Ten years after the last known sighting,Ā Bat BoyĀ will return to sink his fangs into the London stage in a brand new production in The Large at Southwark Playhouse.
A STRANGE bat-child is discovered in a dank cave in deepest, darkest West Virginia. For the small community of Hope Falls, the discovery threatens to shake its moral core and the residents turn to the town veterinarian, Dr. Parker, in the hope that he will know what to do with the strange creature.
Taken under the wing of Dr Parkerās wife, the boy is taught in the ways of the world and adjusts to life in this seemingly normal American family. However, ānormalā is merely the cycle on Mrs Parkerās washing machine.
Secrets, lies and a mysterious case of dead cows leave our Bat Boy at the mercy of his God-fearing community and the shocking truth that reveals the hidden beast in all of us.
A quirky story with a serious bite, Bat Boy is a delicious twist on the modern day musical comedy. The story was inspired by an article run by American tabloid The Weekly World News; a paper of fabricated stories that many unsuspecting readers believed to be real. The creation of Bat Boy became an overnight sensation and made him a pop-culture icon.
Bat Boy: The MusicalĀ won New Yorkās Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards for Best Off-Broadway Musical in 2001. It received its UK premiere in 2004 at West Yorkshire Playhouse prior to a West End run at the Shaftesbury Theatre.
Matthew WhiteĀ will play Dr Parker andĀ Lauren WardĀ will play Meredith Parker.
Bat Boy: The MusicalĀ is directed byĀ Luke FredericksĀ with choreography byĀ Joey McKneelyĀ and set and costume design byĀ Stewart Charlesworth.Ā Luke FredericksĀ andĀ Stewart CharlesworthĀ are behind the company Morphic Graffiti, who have created critically acclaimed productions ofĀ CarouselĀ at Arcola Theatre andĀ Jekyll and HydeĀ at the Union Theatre.Ā Joey McKneelyĀ is best know for directing and choreographing the 50th anniversary production ofĀ West Side StoryĀ based on the original choreography of Jerome Robbins, which debuted at Sadlerās Wells in 2008 and has since played all over the world. Broadway credits includeĀ The Boy from Oz,Ā Smokey Joeās CafĆ©Ā (Tony Award nomination), Cy ColemanāsĀ The LifeĀ (Tony Award nomination), andĀ The Wild Party.
Bat Boy: The MusicalĀ is produced byĀ Paul Taylor-Mills Ltd, and marks their return to Southwark Playhouse following the acclaimed production ofĀ In The HeightsĀ earlier this year.Ā Paul Taylor-Mills is delighted to be working withĀ EquityĀ on a special agreement between both parties which will ensure everyone on the production will receive at least the National Minimum wage.
Bat Boy: The MusicalĀ has aĀ story and book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and arrangements and orchestrations by Laurence O’Keefe and Alex Lacamoire. It is directed by Luke Fredericks with choreography by Joey McKneely andĀ set and costume design by Stewart Charlesworth. It is produced by Paul Taylor-Mills Ltd by special arrangement with Josef Weinberger.
Event: Bat Boy: The Musical
Where: Southwark Playhouse, The Large:Ā 77-85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD
When: Friday, January 9 – Saturday, January 31 2015
Time:Ā Monday ā Saturday, 7.30pm:Ā Thursdays and Saturdays, 3.00pm
Tickets: Ā£18-22 (Ā£12 previews)
To book tickets online, click here:
Box Office: 020 7407 0234
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