StageQ proudly presents BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL, Story and Book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming, Music and Lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe.

BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL is not about baseball. Nor is it about a young Bruce Wayne. BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL is the story of the half human/ half bat discovered in the caves of West Virginia and brought into a world not ready for him.

A story ripped from the headlines of supermarket tabloid Weekly World News, this unlikely off-Broadway sensation tells the tale of the capture, education and persecution of the beloved cult hero Bat Boy, the West Virginian Bat Child. Eager to be accepted by the world, Bat Boy learns the ways of civilization only to be shunned by all but those few who love him.

In the tradition of Sophocles, Sondheim and South Park-- with hints of Mary Shelly, Tim Burton and Mel Brooks and with dashes of Les Mis, Hee Haw and the Brothers Grimm-- BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL is just your typical romantic/tragic/musical/horror/comedy and is the logical end-point of Western Civilization. Come for the music, stay for the carnage.

BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL is StageQ’s first musical. Artistic Director Thomas McClurg said, “We chose this musical for our first, because it is about tolerance, difference, and defining what is ‘normal.’ In keeping with our four-year history, we wanted to offer a play that makes a statement about accepting people who are different from ourselves. Bat Boy is not gay, as are many of our protagonists, but he is certainly different.” Craig Johnson directs the production, with Andrew Abrams as musical director. Both Craig and Andrew bring many years of theatre experience to their StageQ debuts.

 

BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL runs April 14-30, 2005. All performances are at the Bartell Theater, 113 East Mifflin Street, Madison, Wisconsin.

Performance dates and times are

• Thursdays, April 14, 21, and 28, at 7:30pm

• Fridays, April 15, 22, and 29, at 8:00pm

• Saturdays, April 16, 23, and 30, at 8:00pm.