Whistling in the Dark Theatre Co.

Liam Cronin - Associate Artistic Director  (513) 646-0204

Kal Poole - Managing Director (614) 805-9110

Joe Bishara - Director (614) 645-7558

247 Clinton Heights Ave. #C

Columbus, OH 43202

THE GREEN ROOM - 1556 N. High Street

Columbus, OH 43201

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Bat Boy: The Musical!

Press Release  

2/21/2011

 

WHISTLING IN THE DARK THEATRE CO. PRESENTS:

“BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL” PLAYING MARCH & APRIL AT THE GREEN ROOM IN THE SOUTH CAMPUS GATEWAY

 

COLUMBUS, February 21, 2011 – Whistling in the Dark Theatre Co. (WITD) announces final casting for their production of “Bat Boy: The Musical” which opens on Friday, March 17th  at The Green Room (Located in the heart of the South Campus Gateway) near Ohio State University in Columbus. With story and book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming, and music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe, “Bat Boy: The Musical” became an instant hit when it opened in 2001, winning “Best Musical” awards at both the Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards.

 

“An instant classic!” – New York Post

“A wacky, whimsical, and hip tour de force.” – USA Today

“A clamorous, thigh-smacking, ground-breaking musical! – New Times L.A.

“It’s remarkable what intelligent wit can accomplish.” – New York Times

“Rarely do we see a piece of theatre that is at once as smart, silly, self-aware and easy to enjoy.” – Back Stage

 

Based on a story in the Weekly World News, this musical horror spoof about a half boy/half bat creature has had audiences rolling in the aisles since its critically-acclaimed Off-Broadway premiere. Rescued from a cave and taken in by the empathetic wife of the local veterinarian, “Edgar” quickly learns to speak and act in civilized ways – even falling in love with his mentor’s daughter. Danger looms for the narrow-minded people of Hope Falls, however, as we learn the Bat Boy’s deep, dark secret. Fast-paced and hilarious, this off-kilter satire offers clever musical numbers, a hilarious plot, surprising twists, and a lesson in the agony of being different and accepting your inner beast!

 

“Bat Boy is a cult hit and crazy fun rock musical,” says Joe Bishara (Bat Boy Director). “It deals with serious themes (such as hypocrisy, acceptance, forgiveness, racism, revenge and scapegoating), but often punctures the most serious moments with slapstick, surrealism, camp-horror and irony.”

 

The cast of “Bat Boy: The Musical” includes WITD Associate Artistic Director Liam Cronin (Bat Boy), Akil Babb (Rick Taylor, Lorraine), Heather Carvel (Meredith Parker), Don Knoblauch (Sheriff Reynolds), Adam Mesker (Daisy/Bud), Christopher Storer (Dr. Parker), Elisabeth Tate (Mr. Dillon/Clem/Doctor), Whitney Thomas Eads (Ruthie Taylor/Ned), Toni Tinsley (Rev. Hightower), Liz Wheeler (Shelley Parker), Dayton Willison (Mrs. Taylor/Roy), and  Joy Wysong (Maggie/Ron Taylor). CATCO/Phoenix Associate Artistic Director Joe Bishara directs, with musical direction by Emily Mills and Choreography by Liz Wheeler.

 

Dedicated to producing theatre in a more environmentally sustainable manner, Whistling in the Dark has made a commitment to attempt 100% recycled material on stage. “This can place a unique burden on the design team,” says Managing Director Kal Poole, “but I hope that it inspires creativity as well.” “We have a fantastic group of designers for Bat Boy and I think that our “green theatre” concept is an exciting challenge for them.” The Design team includes: Anna Grywalski (Costume Designer), Brad Steinmetz (Scenic Designer) and Matt Hazard & Liam Cronin (Lighting Designers). 

 

Whistling in the Dark first gained the attention of Columbus theatergoers in 2009 with their terrifying production of Steven Mallatratt’s gothic thriller The Woman in Black. Their recent production of the Donald Margulies high-seas adventure Shipwrecked! was named one of the “Ten Best Plays of  2010” by the Columbus Alive. The Whistlers currently operate The Green Room, formerly a coffee shop in the South Campus Gateway, which they have transformed into a sustainable theatre space. Whistling in the Dark was granted the space rent-free as a part of an ‘Emerging Artists’ project developed by The Arts Initiative at Ohio State in cooperation with the South Campus Gateway.

 

“Bat Boy: The Musical” opens Thursday, March 17th, 2011 and plays Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30 and Sundays at 2pm through April 3rd  at The Green Room (Located in the South Campus Gateway) just south of the Ohio State University Campus. Inexpensive parking is available in the Gateway Parking Garage. For tickets ($20.00), visit WITD’s website at whistlingtheatre.com or call (614) 805-9110 for more information.