.

Thank You

2010-08-16T11:05:00.000-07:00

The cast and crew of "Bat Boy: The Musical" wishes to thank everyone for the unbelievable support that we were shown throughout the course of this production. It was an incredible experience for us, and we were so proud to share it with you. We hope that it was as exciting and fulfilling for you as it was for us. Please check out Acting Unlimited Repertory Theatre Presents "Speech and Debate", the next project by our company. "Speech and Debate" will star "Bat Boy" alumni Adel Comeaux, Phillip Smith, Nathanael Trahan, and Rachel Silliman-Smith, with "Bat Boy" technical director Joseph Diaz directing.

Again, thank you so much for your support. You loved the Bat Boy, and we loved performing for you. Stay in touch with us, as we have no plans of stopping now!

2010-08-12T01:41:00.000-07:00

This is the beginning of the last weekend of performance for Bat Boy: The Musical! It's been an absolutely wonderful run, and the cast and crew are waiting to give their best performances yet this weekend. So it's time to experience the lives of the people of Hope Falls--if you haven't seen the show yet, come out to Cite Des Arts this weekend and join us. If you have seen the show, join us for a second time. Don't deny your beast inside!

Tickets are available at the door. For reservations, call Cite at (337) 291-1122 or reserve online at www.citedesarts.org.

2010-08-03T15:56:00.000-07:00

We are opening our second weekend of performances on Thursday, August 5th at 7:30 pm! If you have seen the show and enjoyed it, please encourage all your friends to come out and see us. If you haven't seen the show, come down and join us! Performances this weekend on Thursday, Friday and Saturday--all at 7:30!

2010-08-03T15:49:00.000-07:00

The first review of the show is in! See the review at acadianatheatrehappenings.blogspot.com or read it here:

This past weekend I had the pleasure of seeing Acting Unlimited’s production of Bat Boy: The Musical. Rumors around town and on various social media outlets all indicated that it was a great show and should not be missed. But I’m a skeptic. At best. But knowing several people in the cast and knowing several others that wanted to see it as well, I decided to venture out and take Bat Boy in for myself.

Many people have heard of the Bat Boy in some form or another for several years. What originally started out in 1992 as a headline story in the Weekly World News, inspired the musical. But don’t go in expecting a musical version of the stories in the now defunct tabloid. Playwrights Keythe Farley and Brian Fleming along with composer and lyricist Laurence O’Keefe manage to create an entirely new story for the character.

I had never read the script or seen the production. So I had very little idea of what to expect. Which is the way I recommend seeing it. With as little knowledge as possible and a willingness to go on a journey. The show opens as three teenaged siblings (Nick Dooley, Kelly Griffin and Krista Corbello) spelunk into a cave and come across a misshapen boy-like creature with a propensity to bite and spew unintelligible noises. One of the teenagers is bitten but the other two manage to capture Bat Boy and pass him over to the Sheriff (Scott Meddows). And now the fun begins. The opening number includes the entire cast as various townspeople and they all have a strange fascination with the Bat Boy. Some want to see him dead. Others just want to see him. But the small town sheriff decides the best course of action is to send him to the home of the local veterinarian. I would be giving away entirely too much if I were to expand beyond that. So I won’t. But believe me, you won’t be disappointed by the direction the story takes.

The actual production has so many strengths. The first of which is the director, Walter Brown. He has worked with several production companies locally and has done every task a community theatre has to offer. From directing to acting to lights to set design. And he is quite adept at all of those tasks. One of his strengths as a director is an adherence to the basics of theatre. As one of the few people who actually embody and practice the very essence of “community” theatre, he opens his casts to a wide range of talents and abilities. And he has the rather unique gift of taking the inexperienced and mingling them with the extremely experienced and somehow it all works out. What could easily turn out to be a woefully uneven production miraculously manages to play to the strengths of his entire cast and no one seems out of place.

