dr. Parker grabs her aggressively, and Edgar instinctively attacks him. Meredith runs to comfort Edgar over her husband, leaving Dr. Parker humiliated and furious. Dr. Parker begins to devise a way to destroy Edgar and save his marriage to Meredith; he taunts a hungry Edgar with a live rabbit, and Edgar struggles with his feral urges to kill. Just as it seems Edgar is overcoming his hunger, Dr. Parker draws blood from the rabbit and Edgar eats it. Dr. Parker gives Ruthie Taylor a lethal injection in her hospital room, intending to blame her death on Edgar ("Comfort and Joy").

Act II

At the revival meeting Reverend Hightower offers a faith healing ("A Joyful Noise"). Meredith, Shelley and Edgar arrive, and Edgar volunteers himself for the faith healing. The town are disgusted by his presence, but Edgar implores them to accept him ("Let Me Walk Among You"). The townsfolk are won over by Edgar's eloquence and civility and embrace him ("A Joyful Noise (Reprise)").

Dr. Parker arrives at the revival and reveals Ruthie has died, blaming her death on Edgar. The townsfolk are furious and, once again, turn on Edgar. In the ensuing struggle Edgar attacks Rick Taylor; under the pretense of tending to his wounds, Dr. Parker administers Rick with a lethal injection to serve as further proof that Edgar is dangerous. The townsfolk form a mob, led by Dr. Parker, and pursue Edgar into the woods.

In the woods Shelley and Meredith look for Edgar. Together they decide that they will run away from Hope Falls and Dr. Parker. Shelley tells Meredith she is falling in love with Edgar, and Meredith's horrified response causes Shelley to run away deeper into the woods ("Three Bedroom House"). There she meets Edgar, and the two comfort each other and confess their love for each other. The Greek God of nature Pan arrives to preside over the union of Edgar and Shelley, with the help of the woodland creatures ("Children, Children").

Ron Taylor, determined to get revenge for his brother and sister, searches the slaughterhouse for Edgar. The mob mistake the noise coming from the slaughterhouse as a sign of Edgar's presence, and Mrs. Taylor sets fire to the slaughterhouse, inadvertently burning her remaining child to death. The Sheriff asks Dr. Parker to placate the mob but, instead, he whips them into a bloodthirsty frenzy, and the hunt for Edgar resumes ("More Blood/Kill The Bat Boy!").

Back in the woods Edgar is hungry for blood and begs Shelley to leave him for her own safety. Instead Shelley offers her arm to Edgar for him to feed on ("Inside Your Heart"). Just as he is about to bite, Meredith arrives and reveals she is Edgar's mother. Overcome with grief and shame, Edgar kills a cow and runs away to the cave where he was discovered. Incensed at Dr. Parker's betrayal and Meredith's deceit, Edgar pledges to kill the pair of them and embrace his inner beast ("Apology To A Cow").

The mob arrives at the cave as do Dr. Parker and Meredith. Together they reveal to the town that Edgar was the result of an experiment gone wrong; a young Parker accidentally spilled a prototype pheromone on Meredith which caused him to go mad and sexually violate her. As Meredith ran home in tears, the pheromone also attracted a colony of bats that violated her as well. Nine months later she gave birth to Shelley and Edgar. Repulsed by the deformed Edgar, Meredith asked Parker to kill him, but he could not and instead left him at the mouth of the cave where the bats adopted him.

Edgar begs Dr. Parker to kill him, but he cannot; so Edgar reveals that he slept with Shelley. Furious and overcome with grief, Dr. Parker slits his own throat, causing Edgar to leap upon him and feed, whilst Dr. Parker stabs him in the back. Meredith tries to intervene but is stabbed as well, and the three fall to the ground, dead ("Finale: I Imagine You're Upset/I Am Not A Boy").

In the aftermath, Shelley and the townsfolk reflect on the tale and the lessons they have learned ("Hold Me Bat Boy (Reprise)").

