Like other shows whose wings were clipped at the box office by the recent terrorist attack on New York City, Bat Boy, the Musical, is ending performances Sept. 23, but there was word Sept. 21 from production sources that the darkly comic cult fave may go on hiatus for three weeks prior to a mid October opening.

Producers of the quirky Off-Broadway tuner about a half boy/half-bat are exploring the possibility of continuing to sell tickets during a hiatus period and resuming shows in October. The time off would give potential theatregoers a chance to catch their breath in the wake of the national tragedy.

Theatregoers and tourists have kept away from Broadway and Off-Off Broadway theatres (also hotels and restaurants) since the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center. More than 6,000 are missing or dead in the murderous destruction of the Twin Towers.

Official word about results of the producers' hope of resuming Bat Boy performances would not be known until the week of Sept. 24, a spokesperson told Playbill On-Line. Options with unions, the venue and others are being explored, a spokesperson confirmed. Cast members have indicated that the troupe itself is willing to make concessions during the difficult period, until audiences make the show a money-maker again. A reduced playing schedule has also been discussed.

Off-Broadway's The Syringa Tree — feeling the same pinch at the box office — will go on hiatus Sept. 23 and resume Oct. 23, at Playhouse 91. Tickets will remain on sale during the dark period. *

Bat Boy, which flapped its way through a West Coast staging and several developmental readings over the past few years, has been hanging out — as bats do — at Off Broadway's Union Square Theatre since March 3. Its full wingspan was seen March 21, when it opened to shrieks — and cries of laughter.

The musical focuses on the tabloid-drawn tale of a half-boy, half-bat who struggles with his thirst for blood and feelings of self and love. The story of the grotesque Bat Boy boosted sales of the Weekly World News, the supermarket tabloid that has also reported about Elvis being alive and U.S. presidents playing golf with aliens.

Scott Schwartz (Jane Eyre) directs the offbeat tuner by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming (story and book), with music and lyrics by Lawrence O'Keefe, who recently won a 2001 Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Award. Songs in the show include "Hold Me, Bat Boy," "Ugly Boy," "More Blood," "Apology to a Cow," "A Joyful Noise," "Comfort and Joy," "Christian Charity," "Let Me Walk Among You."

Producers are Nancy Nagel Gibbs, RIOT Entertainment, Robyn Goodman, Jean Doumanian and The Producing Office. The piece underwent some scene changes and book tweaks during its Off-Broadway previews.

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Deven May repeats the title role he created in 1997 for The Actors' Gang in Los Angeles. He took home an Ovation Award and a Drama-Logue Award for his work and has been involved in subsequent Bat Boy readings and workshops. Kaitlin Hopkins plays Meredith, the Bat Boy's mother-figure (whose daughter becomes a love interest for the creature). Hopkins created the role in L.A. The company includes Sean McCourt (Titanic, It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues), Kerry Butler (Les Miserables, Blood Brothers), Trent Armand Kendall (The Wizard of Oz), Kathy Brier, Daria Hardeman, Jim Price, Richard Pruitt and Doug Storm.

"I heard about it through the grapevine," said Goodman, one of the producers. "I asked if I could get involved they sent me a CD. Within 20 minutes I said, 'I have to do this show!' I fell in love with the music. I hadn't heard anything so fresh and witty and original. Then I read the book and it made me roar and I found it very moving."

Observers of the readings have called the show funny and weird and romantic and heartbreaking.

"They walk that line," Goodman agreed. "Deven May is a star, in my opinion. He really is the one who makes it all work — along with director Scott Schwartz. His performance is magical."

Designers are Richard Hoover and Bryan Johnson (set), Howell Binkley (lighting), Fabio Toblini (costume) and Sunjil Rajan (sound). Musical director is Alex Lacamoire.

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The musical first spread its wings Oct. 31, 1997, in a staging by at the Actors' Gang Theatre in Hollywood, CA, with Deven May in the title role. May also performed the part in the 2000 New York workshop. Keythe Farley directed the Hollywood staging, and Schwartz (co-director of Jane Eyre) was subsequently brought on.

The musical, punctuated with rock 'n' roll and gospel, won the 1999 Richard Rodgers Development Award for staged readings. A reading was held in October 1999, as well.

In summer 2000, Schwartz said the 10-actor, July 17-Aug. 5 workshop and presentations had a dual purpose: To seek backers, but also "to experiment with staging concepts and rewrites."

Schwartz told Playbill On-Line, "The tone is dark comedy. It's very high camp, but the actors play the show quite seriously. It's wild, and rock and roll and very edgy."

Composer O'Keefe began composing at Harvard for Hasty Pudding Theatricals. He has written music and lyrics for Euphoria and The Imaginary Invalid at The Actors' Gang and arranged dance music for Disney's "Geppetto." He also composed music to The Mice, a one-act musical that is one-third of a trio of tuners under the umbrella title, 3hree.

Bat Boy tickets are $50-$55. The Union Square Theatre is at 100 E. 17th Street in Manhattan. For tickets, call (212) 307-4100. Visit the website at www.batboy themusical.com.

— By Kenneth Jones