The principal roles of the show are cast near perfectly and as an audience member I could not have been more pleased. Bat Boy is actually played by two different actors. The young man performing the role when I saw it was Phillip Smith. I was truly impressed as I watched the actor wearing pointy ears and fangs become the character hungry for acceptance and love. He managed to transition from feral-cave-dwelling-monster to civilized-member-of-society with grace despite his young age. Ruth Diaz (Meredith Parker) delivers a beautiful and tender multi-leveled performance that is believable despite some of the downright implausible scenarios. Cody Daigle (Dr. Thomas Parker) is well matched with her and also gives us a wonderfully nuanced performance that allows the audience to see Dr. Parker’s struggle between his own desires and the desires of the ones he loves. And somehow, despite his actions throughout the course of the story, we still manage to relate to him. Martha Diaz (Shelley Parker) is perfect as the sassy, boy crazy, tempestuous teenager with a flair for the dramatic. The supporting cast each brings something to the show that helps to create the atmosphere of the little town of Hope Falls, Virginia. (Not the least of which is Cindy Hebert’s performance of both Mrs. Taylor and Reverend Hightower. She is wonderfully committed to both roles and manages to be hysterical without upstaging her fellow actors.)

Along with the great performances come some truly great vocal abilities. Again, the principals are wonderfully cast and all handle the songs with finesse and aptitude. But I am painfully under qualified to say much more than that as I could not carry a tune in a suitcase. Let me just say that no one made me want to plug my ears and that’s a thumbs up in my book.

The set was adequately designed, if somewhat sparse. A viable solution considering how often the scenes changed. The transitions were quick and didn’t leave the audience waiting for too long. The musicians were wonderful and handled the score terrifically. I would dare say the only disconcerting thing to go through as the audience member is the tonal shift that occurs during the production. The first act is very upbeat and speaks to our human desire for redemption and a happy ending. But in the last few seconds it turns. We experience the intermission and creep back into the theatre unsure of what is to happen next. The second act presents itself more like a greek tragedy. And as the inexplicable story unfolds, the script still tries to maintain a sense of humor. This can be challenging to both the director and actors. And it sometimes leaves an audience member unsure of how to react. But I daresay that’s nit-picking.

All in the all, the production was pretty darn good. Solid direction, solid performances, solid script. And in my book, you can’t ask for more than that. Make sure to see this production if you have the chance. You won’t regret it.

---Cara Hayden

(This is Cara's first review for Acadiana Theatre Happenings. She is well-known to all in the Lafayette theatre community)

Opening Weekend

2010-08-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

Opening weekend was an absolute success! We had the privilege of performing for packed houses every night--with a sold-out performance on Saturday. The buzz is really spreading about our show and we couldn't be more excited!

This means that you need to get your tickets in advance. As a reminder, you can buy your tickets online through PayPal at the Cite des Arts website, or call to reserve at (337) 291-1122.

We are so thrilled to be sharing this product with everyone, and we can't wait for you to experience the story of the Bat Boy!

2010-07-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

Steven K. Landry of the Baton Rouge Advocate has published an article about the show in the July 29th issue of the paper.

2010-07-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

The Times of Acadiana lists Bat Boy: The Musical in the On Stage section:
http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010100727032

2010-07-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

Opening night is only two days away!

Final rehearsals are underway and the show opens on Thursday the 29th. Get tickets now online from citedesarts.org or reserve your seat by calling Cite at (337) 291-1122.

2010-07-25T00:35:00.000-07:00

The Bat Boy cast at United Blood Services on Friday, July 23rd, giving their blood, sweat and tears for the show. It was a well-spent afternoon!

2010-07-21T05:23:00.000-07:00

Check out the July 21st issue of The Independent! Our production is featured in the entertainment section.

