By Rose Picón, staff writer

 

In every society, there are certain people who are considered “abnormal.” Whether we realize it or not, we all have an image of a “normal” person, and when we see someone who doesn’t match this image, we shy away from them and consider them strange. The musical Bat Boy, which will take place this month at the Red House Arts Center, examines the issue of how society labels people as “normal” or “abnormal” through the story of a half-boy/half-bat who can’t seem to gain acceptance in a small West Virginian town.

Keyth Farley created Bat Boy after he read an article in The Weekly World News (a tabloid newspaper) about a half-bat/half-boy discovered in a cave near Hope Falls, West Virginia. In Farley’s story, two teenage boys discover Bat Boy and take him to the nearest veterinarian. The veterinarian, Dr. Parker, and his family raise Bat Boy and teach him how be a “normal” boy in society. But after Bat Boy starts to win the affections of Shelly, the teenage daughter, Dr. Parker convinces the narrow-minded people of Hope Falls to turn against him. Bat Boy and Shelly attempt to run away from Hope Falls, but are stopped and forced to return due to a shocking secret that is discovered about Bat Boy’s unholy origins. 

Laurence O’Keefe, a playwright who is known for his work on Broadway’s Legally Blond, turned Farley’s story into an electrifying musical beloved by many, especially Stephen Svoboda, the executive director of the Red House Arts Center. Svoboda directed Bat Boy in 2005 when he was the head of the play writing and directing program at the University of Miami in Florida. While at Miami, Svoboda cast Anton Briones to play the lead role as Bat Boy. Svoboda and Briones grew close during the performance and kept in touch after it wrapped.

Now, Svoboda and Briones work at the Red House as the executive and marketing directors, respectively. Being together made the duo nostalgic for their times on the Bat Boy set, and after six years, they decided to return to the script. With Briones in the lead role again, they’re determined to make Bat Boy better than ever! 

One way they’re doing this is through inclusive casting. The cast is comprised not only of professional actors from New York City, but also local actors and seniors from Syracuse high schools. Briones explains, “We’re really trying to build community through art, and that’s why we work with professional actors and community actors and kids. It’s about everybody learning.” The pair also want people to understand the message of the musical and deliver it as lightheartedly as possible. “It’s a really fantastic way to talk about being different and accepted without preaching to you,” Briones says. “I mean, it’s a freakin’ Bat Boy in West Virginia!”

Bat Boy has it all. The musical is scandalous, filled with laugh-out-loud comedy and talented actors, and isn’t hesitant to hide its gore. Briones says it best, “What could be better than laughing the whole time, but then walking away and thinking ‘Wow, that story really taught me something.’”

Bat Boy will take place from November 2-November 5. Tickets are on sale at the website and are $15 for members and $25 for non-members. The Red House Arts Center is located at 201 South West St., just steps off the Connective Corridor, a FREE bus service.