Characters

Bat Boy - Also referred to as "Edgar". A bat boy.
Meredith Parker - Wife to Thomas.
Dr. Thomas Parker - The town veterinarian. Husband to Meredith.
Shelley Parker - The rebellious daughter of Thomas and Meredith. Girlfriend of Rick. Falls in love with Edgar.
Sheriff Reynolds - The local sheriff, coming up for re-election. Sometimes doubles as Delia.
Rick Taylor - A rowdy, spelunking teenager. Kin to Ron and Ruthie, son of Mrs. Taylor. Boyfriend of Shelley. Commonly doubles as Lorraine and Mr. Dillon.
Ron Taylor - A rowdy, spelunking teenager. Kin to Rick, and Ruthie, son of Mrs. Taylor. Usually a drag role. Commonly doubles as Maggie.
Ruthie Taylor - A rowdy, spelunking teenager. Youngest of three. Kin to Rick and Ron, daughter of Mrs. Taylor. Commonly doubles as Ned.
Mrs. Taylor - An overprotective, aggressive mother. Mother of Rick, Ron, and Ruthie. Usually a drag role. Commonly doubles as Reverend Hightower, Roy and Institute Man.

Lorraine - A townswoman. Usually a drag role. Commonly doubles as Rick and Mr. Dillon.
Delia - A townswoman. Usually a drag role. Sometimes doubles as Sheriff.
Maggie - The mayor of Hope Falls. Commonly doubles as Ron.
Daisy - A townswoman. Usually a drag role. Commonly doubles as Bud and Pan.
Mr. Dillon - A rancher. Sometimes doubles as Lorraine and Rick.
Bud - A rancher. Commonly doubles as Pan and Daisy.
Ned - A rancher. Usually a drag role. Commonly doubles as Ruthie.
Roy - A townsman. Often doubles as Mrs. Taylor and Rev. Hightower.
Clem - A townsman. Usually a drag role. Often doubles as Ron and Maggie.
Reverend Billy Hightower - A preacher and faith healer who holds a travelling Tent Revival/Barbecue. Commonly doubles as Mrs. Taylor and Roy.
Pan - The Greek satyr-god of nature. Commonly doubles as Bud and Daisy.
A Doctor - Commonly doubles as Bud, Daisy and Pan.
Institute Man - Commonly doubles as Mrs. Taylor, Roy and Rev. Hightower.
Chorus - Singer/dancers, additional townsfolk

Doubling

The musical is written for a cast of ten people to play all twenty-two roles. Except for the actors playing Bat Boy, Meredith, Dr. Parker and Shelley, every cast member plays multiple roles, including at least one of another gender. The cast breakdown is usually thus:

Sheriff Reynolds/Delia (male actor)
Rick Taylor/Lorraine/Mr. Dillon (male actor)
Ron Taylor/Maggie/Clem (female actor)
Ruthie Taylor/Ned (female actor)
Mrs. Taylor/Roy/Reverend Billy Hightower/Institute Man (male actor)
Daisy/Bud/Pan/Doctor (male actor)

Songs

(As they appear in the Piano/Conductor Score)

1. Overture
1a. The Cave
2. Hold Me, Bat Boy* - Company
2a. Living Room Cue
3. Christian Charity* - Sheriff, Meredith, and Shelly
4. Ugly Boy* - Shelly
5. Whatcha Wanna Do?* - Rick and Shelly
6. A Home for You* - Meredith and Bat Boy
7. Another Dead Cow* - Company
8. Dance With Me, Darling* - Dr. Parker
9. Mrs. Taylor's Lullaby* - Mrs. Taylor
10. Show You a Thing or Two* - Meredith, Shelly, Bat Boy, Dr. Parker, and Company
11. Christian Charity (reprise)* - Sheriff, Dr. Parker, and Company
12. May I Have This Dance?
13. A Home for You (reprise)* - Bat Boy
14. Parker's Epiphany - Dr. Parker
15. Comfort and Joy* - Dr. Parker, Meredith, Shelly, Bat Boy, Sheriff, and Company
15a. Comfort and Joy (part II)* - Dr. Parker, Meredith, Shelly, Bat Boy, Sheriff and Company

16. A Joyful Noise* - Reverend Hightower and Company
16a. Come on Down!
17. Let Me Walk Among You* - Bat Boy
18. A Joyful Noise (reprise)* - Reverend Hightower and Company
18a. A Joyful Noise (playoff) - Reverend Hightower and Company
19. All Hell Breaks Loose - Company
20. Stop the Bat Boy! - Company
21. Three Bedroom House* - Meredith and Shelly
21a. Babe in the Woods
22. Children, Children* - Pan and Company
22a. Burn, You Freak, Burn
23. More Blood/Kill the Bat Boy! - Company
24. Inside Your Heart* - Bat Boy and Shelly
25. Is All That You Taught Me a Lie?
26. Apology to a Cow* - Bat Boy
26a. Hello, Father
27. Revelations
28. Finale: I Imagine You're Upset* - Bat Boy, Shelly and Company
28a. Finale: I Am Not a Boy* - Bat Boy
29. Finale: Hold Me, Bat Boy* - Shelly and Company
30. Bows
1opt. Optional Overture

*Appears on the Original Cast Recording.