2010-07-19T13:44:00.000-07:00

This week in Bat Boy:

Ruth Diaz (Meredith Parker), Martha Diaz (Shelley Parker) and Phillip Smith (Bat Boy) were interviewed by Judith Meriwether of KRVS (88.7 FM) about the show and the blood drive (see below). The interview will air on Wednesday, July 21st at 3 pm. Tune in to hear the actors talk about the production!

The Bat Boy blood drive takes place this Friday (July 23rd) at the UBS center at 1503 Bertrand Drive in Lafayette from 12 (noon) until 4 pm. Come by and see the cast, maybe catch a performance, and help the whole community. Here's a map showing the location.

Don't forget that you can reserve tickets by calling Cite at (337) 291-1122 or buy them online at citedesarts.org. If you want a ticket to the special Pay What You Can performance on Friday, July 30th, please call Cite for a reservation.

2010-07-07T22:49:00.000-07:00

There are some really exciting plans in the works for Bat Boy! We're busy finalizing the plans for the UBS blood drive and we'll have more details as soon as they are available.

We're also going to have a specially priced show--"Pay What You Can"! The cast and crew of Bat Boy are so proud of this production that we want to make sure that everyone can see the show, and we know that the present economy can make it difficult for a lot of people to pay for live local theatre (and that's a problem that the people of Hope Falls can sympathize with!). So we're planning for the Friday, July 30th show to be the one that audience members pay what they can to see us.

In the same vein, we know that many people of our state are hurting because of the massive oil gusher in the Gulf. So we're going to take our share of the proceeds of one night of performance and donate them to a charity benefitting the residents/fishermen of the Gulf. We're still investigating the various charities, but the benefit show will be on Friday, August 6th.

2010-07-06T04:33:00.000-07:00

Cody Daigle (our multi-talented Dr. Parker) can be heard at 1 pm on KRVS (88.7 FM) talking about Home Across the Ocean (Cody's exciting new play which will produced Off Broadway this fall), Bat Boy (of course) and other such things on Tuesday, July 6th. He'll be chatting with Cheryl Castille, guest host of Lacouture Lagniappe.

Bat Boy opens on July 29th!

2010-07-04T20:50:00.000-07:00

The rehearsal period is drawing to a close. Bat Boy: The Musical opens in 25 days! The Bat Boy/UBS blood drive is coming up, and (we hope) there will be a lot more exciting news to share in the next few days!

2010-06-30T00:33:00.000-07:00

One of actors, Krista Corbello, has written about her experiences so far in the production. Krista plays Ruthie Taylor.

Where to start? Well, I've only been in three musicals previously, so I'm not that experienced, but this show is really helping me improve. I love being able to work with so many talented and experienced people. And this is my first show working with adults! I've just always worked with kids, in dancing, and teens for school musicals....My favorite thing about being in a performance, though, is new relationships. I've made plenty of new friends who love to perform just like me! The cast has a great work ethic, and I love the director and the rest of the crew. It's been an amazing experience thus far, and I look forward to showing everyone how hard we worked!

Barnes and Noble Book Fair

2010-06-10T11:42:00.000-07:00

Exciting news!

If you're looking for an easy way to support our production, you're in luck. During the week of June 19th through June 25th, any purchases you make at Barnes and Noble--any Barnes and Noble, anywhere in the country, including the website--can help raise money for the show, at no extra cost to you.

During that week Acting Unlimited, Inc., our producing company, will get a cut of any purchases made at Barnes and Noble using our voucher number. Barnes and Noble doesn't charge you any extra; we get a percentage of the original price of the item.

To sweeten the deal for you, the cast and crew are readying a special preview performance of two numbers from the show! We will be performing at 6pm on June 19th, and 2pm on June 20th. Come check out the performance, buy a book and a cup of coffee, and help us bring the show to life!

You can print out this voucher and present it at the time of purchase:

OR, for online purchases, the voucher number that you need to benefit AUI is:

1028634

We hope to see you at Barnes and Noble on the 19th and 20th--but if you can't make it, please take this opportunity to help AUI--and to love your Bat Boy, save your Bat Boy!

