Research Trip!

The production stage manager and project director took a trip to the Zoo of Acadiana to watch the Bat Boy's relatives in what is not their natural habitat, but is the closest to it that these thespians are likely to go.  Pictures courtesy of PSM Marie Diaz.

"That cage'll never hold him!"  Well, it held up while we were there.

Bats are surprisingly photogenic when they want to be.

Production Meeting

The production team met on Saturday, March 27, to discuss progress on the show, and it's really coming together.  It's an exciting group of people to work with--so many talented artists in so many different fields!  We have some big ideas for the show, and supported by such a great text, it's going to be a really good experience.  Here are some pictures from the meeting, courtesy of production stage manager Marie Diaz.

Clockwise from left: supervising director Walter Brown, assistant director Adel Comeaux, project director Ruth Diaz, and dramaturge John Patrick Bray discuss the concepts for the project.

Ruth gestures dramatically to describe a point John probably already got.

Some of the ladies of the "Bat Boy" production team: Adel, Ruth, and dance choreographer Leah Twilley.

Music director Jason Pennington (left) and lead designer Scott Bailey, undoubtedly formulating brilliant plans for their aspects of the production.

Pre-Audition Auditioning Class?

Okay, auditioners, the production team has a question for you: would you be interested in attending a class on how to audition for musical theatre, to be held prior to our auditions? This class would be open to EVERYONE and attendance would NOT be a necessity in being cast in the production. It would just be an opportunity to sharpen your auditioning skills before the auditions.

Please e-mail the production team if this opportunity interests you at yourbeastinside@gmail.com . If there's enough interest we'll let you know here on the blog when the class will take place.

Production Team Announcement

The production team of "Bat Boy: The Musical" would like to welcome its two newest members, John P. Bray, dramaturge, and Kristy Chiasson-Gondron, costume designer! These are two extremely talented theatre practitioners, and we can't wait to get to work with them. They will bring great things to the production.

Here is the production team for this project:

Supervising director: Walter Brown
Assistant directors: Adel Comeaux and Ruth Diaz
Musical director: Jason Pennington
Lead designer: Scott Bailey
Stage manager: Marie Diaz
Choreographer: Leah Twilley
Fight choreographer: Steven Cooper
Technical director: Joseph Diaz
Costume designer: Kristy Chiasson-Gondron
Dramaturge: John Patrick Bray

Bat Boy Seen Leaving Rumor Mill: PRE-CASTING??

(From assistant director Ruth Diaz)

It has come to my attention that there's a rumor going around that our summer production of "Bat Boy: The Musical" is pre-cast, and that there is no point in auditioning. This is simply not true.

The roles of Meredith and Shelley have been pre-cast--this is true. The production team has decided that honesty is the best policy, and therefore we have made it public on all audition notices that these two roles are pre-cast.

To make it perfectly clear, however: NONE of the other roles have been pre-cast, no one else has been promised a role, and the production team is open to any and all auditioners for any of the multitude of other roles in this production.

I hope that this goes part of the way in stopping this rumor before it gets out of hand. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this or any other issues about the production, please do not hesitate to e-mail us at yourbeastinside@gmail.com .

Thank you.

-Ruth Diaz, assistant director

Audition times correction

An error was made in the original audition times that were announced on this blog. Auditions on Saturday, April 17 will take place at 3pm, rather than 6pm as originally stated. Sorry for the confusion, and we hope to see you at Cite! Once again, the times for auditions are:

Thursday, April 15 at 6pm.
Saturday, April 17 at 3pm.
And if necessary, callbacks will be on Saturday, April 18 at 3pm.

Twitter

Follow your friendly neighbourhood Bat Boy on Twitter!

Become a fan!

We have just launched our Facebook fan page for AUI's production of "Bat Boy"! Become a fan of the production, and get updates on your Facebook account!

Audition flyer

AUDITIONS

Audition dates have been set!

Auditions for Bat Boy will take place on April 15 at 6pm and April 17 at 3pm, at Cite des Arts in downtown Lafayette. Callbacks, if necessary, will take place on April 18 at 3pm. Continue reading the announcement for audition requirements, and we will see you at Cite!

Bat Boy is the Lucille Lortel- and Outer Critics Circle Award-winning re-imagining of the story of the eponymous Weekly World News star. This high-energy, emotionally complex show brings to life the story of the Bat Boy, dragged out of his cave and taught by a veterinarian's family how to act like a human. When he innocently attempts to fit in with human society in the economically crippled town of Hope Falls, the desperate people turn on him. This darkly comic and hysterically tragic musical, which examines what it is to be human and how the past never leaves us, is recommended for adults due to controversial subject matter (18+, 16+ with written parental permission--forms will be available at auditions and on the production blog).

Please prepare an upbeat contemporary Broadway musical number for auditions, and bring sheet music. An accompanist will be present. If you do not have sheet music you may contact the production team--we will have several selections from appropriate shows at the theatre. Some suggestions for appropriate musicals are Rent, Ragtime, Avenue Q, Wicked, and anything from the works of Stephen Sondheim.

The second part of the audition will be cold readings from the text. Auditioners are welcome to read for as many characters as they would like. There will also be a dance audition, so dress to move.

The production will run July 29-August 14 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

The roles are:

EDGAR (the Bat Boy): Young tenor to play 16. Charming, innocent, eager, but with an animal side.
SHELLEY PARKER: This role has been pre-cast.
MEREDITH PARKER: This role has been pre-cast.
DR. THOMAS PARKER: Tenor, 30-50. The town's veterinarian, the patriarch of the family who takes in the bat child. Charismatic, intelligent, with a dark secret and a willingness to protect it by any means.
SHERIFF REYNOLDS: Baritone to play 30-up. The only face of law enforcement in Hope Falls; good-hearted if not too bright, the Sheriff tries to keep his town from chaos.
RICK TAYLOR: Baritone/tenor to play 16-18. Shelley's boyfriend, Rick bears a grudge against the Bat Boy, and does what he thinks is right--often without considering the consequences.
REV. BILLY HIGHTOWER: Tenor OR alto to play 30-up. The traveling evangelist who tries heroically to raise the spirits of the citizens of Hope Falls.
MAYOR MAGGIE: Mezzo-soprano to play 30-up. The mayor of Hope Falls.
MRS. TAYLOR: Tenor OR alto to play 30-50. Rick, Ron, and Ruthie's sadistic mother.
PAN: Tenor OR alto, any age. The forest spirit Edgar and Shelley encounter in the woods.
RON TAYLOR: Mezzo to play mid-teens, pants role. Rick's youngest sibling, the gentlest of the Taylors.
RUTHIE TAYLOR: Any vocal range (no solos) to play young teen. Rick and Ron's sister, the middle Taylor sibling, who is bitten by the Bat Boy.
NAMED TOWNSPEOPLE (Lorraine, Daisy, Mr. Dillon, Bud, Roy, Ned, Clem): Various vocal types, ages, and genders. The desperate people of Hope Falls, struggling to survive when the second industry their town attempts fails, now willing to find a scapegoat.
CHORUS TOWNSPEOPLE

Depending on audition turnout, double- and triple-casting is likely.