Overview
Synopsis
Bat Boy: The Musical was inspired by a series of tabloid headlines published in 1992 by The Weekly World News claiming that a terrifying creature, half-man and half-bat, had been discovered in a cave, escaped, and was being pursued by government officials. In Farley, Flemming, and O’Keefe’s musical rendering of the story, a group of spelunking West Virginian teenagers discover the creature near Hope Falls. For lack of a better solution, the sheriff brings him to the local veterinarian (Dr. Parker’s) home, where he begins to assimilate to human life and become a part of the Parker family while trying to keep his penchant for sucking human blood under control. Meredith, Dr. Parker’s wife, and Shelley, his daughter, become increasingly close with the creature, whom they name Edgar, while Dr. Parker becomes more and more wary of his assimilation into the human world. When Edgar tries to ingratiate himself with the townfolk of Hope Falls, he is quickly rejected, and he and Shelley (who fall in love) run away together. After a single night of joyous freedom, tragedy strikes when Meredith finds them and reveals the dark secret of Bat Boy’s origin. With a beat-driven rock score that pays homage to the rock musicals of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, Bat Boy provides a compelling theatrical metaphor for the dangers of prejudice, intolerance, and provincialism.
Show Information
- Book
- Brian Flemming , Keythe Farley
- Music
- Laurence "Larry" O'Keefe
- Lyrics
- Laurence "Larry" O'Keefe
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1997
- Genres
- Dark Comedy, Horror
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- hope falls, west virginia, 1997
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- Dramatists Play Service
- Ideal For
- College/University, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Late Teen, Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Mrs. Taylor / Roy / Reverend Billie Hightower / Institute Man |
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either or Both |
|
Songs
*before song when it is a dance number, *before character name that only dances in a song that is sung by other characters
- 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
- 31. Optional Overture
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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