Bat Boy Picture of the Day

2010-06-10T11:05:00.000-07:00

The citizens of Hope Falls present Dr. Parker (Cody Daigle, center) with an ultimatum.

From left: Gerard Ducharme, Krista Corbello, Erin Segura, Michael Mouton, Nathanael Trahan, Scott Meddows.

Bat Boy Picture of the Day

2010-06-10T11:04:00.000-07:00

Shelley (Martha Diaz) studies the Bat Boy (Erik Schneider).

Bat Boy Picture of the Day

2010-06-10T11:03:00.001-07:00

The fabulous Lorraine (Nathanael Trahan) and Chanticleer the mascot rooster.

Bat Boy Picture of the Day

2010-06-10T11:02:00.001-07:00

Meredith (Ruth Diaz) shows Edgar (Phillip Smith) a thing or two.

Bat Boy Picture of the Day

2010-06-10T11:01:00.001-07:00

Nick Dooley (Rick Taylor) makes his own spotlight.

Cara Creates

2010-06-04T17:32:00.000-07:00

The cast and crew of "Bat Boy: The Musical" would like to thank Cara Sonnier of Cara Creates for the new blog header, which will also be featured on our business cards! Visit Cara's website here.

Bat Boy Picture of the Day

2010-06-04T11:33:00.000-07:00

"It's a Bat Boy!"

Bat Boy Picture of the Day

2010-06-03T19:36:00.001-07:00

Pan and Chanticleer

Bat Boy Picture of the Day

2010-06-03T19:35:00.001-07:00

Annette gets in the spirit of the show's prosthetics.

Bat Boy Picture of the Day

2010-06-01T20:39:00.002-07:00

Bat Boy flies!

Bat Boy Picture of the Day

2010-06-01T20:39:00.000-07:00

Choreography with Leah

Bat Boy Picture of the Day

2010-05-29T16:43:00.000-07:00

More yummy cake, this time for our Bat Boy graduates: AD Adel Comeaux, Erik Schneider (Edgar), and Krista Corbello (Ruthie). Congratulations!

The candles are for Lobby Bat Annette, who turned nine this week!

Bat Boy Picture of the Day catch-up post

2010-05-28T18:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the lapse in picture posting! AD Adel Comeaux has not been slacking on the pictures, however, so here's the recap:

Bat Boy at the Disco

"Mom, why is he screaming at the chicken?" Erik gets in character with Chanticleer the Mascot Rooster.

In honor of our new rehearsal space: Behold, Baloo and Chanticleer!

Bat Boy Picture of the Day

2010-05-23T17:27:00.001-07:00

Phillip Smith, one of our Bat Boys, gives us some Weekly World News nostalgia.

Bat Boy Picture of the Day

2010-05-21T19:13:00.000-07:00

Cast members Cody Daigle (Dr. Parker) and Rachel Silliman-Smith (Daisy) both had birthdays during the week, came to rehearsal and worked hard on their birthdays. So we got them a cake.

An Introduction to Bat Boy

2010-05-21T18:48:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, May 26th, we'll be hosting a lecture on the historical and literary heritage of Bat Boy. We've been lucky enough to get two great speakers: Mr. Walter Brown, our production's supervising director and president of Acting Unlimited, Inc., and Dr. Julia Frederick, professor of history and director of the UL Lafayette Honors Program. We'll be kicking things off at two, and after the speakers have finished presenting we'll have some music from the show.

Get educated with Bat Boy!

First rehearsal

2010-05-17T23:31:00.000-07:00

The first rehearsal went fantastically! Photos are courtesy of assistant director Adel Comeaux.

Project director Ruth Diaz and her bat boys, Phillip Smith (l) and Erik Schneider, prepare the bat fangs.

Five minutes is a long time when you're waiting for adhesive to dry...in your mouth.

Musical director Jason Pennington leads the cast through the ensemble numbers for the first time.

