THE SHOW
Straight Edge Theatre and Patient Mango Theatre presented Bat Boy: The Musical as a part of the 2016 Edmonton International Fringe Festival.
A hilariously irreverent rock-pop musical, based on the sensational World Weekly News tabloid series. Witness for yourself the gruesomely-tragic tale of the Bat Boy: half-man, half-bat, wholly-misunderstood. Come experience the horror of provincialism, set to music! From the folks behind: HAIR ***** ; BARE *****; Reefer Madness ***** (Journal); Ordinary Days **** (Vue)
Artistic Team
Director/Choreographer – Amanda Neufeld
Musical Director – Daniel Belland
Producer/Assistant Director – Bethany Hughes
Stage Manager – Danielle Szeponski
Cast
Bat Boy – Mark Sinongco
Dr. Parker – Stephen Allred
Meredith Parker – Nadine Rivard
Shelley Parker – Alyssa Billingsley
Sheriff Reynolds/Delia/Doctor – Dustyn Tennessen
Rick Taylor/Lorraine/Father – Brian Christensen
Ron Taylor/Daisy/Pan/Institution Man – Josh Travnik
Bud/Mrs. Taylor/Reverend High Tower – Jaimi Reese
Ruthie Taylor/Mayor Maggie/Clem/Mother – Molly MacKinnon
Band
Keyboard – Daniel Belland
Bass – Daniel Unsworth
Drums – Nick Eaton
Guitar – Geoff Li
All performances were held at the La Cite Francophone in L’Uni Theatre from August 11-19, 2016.
Reviews
5 Stars “…irreverent and funny script with high energy songs belted out by a talented cast and band in this quirky rock opera.” – Todd James (Global News)
4.5 Stars “…hilarious and fun comedy that boasts no shortage of surprises.” – Clare Clancy (Edmonton Journal)
BIOS
Alyssa Billingsley
Alyssa is fulfilling a ten-year long commitment to finally doing a production of Batboy with her director and friend, Amanda, and the wonderful team of StraightEdge Theatre! She was last seen at the Edmonton Fringe in 2013 as Carrie in Carrie: The Musical (50% Fruit Theatre). Regional theatre credits include Hair (Mayfield Dinner Theatre), It’s A Wonderful Life, Little Women (Persephone Theatre), Chickens (Station Arts Centre), Canadian Tour of The Backyardigans : Sea Deep in Adventure (KOBA Entertainment), Evil Dead : The Musical (Hit and Myth/Ground Zero), Songs of A Prairie Girl (Wild Side/National Arts Centre). She is frequently a puppeteer with Wide Open Theatre, and enjoys clowning around the world in places like Peru and West Africa. Love your Batboy – and enjoy the show!’
Amanda Neufeld
Amanda is obscenely and desperately in love with this show and with this amazing cast and crew she seduced with gypsy manic in order to make them work with her. Her previous Fringe directing credits include: “Hair” (2010)- an Official Fringe Holdover, “BARE” (2011)- Sterling Nominated, and “Reefer Madness” (2012)- Holdover and Sterling Nominated. She was most recently seen acting in “Klondykes!” Presented by Theatre Network and is looking forward to playing Bonnie in Northern Lights Theatre’s upcoming production of “Bonnie and Clyde”. Amanda would like to thank the Straight Edge Theatre folk for trusting her with this beautiful beast of a show and the most brilliant actors and creative team for letting her corrupt and expose them. Thanks to Michael for all the support and love and use of your van.
Bethany HughesBethany Hughes – Producer
Bethany is truly grateful to have been a part of this “Bat Boy” family. It has been an honour to produce this work. She hopes to see you Walterdale next season where she will be directing “RED”. Thank you all for coming out and supporting the Straight Edge Theatre.
Brian Christensen
Brian is thrilled to be involved in his second show in the Edmonton Fringe Festival, having begun his fringing career as Justin Timberlake in Spearsical: The Musical (Raw Meet Productions), and is looking forward to taking on a more murder-y vibe this time around. He is an export of Victoria, B.C. and a graduate of the MacEwan music program, and is now an active member of the Edmonton arts scene and a political science student at MacEwan. You can check out his own music at brianchristensenmusic.com. Previous acting credits include Roger in RENT (TOWTTBP), Chrisin Miss Saigon (TOWTTBP), Rapunzel’s Prince in Into The Woods (Urban Arts Productions) and Jerry in The Full Monty (TOWTTBP).
Daniel Belland – Musical Director/Keys
Dan is an Edmonton-based music director, composer, and freelance musician. Recent music direction includes RENT (Two One-Way Tickets), Ordinary Days (Straight Edge Theatre), Personals (Foote in the Door Productions), Calvin Berger (Three Form Theatre), andJane Eyre (Two One-Way Tickets). Daniel was a 2012 winner of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra’s Young Composer’s Project, and the 2013 winner of the Canadian Music Centre’s Emerging Composer Competition. His music has been performed by the orchestras in Edmonton and Winnipeg, as well as at the Edmonton Fringe Festival. Dan recently finished his studies at MacEwan University towards a Bachelor’s Degree of Jazz and Contemporary Popular Music with a Composition major. Thanks for coming to the show! @danielbelland || www.danielbelland.ca
Daniel Unsworth – Bass
Daniel Unsworth is thrilled to be a part of Straight Edge Theater’s production of Bat Boy. He currently plays bass with the Edmonton Youth Orchestra and local jazz group Lands End, and has recently begun composing and producing music for film. Past credits include two Scona Theater Co. productions (Les Miserables and The Addams Family) and Three Form Theater’s Calvin Berger. Daniel is studying Civil Engineering at the University of Alberta.
