(Augusta, MI) BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL swoops down on the Barn stage for an explosive engagement.  Based on the events chronicled in The Weekly World News, BAT BOY is the story of a half-boy/half-bat creature that is discovered hiding in a cave near Hope Falls , West Virginia by a group of adventure seekers. Bringing him home to the townsfolk of Hope Fall both shocks and intrigues this sleepy community, setting the tone for this roller coaster musical-comedy. If you like THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW you'll love BAT BOY! Starring Barn favorites; Scott Burkell as Dr. Thomas Parker, Penelope Alex as his wife Meredith Parker,  Joe Aiello as the sheriff, Brooke Evans and Eric Parker as several interesting and eccentric Hope Falls folks.  Ryan Stutz will portray Bat Boy. This instant cult classic is sure to be a hit, and will delight audiences with its imaginative rock score and hysterical characters!  The book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming has transformed this headline into a musical comedy of enormous proportions. This high octane musical is jam-packed with great songs, palpitating rhythms and campy dialogue. Somewhere between ROCKY HORROR and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, you’ll find BAT BOY, a wacky new musical with both tongue and fang set firmly in cheek. This off-the-wall winner blends wit, irony, and intelligence in a feast of the imagination.  Laurence O’Keefe’s upbeat score mixes rock, Broadway, gospel, and country styles, this exuberant hit combines ridiculous fun with compelling comedy. This show ribs the conventions of musical theater, defies easy categorization and frequently fools audiences’ expectations.   BAT BOY:  THE MUSICAL shocks and entertains at the same time while delivering a poignant point about acceptance .

You’d be batty to miss it! – The Star Ledger

   “Big laughs! It’s remarkable what intelligent wit can accomplish.”— The New York Times

Set design by Doug Blickle, lighting designed by Neal M. Kerr, costume design by Goulet Bartholomew, Sound designed by James Stephenson.

The Barn Theatre is located on M-96 West of Augusta.  Performances are Tuesday through Friday at 8:30 PM, Saturday at 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM, and Sunday at 5:00 PM.  Tickets are $25.00, Tuesday through Thursday and $27.50, Friday through Sunday.   Visa and MasterCard are accepted.  For tickets call (269) 731-4121.  The box office is open daily from 10:00AM-10:00 PM.

Enjoy refreshments in The Rehearsal Shed Lounge with friends before, during intermission and after the show.  There is free cabaret-style show in the Rehearsal Shed Lounge after the main stage performance.
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BAT BOY:  THE MUSICAL

Cast List and Bios

BAT BOY....................................................................... Ryan Stutz
MEREDITH PARKER.................................................... Penelope Alex
THOMAS PARKER....................................................... Scott Burkell
SHELLEY PARKER....................................................... Kelley Bray
SHERIFF........................................................................ Joe Aiello
RICK , LORRAINE , DOCTOR, DILLON...................... Eric Petersen
RON, MAGGIE, CLEM................................................. Brooke Evans
RUTHIE, NED................................................................ Rachel Simpson
MRS. TAYLOR, ROY, INSTITUTE MAN.................... Roy Brown
BUD, DAISY, PAN........................................................ Eric Parker
REV. HIGHTOWER....................................................... Will Mann

ENSEMBLE:  Kate Danielowski, Maura Hurley, Adam Laird, Zander Meisner, Kelly Meneer, Matthew Parker, Cecily Smith, Emily May Smith, Adam Standley

BAT BOY (UNDERSTUDY).......................................... Ryan J Ratliff

RYAN STUTZ
Ryan will be a sophomore when he returns to Ball State University in the fall.  He is currently majoring in musical theatre and appeared in two of Ball State's musicals his freshman year.  Ryan is thrilled to be at the Barn after spending a plethora of time in the Central Indiana theatre scene.  His favorite shows have been at the Indianapolis Civic Theatre, with dance features in HAIR and JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT and played the courier in 1776, which won him the Outstanding Vocal Soloist Civic Award.  However, his favorite role has been Joseph in JOSEPH..., which he played twice in the same year at different theatres.

