Photos
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Bat Boy (Matthew Lynn) hangs from his cage, as Shelley (Michaela Tropeano) watches, fascinated. Credits: Maggie Tanji
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The Sherif (Fraser Weist), Meredith Parker (Isabelle Smelkinson) and Shelley (Michaela Tropeano) Credits: Maggie Tanji
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Bat Boy experiences the power of his bloodlust for the first time. Credits: Maggie Tanji
Bat Child Found in Westfield High School Theatre Department; Musical Ensues
Tuesday, March 12, 2013 • 11:30am
WESTFIELD, NJ - The Westfield High School Theatre Department will present its spring musical, “Bat Boy—The Musical!” Thursday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m.
“Bat Boy” is an American musical based around a mysterious half-bat, half-boy dubbed (you guessed it!) Bat Boy, the subject of a 1992 tabloid article. The action takes place in fictional Hope Falls, West Virginia, and tells the story of Bat Boy (played by Rising Star nominee and High School Senior Matthew Lynn) struggling to fit into a deeply religious Bible-belt community.
The bat child is adopted into the dysfunctional Parker Family, composed of Shelley, their rebellious daughter played by Michaela Tropeano; Thomas, an alcoholic veterinarian deeply in love with his wife, played by Rising Star recipient Geoffrey Ko; and Meredith, the loving mother and wife of the family, played by Isabelle Smelkinson.
“Working on Bat Boy has been an amazing experience” said Ko. “Parker especially has been special in the sense that he is such a deep character with so many aspects. He's the antagonist of the show, but
he is neither a villain nor a bad man. It's been wonderful getting inside the head of such a character and getting the chance to portray such an amazing role onstage.”
The play doesn’t shy away from any issue, tackling themes such as hypocrisy, racism, revenge and scapegoating. When asked about the show, Smelkinson commented, “ When it comes down to it, the show is about self-acceptance and what really happens when people use a scapegoat. While many people seem off-put by some of the mature themes, the show isn't about rape or murder, but about how people's actions can affect someone.”
Performances will take place at Westfield High School, 550 Dorian Road. Tickets, which are $12, are available at the door for $12, or you can reserve tickets by emailing whstickets@westfieldnjk12.org. Doors open at 6:45 on all nights. Due to mature content, an age of 12+ is strongly recommended.
