Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association (CGOA) stages “Bat Boy: The Musical” on May 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m. and May 5 and 12 at 2 p.m. at Columbia Center for the Arts (CCA), Hood River. Tickets are available at gorgeorchestra.org. “Bat Boy: The Musical” is rated “PG-13” for violence and references to sexual assault.
“Bat Boy: The Musical” is based on a Weekly World News story from 1992 about a half-boy, half-bat found living in a cave. Many people will remember the eye-catching tabloid image of the wide-eyed, sharp-fanged creature. The musical, premiered in 1997, expanded and invented the story of the bat boy, who learns to speak and wants to be accepted by mainstream society. In other words, the story goes from being a tabloid-selling headline to a narrative with many themes, including hypocrisy, acceptance, forgiveness, racism, revenge and scapegoating.
If that sounds way too heavy for a simple rock musical with a ridiculous premise, audiences may rest assured that the messages are tucked safely away inside infectious pop music, traditional Broadway-style tunes, comedy and at least as much laughter occasional tears. Like the tabloid headline that inspired it, “Bat Boy” embraces the weird, wacky and colorfully exaggerated characters and situations.
CGOA Stages Musical Theater’s production of “Bat Boy: The Musical” is the latest in a long-running series of musicals, which has included “Pirates of Penzance,” “Spamalot,” “The Last Five Years,” “Fun Home,” “Mamma Mia,” “Chicago,” “West Side Story,” “Rent” and “Little Shop of Horrors.” The show is directed by veteran actor and director Ashly Will, who recently directed “The Rocky Horror Show” for Big Britches at the Bingen Theatre. The cast is made up of familiar local actors and quite a few new faces joining Stages for the first time.
CCA’s theatre has been the home for outstanding musicals and other performing arts events. “Bat Boy: The Musical” is the first CGOA Stages production at CCA, the result of an exciting new partnership.
Speaking of partnerships, the musical is being funded in part by season sponsor Columbia Gorge Toyota and Honda, plus hundreds of CGOA members, donors and sponsors.
“Bat Boy: The Musical” is not the end of the CGOA season of performances. On June 14, 15 and 16, the Gorge Sinfonietta presents “Our American Home,” with music by Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber and George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with guest soloist Mitchell Jett Spencer.
Upcoming concerts also include the world premiere of Nicole Buetti’s “Spirit of Wind and Water.” On June 23, the CGOA Jazz Collective Big Band presents a special concert at Columbia Gorge Toyota and Honda in The Dalles.
Tickets and information about all events can be found at gorgeorchestra.org.
Commented
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.