I think the heavenly light means the basses got it!

Cast appearances coming! With a little help from their friends!

2010-05-16T21:01:00.000-07:00

Stay tuned for upcoming an upcoming event at the South Regional Branch of the Lafayette Parish Library.

Pictures of the the first read-through

2010-05-16T20:58:00.000-07:00

Community Support!

2010-05-05T16:05:00.000-07:00

The production team would like to thank Farmers-Merchants Bank for its generous donation in support of AUI and this project! Bat Boy has received much support from the community; this is just the latest example. Thanks again, Farmers-Merchants Bank!

First read-through!

2010-05-03T18:37:00.000-07:00

The cast and production team held the first read-through last week--it was amazing! The energy level and the evident commitment to the show were astonishing. Everyone is waiting for rehearsals to start and the real work to begin.

Pictures coming soon!

The Cast

2010-04-21T15:48:00.000-07:00

The production team is pleased to announce the cast of Bat Boy: The Musical. Congratulations to everyone in the cast, and we can't wait to start work on the show together!

The cast is as follows:

Edgar (the Bat Boy): Phillip Smith and Erik Schneider

Shelley Parker: Martha Diaz

Meredith Parker: Ruth Diaz

Dr. Thomas Parker: Cody Daigle

Rick Taylor: Nick Dooley

Sheriff Reynolds: Scott Meddows

Mayor Maggie: Erin Segura

Reverend Hightower: Cindy Hebert

Pan: Kristina Marshall

Mrs. Taylor: Carolyn Broussard

Ron Taylor: Kelly Griffin

Ruthie Taylor: Krista Corbello

Bud: Michael Mouton

Lorraine: Nathanael Trahan

Daisy: Rachel Silliman-Smith

Clem: Gerard Ducharme

On Our Way!

2010-04-20T08:57:00.000-07:00

Casting is complete, and our prospective cast members have been notified! Once everyone officially accepts his or her role, we'll post the final cast list here. It'll be up Wednesday night at the latest!

Thank you!

2010-04-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

Auditions are over, and we had a great turnout. The production team is extremely excited about the show, and can't wait to start the next phase of work on it.

Final casting decisions will be made and the cast list will be sent out Monday night. We know it's a long time to wait and we're sorry!

Thanks to everybody who came out and expressed such enthusiasm about this project. We think this show is going to be really special and something very different for this area, and we're so honored that you want to be a part of it--and that holds true for our readers who didn't audition but will be our audiences. (An equally important aspect of the theatre!)

So again, we apologize for the wait, but tomorrow night we'll have our cast!

Today is the (other) day!

2010-04-17T10:07:00.001-07:00

Okay everyone, last chance to audition for Bat Boy: The Musical!

Come to Cite today at 3pm and show us a thing or two...be a part of this exciting production!

Today is the day!

2010-04-15T08:10:00.001-07:00

Auditions begin today at 6pm at Cite! Just a reminder to be there early--we recommend ten to fifteen minutes. Remember, auditions are first-come, first-served, so if we have a big turnout today and you're not there early you might have a wait before you get to be heard. Be on time!

We can't wait to see everyone there. Break a leg!

"Bat Boy" on KRVS

2010-04-14T16:39:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow at 3pm, "Bat Boy: The Musical" will take over the air waves!

Well, for a few minutes at least. And one radio station.

Project director Ruth Diaz will be doing an interview with KRVS' Judith Meriwether at 3pm about auditions and the show. Listen in, and then come to auditions at Cite at 6pm!

SEE YOU THERE!

More Audition Information

2010-04-11T11:53:00.000-07:00

Hey auditioners,

With auditions five days away (!!!), here are a couple of last-minute things you need to know.