PENELOPE ALEX
In her 18 seasons Penelope has made herself quite at home on the Barn stage.  She has delighted audiences with a series of compelling performances… Aldonza in MAN OF LA MANCHA, Maria in LEND ME A TENNOR, and Janet in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW come immediately to mind, as do her own favorites, such as the Beggar woman in SWEENEY TODD, Nellie in SOUTH PACIFIC (with Tom Wopat), Aurora in KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, and at the head of the list, Annie Oakley opposite Tom Wopat’s Frank Butler in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN.  Offstage and closest to her heart are her roles of Mom to Luke (9), Calli (7), Jacob (4), and Melina (born in December), and wife to Barn producer Brendan Ragotzy.  As busy as the Barn and her family keep her, Penelope still makes time to appear in commercials for such companies as Whirlpool, Felpausch, and CTS Telecom (among many others).  Be sure to listen for Penelope in the Barn’s commercial this summer!  She is a native of San Jose, CA , and like her husband Brendan, is a proud San Jose University Spartan alum.

SCOTT BURKELL
Scott comes back to the Barn for a 22^nd summer season after another eventful year in New York spent workshopping and refining his various projects: six of one (his musical with a score by Barnie Paul Loesel), and his play OUT OF IT.  His Burkell/Loesel songs are being performed by several prominent Broadway names, like Barnie Marin Mazzie, her husband and Main Stem actor Jason Daniely, Susan Egan, and Rebecca Luker, to name but a few.  He was also on Broadway and in the First National Tour of TITANIC.  In Augusta , his career has been unforgettable.  Some favorites include Molina in KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, George (opposite Marin Mazzie) in SHE LOVES ME, Felix in THE ODD COUPLE, Seymour in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, Claude in HAIR, and perhaps his all-time gem, Riff-Raff in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW.  Last season Scott played in ROCKY HORROR again, as well as Reuben in ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT, Gus in CATS, Herod in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, Mother Superior in NUNSENSE A-MEN, and an acclaimed turn as the Emcee in CABARET. 

KELLEY BRAY
Kelley recently graduated from Millikin University with a BFA in Musical Theatre, Dance minor.  Credits include Helene in SWEET CHARITY at Millikin, Lucy Understudy/Ensemble in JEKYLL & HYDE, Ensemble in NO, NO, NANETTE, and Lydia in CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD.  Barn credits include Rumpleteaser in CATS, Soul Girl/Ensemble in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (with Gary Cherone), and Annette in ANNIE.  Kelley has also performed at numerous theme parks around the East Coast.

JOE AIELLO
Joe is pleased to return to the Barn for his 24^th season.  Year after year he has proven his talent and versatility in such roles as Daddy Warbucks in ANNIE, Lee in TRUE WEST, Tevye in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Gallimard in M. BUTTERFLY, Merrick in THE ELEPHANT MAN, Mozart in AMADEUS, Albin/ZaZa in LA CAGE AUX FOLLIES, Arthur in CAMELOT, and half the town in both GREATER TUNA, and A TUNA CHRISTMAS.  A gifted director as well, Joe has won accolades for his Barn productions of CHESS, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, SHE LOVES ME, CRIMES OF THE HEART, THE MOST HAPPY FELLA, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, SWEENY TODD (co-directed with Scott Burkell), and last season's CABARET.  He lives in New York City and is currently Director of Sales for Match-Tix Group Sales and Promotions and co-owner of Allied/Hit-Tix Inc.   

ERIC PARKER
Eric couldn't be more pleased to return for a 12^th go-'round in Augusta .  Last year he was featured throughout the summer, with Judas (opposite one of his favorite '90s rockers, Gary Cherone) in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR topping his list, followed by his turns in THE FOREIGNER, and ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT as well as his cameo as Bustopher Jones in CATS.  Other favorite Barn credits include major roles in JOSEPH..., six productions of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, CHESS, BIG RIVER, TOMMY, CITY OF ANGELS , SOUTH PACIFIC, KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN, PIPPIN, and Che in EVITA, a role that introduced Eric to Chicago audiences in an award-winning production at Drury Lane Oakbrook.  Eric has continued his career at the Drury Lane , with featured performances in their JOSEPH..., ANYTHING GOES, ANNIE, CAMELOT and their T.Y.A. ALADDIN and CHARLOTTE'S WEB.  Favorites elsewhere include the title roles in AMADEUS, THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, and Claude in HAIR (European Tour).  TV: GUIDING LIGHT.  Eric lives in Chicago and is a proud Adrian native.

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