Ithaca College

Ithaca College Theatre and the Ithaca College School of Music will present the off-Broadway hit Bat Boy: The Musical."

The story and book were written by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming; Laurence O'Keefe penned the music and lyrics. The show will be staged at 8:00 p.m. on March 25, March 27 to 29, and April 1 to 5. There will be 2:00 p.m. matinees on Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6. All performances will take place in the Clark Theatre in Dillingham Center.

Tickets can be purchased at the Ithaca College Theatre ticket office in Dillingham Center, the Clinton House ticket center in downtown Ithaca, and Cornell University's Willard Straight Hall. Prices range from $4.50 to $10.00. The Dillingham Center ticket office is open Monday through Friday, noon to 5:00 p.m., beginning March 17. For information call (607) 274-3224. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more by calling (607) 274-3796.

Praised by the New York Times as a tongue-in-cheek Gothic morality tale, "Bat Boy," according to the Times, is "bent on revealing the bat in all of us and urging us to 'Know your Bat Boy/Love your Bat Boy/Don't deny your beast inside.' "

The musical tells the story of the twisted journey of an abandoned boy discovered by three teenagers in a cave and dragged back to town. Here the misunderstood youngster is taken in by a few caring residents but loathed by the remaining townspeople. Accompanied by O'Keefe's high-energy score, Farley and Flemming's bizarre storyline takes the audience on an emotional adventure as they follow Bat Boy's exploits, conflicts, and longing for love.

Kerry Butler, a 1992 musical theater graduate of Ithaca College, starred in the original off-Broadway production as the bratty teenager Shelley Parker; Butler is currently performing on Broadway in Hairspray.

Director Lee Byron is an associate professor and chair of the Ithaca College theater arts department. Byron made his directorial debut at the College two years ago with Side Show.

Other members of the artistic team are choreographer Mary Corsaro, associate professor in the Department of Theatre Arts; and musical director Jonathan Rose '04.

Cast members for Bat Boy: The Musical include Andrew Grosshandler '05 as Bat Boy, Sara DeLaney '05 as Shelley, Brooke Sciscio '03 as Meredith, and Bruce Warren '03 as Dr. Parker.

The designing and technical team includes scenic designer Hayley Sims '04, costume designer Jessica Frish '03, lighting designer Michael Hemmenway '03, technical director Gabriel Kantor '03, and stage manager Morgan Dentch '03.

Contributed by Sarah Gordon