IF you are unable to get your hands on sheet music, our musical director has two "default" songs that he can play for you. One is Memories, from CATS, and the other is You'll Never Walk Alone, from CAROUSEL. In addition the project director will be bringing selections from Avenue Q, Wicked, Seussical, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. If you need a song from one of those four shows please send an e-mail to yourbeastinside@gmail.com and double-check to make sure your selection is in the books, as not all numbers from the shows are represented.

Please come to auditions with your conflicts already in mind! If you are a good fit for the production we can work around your schedule, but we need to know what it is. We plan to rehearse on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings beginning on or around May 24th, from roughly 6-9pm. (This is subject to change, but is what the production team is planning.) So any conflicts that you have between the end of May and the last day of performance (August 14th) please write down and bring to auditions so you do not forget. There will be a space on the audition form for you to let us know.

We can't wait to see all of you at auditions. This is promising to be a really exciting production, and we want you to be a part of it!

Auditioning Workshop: The Aftermath Part 1

2010-04-09T20:06:00.000-07:00

The auditioning workshop today was great! Thanks to those who turned out for it...it was really valuable and we had a lot of fun. Pictures are coming!

Due to the length that the auditioning workshop materials turned out to be, if you want a copy of them (there's one each for voice, acting, and dance), e-mail the production team at yourbeastinside@gmail.com and we'll send them to you.

We can't wait to see everybody at auditions! Only six days until they begin!

From the Daily Iberian

2010-04-07T08:19:00.001-07:00

This is an awesome article in the Daily Iberian about Bat Boy's supervising director, Walter Brown. Check it out!

Acting from California to Cajun Country

Auditioning Information

2010-04-06T07:50:00.000-07:00

The auditions are nearly upon us, so while you're all preparing, here are some things you should know about the process.

The auditions are first-come, first-served. We recommend that you be there 15-30 minutes ahead of time, and come prepared to sing and move--we will not have a vocal or physical warm-up at the auditions.

Expect to be there for a while. The auditions will take place in three parts. On Thursday, the music auditions will be held from 6-6:45, cold reads from 6:45-8, and dance auditions from 8-9. Please don't leave, as we need to see all of these aspects of your performance. Saturday, the order will be music from 3-4, cold reads from 4-5, and dance from 5-6.

For your music audition, please prepare the whole song but come in expecting to sing 16 bars. Pick your favorite 16 bars or the 16 bars that show off your voice the best. If the musical director needs to hear more, he will ask, which is why you need the whole song prepared.

Please be honest about your availability and conflicts on the auditioning form. We'd prefer to know so we can work around it rather than being blindsided after casting.

We'll have more information available at the auditioning workshop, and everything that's said there will be posted here. Again, if you plan to come to the auditioning workshop, please e-mail the production team at yourbeastinside@gmail.com.

Parental Permission Form

2010-04-03T16:51:00.000-07:00

Bat Boy: The Musical was originally produced by Tim Robbins' The Actors Gang in Los Angeles, a company known for their groundbreaking and edgy material. With this in mind, it's not hard to believe that some of the content in Bat Boy is also edgy--some might say controversial. In order to not cause undue trouble or discord, the production team has decided that auditions are open to everyone 16 and up, but auditioners between 16 and 18 will need written permission from their parents. After the jump is the parental permission form.

Given the nature of this waiver, there are some critical plot points revealed. Therefore a SPOILER WARNING is in order. Also in order is a plea from the production team for anyone who reads the parental permission form not to reveal these plot points to anyone else, for the sake of the mystery of the show. So if you need to read the parental permission form, to give it to your parents, or if you are over 18 and plan to audition and want to know what the fuss is about in terms of the controversial material, please exercise discretion and don't spoil the show for others.

PARENTAL PERMISSION FORM FOR ACTING UNLIMITED, INC'S PRODUCTION OF BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL

"Bat Boy: The Musical" is a musical originally written and produced by The Actor's Gang in Los Angeles. You are receiving this information because your child is interested in auditioning for and participating in the Acting Unlimited, Inc. production of the show. Because some of the material contained in the show may not be appropriate for children, your signature on this form will express your consent to your child's participation.

