Batboy Dramaturgy: Ophiuchus Rising @ Edfringe 2017

BAT BOY - THE MUSICAL TO BE PRESENTED AT THE 2017 EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE

12 July, 2017 - Ophiuchus Rising, a theatre company from the greater DC area, will produce Laurence O’Keefe’s BATBOY: THE MUSICAL at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with performances on  6, 7, 8 and 10, 11, 12 August, 2017  at 19:25 at Paradise in Augustine’s the Sanctuary, venue 152, located on George IV Bridge, right off the Royal Mile, at 41 George IV Bridge, EH1 1EL. Tickets for festival performances are available online for £9.00 full price and £7.00 concession: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/bat-boy-the-musical.

What was the inspiration for this performance?

Bat Boy the musical is a cult favorite. I first became a fan after seeing it in a warehouse basement about 10 years ago. I love the compelling 80's rock score and campy, yet poignant book. After the recent presidential election in the United States and the amount of cognitive dissonance in the voting pool that elected Donald Trump, I remembered Bat Boy and how it might not only be practically applicable for the Fringe but also a therapeutic way for me to cope with the election results.

Is performance still a good space for the public discussion of ideas?

Absolutely. Now more than ever...as mentioned in prior comment


How did you become interested in making performance?


Again, witnessing the USA and other countries fall back towards nationalistic ideals, I thought the subject matter in Bat Boy would be an interesting way to look at where we are headed...but still have a good laugh along the way.


Is there any particular approach to the making of the show?

Great singing and healthy dose of camp make Bat Boy a success.


Does the show fit with your usual productions?


I think Bat Boy is the perfect match for this years Fringe. It's got a rock Musial score, campy political and social satire and a bit of B horror movie humor.


What do you hope that the audience will experience?

I hope they will laugh their asses off watching Americans making fun of stereotypical "Americans"


What strategies did you consider towards shaping this audience experience?

It's an interactive experience that isn't afraid to use some healthy doses of low-brow humor.

BATBOY: THE MUSICAL is set in “imaginary” Hope Falls, West Virginia USA, where the bigoted townsfolk are plagued by failing agriculture and are desperate to blame their troubles on any outsider. The outsider is Edgar, a half-bat mutant longing for a community. With a combination of classic horror and satire, BATBOY: THE MUSICAL packs a powerful message of acceptance in a hateful world.

BATBOY: THE MUSICAL is directed by Tony award nominee, Christopher Gerken, with musical direction and orchestrations by Bryan Eng and choreography by Kaycie Goral. Ophiuchus Rising is a semi-professional theatre company comprised of over 25 actors and staff from the Washington, D.C. area.  Gerken founded the company upon its first trip to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2009, and since then has been focused on giving talented performers the chance to experience theatre in a new and engaging way. Ophiuchus Rising has produced a wide range of shows at the Fringe, including Songs for a New World, The Laramie Project, Spring Awakening and Closer Than Ever.

The cast and company consists of:

Arianne Banda

Taylor Borie

Griffin Boswell

Joe Byrne

Ava Chenok

Callia Chuang

Isaac DeMarchi

Nikolai Granados

Alex Haddad

Kevin Hatcher

Gabriela Helf

Molly Herson

Lily James

Connor Johnson

Jackson Kalat

Katie Klepp

Adin Kramer

Emmy Lane

Reed Leventis

Benjamin London

Laura May

Allison O'Connor

Amy Richards

Calem Riggs

Sammy Strent

Lily Tender

Apple Wang

100 words

Ophiuchus Rising, a semi-professional, traveling theatre company from the greater DC area, will produce Laurence O’Keefe’s BATBOY: THE MUSICAL at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. BATBOY: THE MUSICAL is an American rock cult-classic show exploring intolerance towards society’s most vulnerable. It is directed by Christopher Gerken with musical and vocal direction by Bryan Eng and choreography by Kaycie Goral. Performances are 6-12 August, excluding the 9th and are at 19:25 at Paradise in Augustine’s The Sanctuary, venue 152. Tickets are £9.00 full price and £7.00 concession.

50 words

Ophiuchus Rising, a semi-professional theatre company from Washington, DC, will perform Laurence O’Keefe’s BATBOY: THE MUSICAL at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on 6-8 and 10-12 August at 19:25 at Paradise in Augustine’s the Sanctuary, venue 152. Tickets are £9.00 full price and £7.00 for concession.