The tabloid-drawn tale of a half-boy, half-bat who struggles with his thirst for blood and feelings of self and love, in the hills of West Virginia. He becomes involved with a local family headed by a veterinarian.
Scenic designer David Korins (Ragtime) amps up the production value, and a rousing supporting cast, including Andrew Durrand (Dead Outlaw) and Alex Newell as The God Pan, helps Bat Boy take flight, even when its wacky plot threatens to strand you in a dark cave without a flashlight.
While Timbers and O’Keefe have said they considered this revival with an eye to the show’s underlying message—essentially, don’t deny your inner beast—the idea comes across much better through gleeful nonsense than through tidiness. By the finale, we’ve moved past “be yourself” inspiration, anyway. In the grand tradition of Little Shop and Carrie, Bat Boy gives into its guignol instincts and provides us with a lot of blood. Thank god. Don’t we all, deep down, just want to rip the heads off stuffed animals?
| 1997 | Los Angeles |
World Premiere Los Angeles |
| 1999 | New York |
Reading New York |
| 2000 | New York |
Workshop New York |
| 2001 | Off-Broadway |
Original Off-Broadway Production Off-Broadway |
| 2004 | Regional (UK) |
UK Revival Regional (UK) |
| 2004 | West End |
West End Transfer West End |
| 2005 | Toronto |
Canadian Premiere Toronto |
| 2025 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway |
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