Danielle Szeponski – Stage Manager
Danielle is excited to be helping out with this great company! Lately she has worked on many projects around Edmonton on shows like City Of Angels (ASM, Elope), Robin Hood (SM, Wyvern Players), She Loves Me (Props, Foot In The Door), La Cage Aux Folles and The Drowsy Chaperone, (ASM, TOWTTB), Anything Goes (ASM, Walterdale). She would also like to thank all those who come out to support community theatre! Bat Boy Lives! Enjoy the show!
Dustyn Tennessen
This is Dustyn’s second time in the Fringe Festival, and first time performing as a part of Straight Edge Theatre. Favourite credits include St Jimmy in American Idiot (SAT Co.), Brad in The Rocky Horror Show (Two One Way), and Charles Guiteau (MacEwan Theatre Arts). Dustyn has studied three years of musical theatre at Strathcona and one year in the MacEwan Theatre Arts program.
Geoff Li – Guitar
Geoff Li is a composer, arranger, and guitarist based in Edmonton, Alberta. A recent graduate of MacEwan University’s Bachelor of Music program majoring in composition, he has composed for a variety of ensembles, and has studied composing for film, video games, and other media. He is an active contributor to Edmonton’s local music scene, composing/arranging for and playing guitar in several Edmonton-based bands and groups. Geoff made his first appearance in Edmonton’s musical theater scene as the guitar player for RENT (Two One-Way Tickets to Broadway), and is excited to return for this production of Bat Boy!
Jaimi Reese
Jaimi graduated the Grant MacEwan Theatre Arts program in 2009, and is excited to be entering her final year of the BFA Acting program this September. In between all this theatre school, she’s dabbled in dinner theatre, cabarets, opera, and independant theatre. Her most recent fringe productions include Bare: A Pop Opera, and Carrie: The Musical: you may have also seen her playing Prosperine in the BFA class of 2017’s production of The Tempest. She’d like to thank her family, her friends, and her Karl for their continual support. Enjoy the show!
Josh Travnik
Josh is so happy to be back at the Edmonton Fringe in this ridiculous show! Previous Fringe credits include Ordinary Days, Pig by Roger, and ; (semicolon) the Musical. Josh has also been seen in RENT, Into the Woods, Company, Beauty and the Beast, Hairspray, Kiss Me, Kate, Word Problem, A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night. This fall Josh will be joining Grant Macewan’s Theatre Arts program.
Mark Sinongo
Mark is a graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts in Victoria, BC. Since graduation, he immersed himself in various theatre and film productions in Edmonton and Calgary. While doing so, he received his Diploma in Architectural Technology as well… because why not? He’s incredibly thrilled to work with such an amazing cast.
He’d also like to thank Straight Edge Theatre for bringing such a kickass musical to Edmonton. Some of his credits include: Johnny in American Idiot (SATCo – Fringe 2015), Zanna in Zanna, Don’t! (Three Form Theatre – Fringe 2014), and Ren in Footloose (CCPA)
Molly MacKinnon
Molly is an Edmonton based actor and producer, and she recently stepped into the world of directing as Assistant Director of “Rent” with Two One Way Tickets To Broadway. Molly founded Loose Ends Theatre, which brought Sondhiem’s “Assassins” to the 2015 Edmonton Fringe, and recently co-produced “Beautiful City: YYM Strong”, a fundraiser for Fort McMurray relief. Select performance credits include Ilse Neumann in “Spring Awakening” (Grant MacEwan), Little Red Ridinghood in “Into The Woods” (TOWTTB), and Angel City Four (Alto) in “City of Angels” (ELOPE). Stephen Allred
Nadine Rivard
Nadine is thrilled to be under the direction of Amanda and a part of the Bat Boy team. Nadine’s past credits include, Janet in Rocky Horror (TOWTTB), Tracy in Double-Double (Finally Sauces), Olive in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Elope), Nancy in Oliver! (Festival Place), and Claudia in Nine (Walterdale Playhouse). Nadine is a graduate of the MacEwan Music Diploma program and holds a degree in Music Therapy from Capilano University. Happy Fringing and enjoy the show!
Love to Owen
Nick Eaton – Drums
Nick Eaton started playing drums at the age of eight. Since then he has been in many bands (of varying styles and success) and played for many musicals (such as Bare and Reefer Madness, Patient Mango, 2011, 2012 respectively). In his spare time he enjoys fine cheeses and wood-working. In order to keep playing music and enjoying cheese, Nick runs his own painting company (so if you need a quote, stick around after the show!). Some day he will audition for the Blue Man Group. Enjoy Bat Boy!
Stephen Allred
Stephen got his first “big break” playing the role of Ichabod Crane in his Jr. High Production of Sleepy Hallow and has had a deep love for the theatre ever since. Some of his favorite past roles include Bert in Mary Poppins (Festival Players), Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls (ELOPE Theatre), Robert Martin in the Drowsy Chaperone (ELM Theatre), and Jason in Ordinary Days (Straight Edge Theatre). Stephen recently tried his hand at Opera, singing with the Edmonton Opera Chorus in Maria Stuarda.