By Jason and Alisha Hagey
Salt Lake Acting Company has never shied away from bold choices, but their latest production of Bat Boy: The Musical might be their weirdest – and most wonderful – yet. Bat Boy enchants with its delightfully campy, sometimes gloriously schlocky, pulp fiction-laden premise. If Frankenstein, Little Shop of Horrors, and an episode of Jerry Springer had a baby, that baby would be Bat Boy.
In its ground-breaking June 23, 1992 cover story, “Bat Child Found in Cave,” the Weekly World News tabloid introduced the half-human, half-bat child to readers – a bat boy found in a West Virginia cave. Thus, from this bizarre origin, Bat Boy: The Musical spins a tale of small-town fear, misplaced morality, and the desperate desire to belong. It’s a horror-comedy with a heart, and SLAC’s cast (as usual) understands the assignment.
The show opens with three teenagers in a cave in West Virginia (just like the article). Enter Edgar, the eponymous Bat Boy. Before this moment, Edgar is just a local legend. Eric Sciotto (Director/Choreographer) crafts Edgar’s transformation from a snarling beast to an eloquent, melancholy dreamer with operatic, comedic flair. Sciotto ratches the comic tension like Hitchcock on hallucinogens. He pushes the spectacle to such ludicrous heights that the audience becomes dizzy with whimsy.
Julian Decker (Edgar, the Bat Boy incarnate) charts Edgar’s metamorphosis with a disarming blend of wit and ache. What begins as manic curiosity deepens into something lyrical. Decker doesn’t just play the role; he inhabits it, wielding humor and heartbreak with the grace of someone who knows that love, like language, wounds and redeems in equal measure.
Adrien Swenson (Meredith Parker), the compassionate mother figure, anchors the emotional beats with warmth. At the same time, Robert Scott Smith (Dr. Thomas Parker) injects the right dose of melodramatic menace and farcical movement. Jackie Marshall (Shelley Parker), the rebellious teen daughter, delivers standout vocals in “Inside Your Heart” and excellent chemistry with Decker. As the Parker family, Swenson, Smith, and Marshall bring layered performances and crisp vocals.
The ensemble deserves high praise for its versatility. Playing everything from gossiping townsfolk to evangelical cult members, all while nailing quick costume changes and over-the-top comedic timing. The vocals are impressively tight, especially in group numbers like “Comfort and Joy” and “Another Dead Cow.”
Doug Irey (Sheriff Reynolds), Timothy Feroah (Rick Taylor/etc.), Scotty Fletcher (Pan/etc.), Chris Curlett (Reverend Billy Hightower/etc.), Micki Martinez (Maggie/etc.), and Justin Ravago (Clem/etc.) are our eclectic ensemble. Each of them played a whole range of people. The audience was especially elated when character changes happened in front of them throughout the same scene. The ensemble sinks their teeth into every number and commits to the camp.
Alex Marshall (Music Director) ensures the eclectic score by Laurence O’Keefe (Music and Lyrics) – blending rock, gospel, and Broadway pastiche – sounds rich and well-balanced, even in the intimate space of the SLAC. The live band adds punch without overpowering the vocals.
Whenever SLAC features a live band, the energy in the room is electric. Under the direction of Marshall (Keys 1/Conductor), with Trevor Jex Coons (Conductor Sub/Keys Sub), Zach Hansen (Keys 2), Jeff Jensen (Bass), Andres Reyes (Guitar), and Wachira Waiga-Stone (Drums), the musicians deliver a pitch-perfect performance.
Jo Winiarski (Set Designer) produces an eerie and enchantingly otherworldly visual delight. Winiarski’s eye for atmospheric detail transforms the stage into a subterranean lair that becomes a living room and a meat packing plant. Jesse Portillo (Lighting Designer) produces a vibrant palette with sharp contrasts and washes of color. Portillo sculpts the emotional tones of each scene. His lighting can be haunting and hilariously outrageous, pure storytelling in light.
Thanks to the dynamic collaboration of Sofia Paredes-Kenrick (Co-Costume Designer) and Elizabeth Webb Kennington (PTP Co-Costume Designer), costume magic abounds. Balancing between believable and bizarre, Paredes-Kenrick and Kennington create mini-stories with each costume. Erika Ahlin (Props Designer) anchors the chaos with a conjurer’s touch, grounding Bat Boy’s wild absurdities in objects that pulse with presence. Every syringe, bat puppet, and stuffed animal becomes more than a prop: they’re silent castmates.
What makes this production truly special, though, is its ability to balance the absurd with the sincere. Yes, it’s a musical about a mutant bat boy. It’s full of dark humor, plot twists, and outrageous characters. But at its core, this show is about acceptance of others, of differences, and of ourselves. SLAC makes sure that the message lands with its usual sincerity and hilarity.
Bat Boy: The Musical is a must-see if you want something offbeat, intelligent, and fun. Salt Lake Acting Company’s production is sharp, heartfelt, and, like its title character, a little weird – in the best possible way.
Running Time 2 Hours + 15 Minute Intermission
Salt Lake Acting Company presents Bat Boy: The Musical
Story and book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming, with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe
168 West 500 North, Salt Lake City, UT 84103
Box Office: (801)363-7522
Open 11 AM – 5 PM, Monday – Friday with extended hours during the run of the show.
April 9th – May 4th, 2025
Wed-Sat: 7:30 PM
Sun: 1:00 PM & 6:00 PM
Additional Performances: Tuesday April 22nd @ 7:30 PM, Saturday May 3rd @ 2:00PM
Tues/Wed/Thurs/Sat Mat/Sun Eve:
Adult: $35 | Student*: $15 | 30 & Under*: $20
Fri/Sat Eve/Sun Mat:
Adult: $45 | Student*: $15 | 30 & Under*: $20
*Must present valid student ID (for student discount), or ID with date of birth (for 30 & Under Discount). Not available online, please contact the Box Office at (801)363-7522
Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more; please contact the Box Office for group reservations.
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ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION
Open Captioned Performance: April 27th at 6:00 PM
ASL Interpreted Performance: May 3rd at 2:00 PM
Audio Described Performance: May 4th at 6:00 PM
Further accessibility information is available on the website here, or by contacting our our Accessibility Coordinator Emily Sinclair at Emily@SaltLakeActingCompany.Org
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