Arts Asylum’s “Bat Boy” is no relation to Batman (or baseball)

By Glen Vaughn Petersen

Brookside’s Arts Asylum is scaring up a new show in the form of the horror comedy musical Bat Boy: The Musical. Inspired by the famed 1992 story from the tabloid Weekly World News, Bat Boy: The Musical follows the story of a half-human, half-bat creature discovered in a cave near a small town in West Virginia. After being adopted by the town veterinarian, he attempts to fit in with the people of this town with disastrous results. 

“After we pick a show and we talk about it, some sort of social issue arises in relation to them,” says Korey Childs, Artistic Director at the Arts Asylum. “As we’re still dealing with things politically like not understanding those unlike us, these musicals take on their own sort of meaning that was never intended by the playwright. Additionally, with the show being set in today’s world, we have to take on some issues that were not at the forefront of people’s conversations when the original musical was produced.”

The original Bat Boy, as described in the Weekly World News, was a half-human, half-bat creature who is frequently captured by, and escapes from, various government officials and scientists. While this show’s portrayal of the frightening Bat Boy is quite different from the original WWN take, the tabloid roots are still present within the character and the plot. 

“We come into every situation with our own preconceived notions of what we think about ourselves, the world, and other people,” adds Childs. “I welcome people to come to the show with an open mind, not to learn something, but to see humanity in its purest form.” 

As a small note, Childs also wishes to dissuade those not familiar with the musical that it is in no way, shape, or form related to the origin of Batman. “That would be an interesting story, but it’s not the one we are telling at all.” 

Bat Boy: The Musical is running at the Arts Asylum, 824 E Meyer Blvd., from September 28th to October 7th. For more information, go to www.theartsasylum.org.