The show centers on the relationship between Edgar (the Bat Boy) and the residents of the town of Hope Falls. In several short but crucial scenes, it is revealed that Edgar and a young girl with whom he has fallen in love (and with whom he has impliedly, off-stage, consummated this relationship) are in fact half-siblings and are both the result of rapes of their mother (one by her now-husband and the other by bats). The rapes are described in the text and will be staged in a non-graphic way. There are also scenes involving drug and alcohol use.

This material will be approached sensitively by the AUI team, but may still be considered inappropriate for those under 18. By signing this form, you agree that you understand the nature of the content of the show and give your permission for your child to audition and (if cast) to participate in the AUI production of "Bat Boy: The Musical".

__________________________________________________________
Child's name

__________________________________________________________
Parent's printed name

__________________________________________________________
Parent's signature

Auditioning Workshop is a GO!

2010-04-02T16:04:00.000-07:00

We have scheduled our auditioning workshop for Friday, April 9, at 3pm, at Cite des Arts downtown! Cite is located at 109 Vine St., directly off of Jefferson.

This workshop will be an introduction to auditioning for the musical theatre, or a refresher course for those who have auditioned before but for whom it has been a while. We'll go over the basics of how to audition for a musical, what the auditors will be looking for, tips and tricks, as well as recommendations and suggestions from our own auditors.

Again, attendance at this workshop is NOT required to be cast and will NOT be taken into consideration when casting is underway. It is simply an opportunity to hone your skills and have some fun.

Please RVSP by e-mailing the production team at yourbeastinside@gmail.com , so we know how many people to expect.

Research Trip!

2010-03-28T19:10:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-28T19:04:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-03-22T15:45:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-18T21:34:00.000-07:00

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??

2010-03-18T12:21:00.001-07:00

(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

2010-03-15T08:39:00.001-07:00

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

2010-03-14T10:55:00.001-07:00

Follow your friendly neighbourhood Bat Boy on Twitter!

Become a fan!

2010-03-10T22:13:00.000-08:00

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

2010-03-10T08:21:00.001-08:00

AUDITIONS

2010-03-10T08:11:00.000-08:00

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.

Hold the Bat Boy, Fund the Bat Boy

2010-02-25T21:55:00.001-08:00

The production team of "Bat Boy: The Musical" is pleased to announce that we are the recipients of a Partnership Award from the Acadiana Center for the Arts, with funds provided by Lafayette Consolidated Government. We are proud to have ACA as a sponsor of our production, and thank them from the bottom of our hearts for their generous support. Links to both organizations' sites are available at the bottom of this page.

The Bat Boy is coming, and he has funding!

A Beginning

2010-02-25T21:40:00.001-08:00

Welcome to Your Beast Inside, the official blog of Acting Unlimited, Inc's summer 2010 production of "Bat Boy: The Musical", and welcome to the world of Hope Falls, West Virginia. Please accept our hospitality...take off your shoes and stay a while. We have quite a story to tell you.

This blog is where you will be able to keep up with all of our production's announcements: auditions, production dates, fundraisers (raffles, etc.), production updates, progress reports, funny stories, and anything else the cast and crew come up with. Please visit frequently, as this exciting production will have lots of news!

Over the next few months we will be crafting a play that tells the story of the Bat Boy, made famous by the Weekly World News. You may think you know his story already, but we guarantee that you have never heard it like this.

We invite you to enter his world and hear his tale; his, and the tale of the seemingly cursed town of Hope Falls, whose citizens are thrown into turmoil by economic crisis and the arrival of the half-bat half-human child, and the tale of the Parkers, the family whose lives are forever altered when they take in the Bat Boy.

This summer, we will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in their lives for an evening. Listen to their story and heed their warning...and don't deny your beast inside.

2010-01-04T22:06:00.001-08:00

The Bat Boy is Coming...