Bat Boy Uncaved!

Diggit Dave Schroeder

Join the cast and crew of Bat Boy, including 2024 40 Under 40 honoree Ryan Dawley in the titular role, at PACA as they revisit the musical, a comedy-horror-rock musical about the headlining creature featured in a 1990s issue of the Weekly World News.

BEGINNING FRIDAY, MAR. 21

In 2004, Richard Davis cast Ryan Dawley in the titular role of Bat Boy because he was "small and wiry." Dawley revived the role in a second run in 2006. Both of those productions were at the now defunct Roadhouse Theatre. When approached about reprising the role for a 2025 PACA production, Dawley said, " I'm still small [but] a little less wiry." Director Robert Martin replied, "You haven't changed — let's do Bat Boy."

Dawley (40 Under 40 Class of 2024) credits his original 2004 run in this show as the start to his theater career. He moved to New York where he did regional theater for a time before relocating to Asia in 2009 to write and perform. COVID brought him home in 2020. Dawley is certainly a familiar face on local stages. In addition to PACA, he has performed at the Erie Playhouse, Meadville Community Theatre, Academy Theatre in Meadville, and Barrow-Civic Theatre in Franklin.

Director Robert Martin, a local theatrical veteran in his own right, is celebrating his 50th year in the Erie theatre scene. "My first role was at the Erie Playhouse as Tony in West Side Story in the summer of 1974," says Martin. He's also directed PACA productions of The Fantasticks and Weird Romance. "It's always exciting to work in the intimate space provided by PACA. Mark Tanenbaum and his staff have all become involved with each of the productions I've directed," Martin adds.

Bat Boy: The Musical is described as a comedy-horror-rock musical based on a '90s Weekly World News story about a half-human, half-bat boy who grew up living in a cave. "Bat Boy is hysterical," says Dawley (who will be wearing fangs in the production). "You will laugh, you will cry… probably from laughing. It's also very dark. The characters are quirky, the music is fantastic, and the cast and crew are absolutely incredible. There is also plenty of blood," he adds.

Martin agrees, "Despite some pervading dark themes in this show, it could be described as outrageous fun." In addition to Dawley, the cast includes a long list of Erie stage favorites including Patrick Vahey, Camellia Tatara, Brenna Thummler, Rhonda Largo, Kat McMahan, Howard Lang, Bryan Toy, Zachery Hoffman, and Dan Bainbridge. While he adds that "the show has become something of a cult favorite for many theater fans after successful runs beginning off-Broadway in 2001 and in London's West End in 2004," he recommends the show for mature audiences due to adult themes. 

Fridays and Saturdays, Mar. 21 through Apr. 5, and Thursday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Apr. 6 at 2 p.m. // $20 // For tickets and info: tickets.eriereader.com