STL Horror: ‘Bat Boy’ Takes Flight on Stage

In honor of Halloween and the many fantastic events that are happening around St. Louis this week, we here at Destroy the Brain will be spotlighting a different Halloween themed event every day this week.  St. Louis is a city that loves the haunting holiday, and what is better than joining in in the fun by partaking in one of these horror themed happenings.

The subject of persecution and nonacceptance of a “stranger” entering a new community has been tackled in film, books, and stage productions for years.  Though many of these stories sometimes fall to the side of melodrama, a few stand out as touching accounts that reflect our own society.  Thankfully, Bat Boy: The Musical, a story by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming and music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe, is able to touch on these complex issues while also infusing some effective humor.  If the name Bat Boy sounds familiar to you, you may recall hearing about the story of a half bat- half boy that made the “Weekly World News” back in 1992. The horrific creature’s face was plastered across the front of the paper exploiting this “poor boy” to sell papers.  News later came out that the story was fictitious and made up by the editor at the time.  Yet, the fanged character has continued to live on as a cultural icon on and off the stage.  Bat Boy: The Musical tells the tale of the creature being discovered in a cave and taken in by a veterinarian and his family in a small town.  The musical plays up the town’s fear of the horrific creature even though his family attempts to civilize him and present him as an upstanding member of society.  What’s scarier, the pointy-eared, pale skin, and sharp fanged boy, or the judgmental town?

Witness the horror yourself when Bat Boy: The Musical is presented at Lindenwood University this week and next.  Performance are at 7:30 at the Emerson Black Box Theater Oct. 27-29 and Nov. 2-4.  Tickets are $15 and can be purchased HERE.

Call (636) 949-4433 for more information.