SAXTONS RIVER — Rehearsals for the Main Street Arts winter production of Bat Boy: The Musical will be held Friday, Sept. 11, and 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 12, at 10 a.m., and Sunday, Sept. 13, at noon.
David Stern direct the large multi-age cast that offers parts for ages 12 to adult. The production team would prefer to see all who wish to try out at a minimum of two audition calls if possible.
A departure from some of the usual MSA theatrical fare, Bat Boy, with book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming and music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe, is 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.
The musical premiered at Actors Gang Theatre on Halloween 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 and has won a number of awards.
The musical tells of Bat Boy's yearning for acceptance by society while facing hatred and violence from townspeople and the jealousy of his foster father. While it deals with the serious themes of hypocrisy, acceptance, forgiveness, racism, revenge and scapegoating, the musical's lighter moments offer slapstick, surrealism, camp humor and irony.
A list of characters can be found on Wikipedia's Bat Boy: The Musical listing.
“There are numerous roles with solo responsibilities,” said Stern. ”They include: Sheriff Reynolds, Rick Taylor, Mrs. Taylor, Ruthie Taylor, Ron Taylor, The Reverend Hightower, Lorraine, Delia, Maggie, Daisy, Mr. Dillon, Bud, Ned, Roy, Clem, Maggie, and the God Pan.
“Many of these have solo songs or large sections, but we will audition these with either material auditioners prepare from this, or other shows, or with something we teach on the spot.”