Casting Announced for Griffin Theatre’s BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL – June 4 – July 24, 2016 at The Den Theatre – Chicago Premiere!

Casting Announced for Griffin Theatre's BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL - June 4 - July 24, 2016 at The Den Theatre - Chicago Premiere! 1 Griffin Theatre Company is pleased to announce casting for the Chicago premiere of the off-Broadway hit BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL, with book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming, music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe (Legally Blonde, Heathers: The Musical), direction by Scott Weinstein, music direction by Charlotte Rivard-Hoster and choreography by Rhett Guter. 

Griffin Theatre Company is pleased to announce casting for the Chicago premiere of the off-Broadway hit BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL, with book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming, music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe (Legally Blonde, Heathers: The Musical), direction by Scott Weinstein, music direction by Charlotte Rivard-Hoster and choreography by Rhett Guter

BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL will feature Henry McGinniss as Bat Boy, Tiffany Tatreau as Shelley, Matt Miles as Dr. Parker and Anne Sheridan Smith as Meredith with Kelley AbellBear BellingerErin DalyJordan Dell HarrisMichael Kingston and Jeff Meyer 

BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL will play June 4 – July 24, 2016 at The Den Theatre’s Heath Main Stage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.griffintheatre.com.

Based on a story in The Weekly World NewsBAT BOY: THE MUSICAL is a musical comedy/horror show about a half boy/half bat creature who is discovered in a cave near Hope Falls, West Virginia. The local sheriff brings Bat Boy to the home of the town veterinarian, Dr. Parker, where he is eventually accepted as a member of the family and taught to act like a “normal” boy by the veterinarian’s wife and teenage daughter.

BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL had its world premiere at the Actors Gang Theatre in 1997 and has been produced around the world, but never before in Chicago.  It is the recipient of the 2001 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical, a Richard Rodgers Development Award, the Richard Rodgers Production Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical.

The production team for BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL includes: Jeff Kmiec and Greg Pisoneault (scenic design), Izumi Inaba (costume design), Brandon Wardell (lighting design), Christopher Kriz (sound design), Mealah Heidenreich (properties design), Lolly Extract and Amber Marsh (puppet design), Majel Cuza (production manager) and Katie Messmore (stage manager).

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Title: BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL

Book: Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming

Music and Lyrics: Laurence O’Keefe

Director: Scott Weinstein

Music Director: Charlotte Rivard-Hoster
Choreographer: Rhett Guter

Cast (in alphabetical order): Kelley Abell (Maggie, Ensemble), Bear Bellinger (Reverend, Mrs. Taylor, Ensemble), Erin Daly (Ruthie, Ensemble), Jordan Dell Harris (Pan, Ensemble), Michael Kingston (Sheriff, Ensemble), Henry McGinniss (Bat Boy), Jeff Meyer (Rick, Ensemble), Matt Miles (Dr. Parker), Anne Sheridan Smith (Meredith) and Tiffany Tatreau (Shelley).

Location: The Den Theatre’s Heath Main Stage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago

Dates: Previews: Saturday, June 4 at 7:30 pm, Sunday, June 5 at 3 pm, Thursday, June 9 at 7:30 pm, Friday, June 10 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, June 11 at 7:30 pm.

Press performance: Sunday, June 12, 2016 at 7 pm

Regular run: Thursday, June 16 – Sunday, July 24, 2016

Curtain Times:  Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm.

Tickets: Previews $30. Regular run $39.50. Students, seniors and veterans $34.50 ($25 previews). Group discount are available for groups of ten or more. Single tickets are currently available at www.griffintheatre.com or by calling (866) 811-4111.

About the Director

Scott Weinstein is a Jeff Award nominated director currently based in Chicago. Favorite directing credits include Titanic (Jeff Nominated – Best Director, Best Musical) and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Griffin Theatre); She Kills Monsters (Steppenwolf Theatre); Seussical (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Princess & The Pea (Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre); The Little Mermaid (Drury Lane Theatre); the world premieres of Baristas (New York International Fringe Festival) and Ampersand (Bloomington Playwrights Project); as well as the first full productions of Murder For Two (Adirondack Theatre Festival, Hangar Theatre, 42nd Street Moon). Scott is the recipient of a Berkshire Theatre Festival Directing Fellowship and a Stage Directors and Choreographers Observership. He is currently the Associate director for the National Tour, Las Vegas, Chicago and Norwegian Cruise Line productions of Million Dollar Quartet and directed the first regional production currently running at the Lawrence Welk Theatre. He has assistant or associate directed at The Goodman Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse, Cleveland Playhouse and many more. Scott is a proud graduate of Northwestern University. www.ScottGWeinstein.com

About Griffin Theatre Company

Established in 1988 and celebrating its 28th season, the mission of the Griffin Theatre Company is to create extraordinary and meaningful theatrical experiences for both children and adults by building bridges of understanding between generations that instill in its audience an appreciation of the performing arts. Through artistic collaboration the Griffin Theatre Company produces literary adaptations, original work and classic plays that challenge and inspire, with wit, style and compassion for the audience.  For additional information, visit www.griffintheatre.com.

The Griffin Theatre is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events; and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

The Griffin Theatre’s 2015-16 season Premiere Sponsor is Jeff Graves Realtor @properties, with additional sponsor support from, The Witt Family, Northside Federal Savings and K’s Dugout.