Casting has been announced for Bat Boy: The Musical, which will sink its fangs into the London stage in a brand new production in The Large at Southwark Playhouse from Friday 9 January to Saturday 31 January 2015.
Rob Compton will take on the title role of Bat Boy, alongside Georgina Hagen as Shelley Parker, Russell Wilcox as Sheriff, Nolan Frederick as Bud, Simon Bailey as Reverend Hightower, Andy Rees as Rick, Pepper Harrison as Ruthie and Lindsay Scigliano as Maggie. They join the previously announced Lauren Ward as Meredith Parker and Matthew White as Dr Parker.
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 Parkers wife, the boy is taught in the ways of the world and adjusts to life in this seemingly normal American family. However, normal is merely the cycle on Mrs Parkers 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 Musical won New Yorks 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.
Bat Boy: The Musical is directed by Luke Fredericks with choreography by Joey McKneely and set and costume design by Stewart Charlesworth. Casting is by Will Burton CDG.
Bat Boy: The Musical is produced by Paul Taylor-Mills Ltd, and marks their return to Southwark Playhouse following the acclaimed production of In The Heights earlier this year. Paul Taylor-Mills is delighted to be working with Equity on a special agreement between both parties which will ensure everyone on the production will receive at least the National Minimum wage.
