Press Release

Bat Boy: The Musical Opens July 13th at Players by the Sea
Story and book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming, music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe - Musical Comedy
Directed by Shirley Sacks
Musical Director Ellen Milligan
Dates: July 13,14,19,20,21,26,27, and 28 at 8pm
Tickets are $25 and $18 for Students.

Based on a story in The Weekly World News, BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL is a musical comedy/horror show about a half- boy, half -bat creature who is discovered in a cave near Hope Falls, West Virginia. For lack of a better solution, the local sheriff brings Bat Boy to the home of the town veterinarian, Dr. Parker, where he is eventually accepted as a member of the family and taught to act like a “normal” boy by the veterinarian’s wife, Meredith, and teenage daughter, Shelley.
Bat Boy is happy with his new life, but when he naively tries to fit in with the narrow-minded people of Hope Falls, they turn on him, prodded by the machinations of Dr. Parker, who secretly despises Bat Boy. Shelley and Bat Boy, who have fallen in love, run away together from the ignorant townsfolk and have a blissful coupling in the woods, but their happiness is shattered when Meredith arrives and reveals a secret. Soon the entire town arrives and hears the shocking story of Bat Boy’s unholy origin.

Bat Boy: The Musical has won several awards and rave reviews. John Lahr of The New Yorker observed that "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."

Bat Boy: The Musical premiered at Tim Robbins' Actors' Gang Theatre in L.A. on Halloween Night 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. The musical was awarded best Off-Broadway musical by both the Lucille Lortel Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award in 2001.

Director Shirley Sacks has brought together Jacksonville’s finest voices - Josh Waller, Miranda Lawson, Staci Cobb, Bill Ratliff, Michael Lipp, Russell Hainline, Maya Adkins, Lee Hamby, Julian Goldhagen, Josh Cohen, Renee Freeman, Tracy Olin, Rachel Hineman, Sam Willis and Tyler Ross to bring this Avant Garde musical romp to life. Musical Director is Ellen Milligan, Choreographer is Sam Willis with additional choreography by Niki Stokes. The Stage Manager is Nikki Blue who will be on hand to keep everything running smoothly. Be sure to make your reservations early!

“Big laughs…It’s remarkable what intelligent wit can accomplish—a jaggedly imaginative mix of skewering humor and energetic glee.” —NY Times.

“Smart, playful and funny…a giggling cult hit” —NY Magazine. “Outrageously silly and totally charming.” —NY Daily News.
“Bat Boy soars! An instant classic!” ___ The New York Post
New York Daily News.

Tickets are $25 and $18 for Students. For reservations call 249 0289 or click here for online reservations.