Bat Boy to Fly Into London's West End
By James Inverne
02 Jul 2004
The rumors have become reality. When the UK premiere production of Bat Boy closes at the West Yorkshire Playhouse on July 17, it will head to the West End.
Venue and dates are expected to be announced next week, but the deal has been finalized.
The show, about a strange-looking youth — half-human, half-bat — who fascinates the people of Hope Falls, was described by the West Yorkshire Playhouse as "somewhere between 'Edward Scissorhands' and My Fair Lady." The Guardian newspaper called it "a cult hit in the making."
Deven May, who scored raves for his performance in the Off-Broadway and Los Angeles productions of Bat Boy, returned to that role for the U.K. staging. The cast also includes Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's Emma Williams as Shelley, Ragtime's John Barr as Dr. Parker, Starlight Express' Maurey Richards as Mrs. Taylor and South Pacific's Rebecca Vere as Meredith. The company also features Andrew Bolton, Gareth Richards, Julie Jupp, Robyn Isaac, Maurey Richards, David Beckford, Thomas Goodridge, Rachel Lynes and Wyn Moss.
Composer Laurence O'Keefe is also involved in the production, which features direction by Mark Wing-Davey and musical direction by Iain Vince-Gatt. A 2001 Outer Critics Circle winner for Best Musical, Bat Boy features music and lyrics by O'Keefe and a book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming.
Deven May won the 1998 Ovation Award for Best Lead Actor in a Musical for his performance in the L.A. debut of Bat Boy. For the Off-Broadway run of Bat Boy, he received Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel nominations as well as a 2001 Theatre World Award.
For more information about the West Yorkshire Playhouse, visit www.wyplayhouse.com.
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