"More Blood/Kill the Bat Boy!" is included on the Original London Cast Recording. For the London West End production and cast recording, "Inside Your Heart" is replaced with the song "Mine, All Mine", and "Ugly Boy"/"Whatcha Wanna Do?" are replaced by a song called "Hey Freak". This recording begins with the end portion of dialogue before (and segues into) "Hold Me, Bat Boy". It is underscored by a portion of the song "The Cave". The track is titled "Dude! What is It?".

Awards and critical reception

Bat Boy: The Musical won the awards for best Off-Broadway musical including the Lucille Lortel Award, two Richard Rodgers Awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Outer Critics Circle Award in 2001. Regional productions of Bat Boy have been nominated for and won awards including the 2003 Elliot Norton Award (Boston, Massachusetts). and the 1998 Ovation Awards (Los Angeles).

The off-Broadway production received very positive reviews. In his review for The New York Times, Bruce Weber wrote, "It's remarkable what intelligent wit can accomplish". John Lahr of The New Yorker called it "a giggling cult hit" and "the only play in the history of the theatre whose hero ends Act I with a rabbit in his mouth, and who moves on in Act II to an entire cow's head." Curtain-Up praised : "Laurence O'Keefe's peppy and melodic pop-rock score... played by a five piece combo". Deven May received the Theatre World Award for his performance as Bat Boy.

The West End reviews were less positive. The CurtainUp reviewer wrote, "nless Bat Boy The Musical gathers a cult audience, I fear it will not linger. The newspaper critics do sometimes get it wrong, ... but they have been less kind to Bat Boy than the West Virginians portrayed in the musical." The subsequent sell-out 2006 Edinburgh Festival production of the revised score used in the West End received very positive reviews, with many suggesting the show suited this more 'scaled-down' style.

References

"Directors Company History". DirectorsCompany.org. Archived from the original on April 8, 2012. Retrieved 2013-03-27.
"Bat Boy". TheActorsGang.com. Archived from the original on August 20, 2008. Retrieved February 26, 2009.
"ITDb: Show Original Cast: Bat Boy". TheatreDB.com. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
"Bat Boy: The Musical". Internet Off-Broadway Database. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
^ "Bat Boy: The Musical". Lortel.org. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved 2013-03-27.
Michael Jefferies (2023). "About". Raquela.
"Bat Boy: The Musical – Original Cast Recording 2001". MasterworksBroadway.com. 2001-06-05. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
^ "Archive Page For - Bat Boy The Musical". albemarle-london.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2010. Retrieved February 26, 2009.
^ Loveridge, Lizzie (September 8, 2004). "Bat Boy Wings It To London". CurtainUp.com.
Hanks, Robert (September 13, 2004). "A batty musical with bite, 3 stars". The Independent.
"Phoenix Theatre history, 2002". PhoenixTheatre.org. Archived from the original on February 27, 2009. Retrieved February 25, 2009.
"Bat Boy: The Musical". Dramatists.com.
Rosati, Nancy (April 22, 2001). "An Interview with Laurence O'Keefe". Talkin' Broadway.
"Bat Boy (Original London Cast Recording)". Music.Xcess.info. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved 2013-03-27.
"21st Elliot Norton Awards: 2003". StageSource.org. Archived from the original on March 27, 2009. Retrieved February 25, 2009.
"Ovation Awards nominations, 1998, Musical/smaller, Writing of a world premiere, Leading actor/musical, Leading actress/musical". AllBusiness.com. November 12, 1998.
Weber, Bruce (March 22, 2001). "THEATER REVIEW; Who's the Guy Who Ordered the Bloody Mary on the Rocks?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2010-10-31. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
Lahr, John (April 1, 2001). "Bloodsucker's Ball: Camp, cult, and Complicite". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020.
Sommers, Elyse (March 22, 2001). "New York Review of Bat Boy". CurtainUp.com. Retrieved June 9, 2009.

External links

Bat Boy plot, song list, productions at The Guide to Musical Theatre
Brief plot summary with detailed character descriptions
Bat Boy: The Musical at Internet Off-Broadway Database

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