Theatre--Audition (Musical Theatre)

Auditions for Acting Unlimited, Inc.'s production of Bat Boy: The Musical will take place at Cite Des Arts on Thursday, April 15th at 6pm and Saturday, April 17th at 3pm.

Bat Boy is the Lucille Lortel- and Outer Critics Circle Award-winning re-imagining of the story of the eponymous Weekly World News star. This high-energy, emotionally complex show brings to life the story of the Bat Boy, dragged out of his cave and taught by a veterinarian's family how to act like a human. When he innocently attempts to fit in with human society in the economically crippled town of Hope Falls, the desperate people turn on him. This darkly comic and hysterically tragic musical, which examines what it is to be human and how the past never leaves us, is recommended for adults due to mature subject matter (Auditioners must be 18+, 16+ with written parental permission--forms will be available at auditions and on the production blog).

Please prepare 16-32 bars of an upbeat contemporary Broadway musical number for auditions, and bring sheet music (but be ready to sing more of the song if the musical director requests it). An accompanist will be present. If the auditioner does not have sheet music the production team can be contacted--there will be several selections from appropriate shows at the theatre. Some suggestions for appropriate musicals are Rent, Ragtime, Avenue Q, Wicked, and anything from the works of Stephen Sondheim.  If no song is prepared, the musical director will ask to hear either "Memory" from CATS or "You'll Never Walk Alone" from Carousel.

The second part of the audition will be cold readings from the text. Auditioners are welcome to read for as many characters as they would like. There will also be a dance audition, so dress to move.

The production will run July 29-August 14 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

The roles are:

EDGAR (the Bat Boy): Young tenor to play 16. Charming, innocent, eager, but with an animal side.
SHELLEY PARKER: This role has been pre-cast.
MEREDITH PARKER: This role has been pre-cast.
DR. THOMAS PARKER: Tenor, 30-50. The town's veterinarian, the patriarch of the family who takes in the bat child. Charismatic, intelligent, with a dark secret and a willingness to protect it by any means.
SHERIFF REYNOLDS: Baritone to play 30-up. The only face of law enforcement in Hope Falls; good-hearted if not too bright, the Sheriff tries to keep his town from chaos.
RICK TAYLOR: Baritone/tenor to play 16-18. Shelley's boyfriend, Rick bears a grudge against the Bat Boy, and does what he thinks is right--often without considering the consequences.
REV. BILLY HIGHTOWER: Tenor OR alto to play 30-up. The traveling evangelist who tries heroically to raise the spirits of the citizens of Hope Falls.
MAYOR MAGGIE: Mezzo-soprano to play 30-up. The mayor of Hope Falls.
MRS. TAYLOR: Tenor OR alto to play 30-50. Rick, Ron, and Ruthie's sadistic mother.
PAN: Tenor OR alto, any age. The forest spirit Edgar and Shelley encounter in the woods.
RON TAYLOR: Mezzo to play mid-teens, pants role. Rick's youngest sibling, the gentlest of the Taylors.
RUTHIE TAYLOR: Any vocal range (no solos) to play young teen. Rick and Ron's sister, the middle Taylor sibling, who is bitten by the Bat Boy.
NAMED TOWNSPEOPLE (Lorraine, Daisy, Mr. Dillon, Bud, Roy, Ned, Clem): Various vocal types, ages, and genders. The desperate people of Hope Falls, struggling to survive when the second industry their town attempts fails, now willing to find a scapegoat.
CHORUS TOWNSPEOPLE

Depending on audition turnout, double- and triple-casting is likely.


The production team can be contacted with questions or concerns at yourbeastinside@gmail.com.