New York City Center's gala presentation of Bat Boy: The Musical began its limited run at the Manhattan venue October 29, and reviews are flying in! See what critics are saying—and get a first look at the new staging of the Laurence O'Keefe-Keythe Farley-Brian Flemming musical—below. Performances continue through November 9, with Tony winner Alex Timbers directing.
Bat Boy features a story and book by Farley and Flemming and a score by Heathers and Legally Blonde composer O'Keefe. The cult favorite musical was adapted from the recurring character from the late Weekly World News, a half-boy, half-bat who is adopted by a human family and attempts to become a part of regular life, only to find violent hate from his hometown. City Center's revival features new songs and a revised book, plus expanded orchestrations by O'Keefe and Ben Green.
Leading the cast in the title role is Taylor Trensch, along with Kerry Butler as Meredith Parker, Gabi Carrubba as Shelley Parker, Andrew Durand as Rick Taylor, Mary Faber as Lorraine, Alan H Green as Bud, Evan Harrington as Ned, Tom McGowan as Sheriff Reynolds, John-Michael Lyles as Ron Taylor, Jacob Ming-Trent as Reverend Hightower, Alex Newell as The God Pan, Olivia Puckett as Ruthie Taylor, Marissa Rosen as Daisy, Christopher Sieber as Dr. Parker, Colin Trudell as Charley, Rema Webb as Maggie, and Marissa Jaret Winokur as Mrs. Taylor. Casting is by The Telsey Office.
Read the reviews below.
1 Minute Critic (Matthew Wexler)
New York Magazine/Vulture (Jackson McHenry)*
New York Stage Review (David Finkle)
The New York Times (Elisabeth Vincentelli)*
*This review may require creating a free account or a paid subscription.
Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
See highlights from the production in the video below, and newly released production shots in the photo gallery below.
Taylor Trensch in Bat Boy: The Musical
Taylor Trensch and Christopher Sieber in Bat Boy: The Musical
Taylor Trensch, Mary Faber, and Christopher Sieber in Bat Boy: The Musical
Gabi Carrubba and company of Bat Boy: The Musical
Taylor Trensch and company of Bat Boy: The Musical
Taylor Trensch, Alex Newell, and Gabi Carrubba in Bat Boy: The Musical
Kerry Butler, Taylor Trensch, and Christopher Sieber in Bat Boy: The Musical
Taylor Trensch in Bat Boy: The Musical
Tom McGowan, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Marissa Rosen, Alan H Green, and Jacob Ming-Trent in Bat Boy: The Musical
Alex Newell in Bat Boy
Kerry Butler in Bat Boy
Kerry Butler in Bat Boy
The show premiered in 1997 in California, coming to Off-Broadway in 2001, largely launching the career of Butler and now-three-time Tony-winning original orchestrator, Alex Lacamoire.
The City Center staging features music direction by Andrew Resnick and choreography by Connor Gallagher, along with scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Jennifer Moeller, lighting design by Justin Townsend, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, and puppet and prop design by Ray Wetmore.
Bat Boy kicks off City Center's previously announced 2025-2026 musical theatre season, which also includes an Encores! season that will feature Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray's High Spirits, running February 4-15, 2026; Michael John LaChiusa and George C. Wolfe's The Wild Party, running March 18-29, 2026; and a new revival of Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein's La Cage aux Folles, the latter with Robert O'Hara directing an all-Black cast led by Billy Porter as Albin, and performing June 17-28, 2026.
Tickets are at NYCityCenter.org.
