JEFF KORBELIK / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Thursday, July 21, 2005 7:00 pm
Laura Kendall couldn't believe her luck.
The director needed someone who could sing, dance and act well enough to play the demanding lead in "Bat Boy: The Musical" at the Lincoln Community Playhouse.
In walked Brad Bartholomai, an Alvin Ailey- and Martha Graham-trained dancer who just completed a six-month national tour in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "CATS."
"It was perfect timing," said Kendall, who is guest directing the Playhouse production, a collaboration with student-run No Boxes Productions.
"He is perfect for this role," she added. "It uses all his strengths. He inhabits this character and takes it on a journey."
"Bat Boy" opens Thursday in the Studio Theatre and is part of the Playhouse's Gallery Series, which features new and/or cutting-edge works. The show is recommended for ages 15 and older.
The work features the book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming and music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe.
For Bartholomai, a Lincoln East High School graduate, playing Bat Boy is his idea of "taking it easy."
"CATS" was his third tour he also did "Aladdin" and "Babes in Toyland" in as many years.
In "CATS," he was a "swing," meaning he was ready to step in for a male lead on any given performance.
And, yes, for those of you who are wondering, it was the same tour that featured fellow Lincoln performer Steven C. Rich, who also is back in town and will be performing in a cabaret next Friday at James Arthur Vineyards in Raymond, toured with.
"I loved touring, but I needed to take a break," said Bartholomai, noting he never has stayed in one place for longer than two months during the last three years.
"There's something to be said about sleeping in the same bed every night," he said.
Bartholomai, 24, returned in March and has been working with his voice teacher Carrie Solomon-Schulz since then.
He's been teaching and choreographing at the Playhouse. The dance sequences in last spring's Kendall-directed musical "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" were his.
He plans to head back to New York City next spring.
"I'm taking a year off to regroup and get back in shape," he said.
Bartholomai auditioned for "Bat Boy" because he found the character an interesting one to explore. He saw an off-Broadway production of it and saw himself in the challenging part.
"The role seemed liked it was something I should play," he said. "(The show) has a lot of movement and some incredible music."
Based on a story in The Weekly World News, "Bat Boy: The Musical" is a comedy/horror show about a half boy/half bat creature discovered in a cave near Hope Falls, W. Va.
For lack of a better solution, the local sheriff brings Bat Boy to the home of the town veterinarian, where the pointy-eared, fanged-tooth animal/human is eventually accepted as a member of the family and taught to act like a "normal" boy.
Bat Boy is happy with his new life, but when he naively tries to fit in with the narrow-minded citizens of Hope Falls, they turn on him.
Other cast members are Eric Ojeda, Laurie Martinez-Lessman, Dierdre Barney, Tim Mittan, Starla Martin, Mandy Murphy, Kaci Lynch, Thomas Oldham, Alice Bolin, Whitney Rhodes, Ryan Epp, Derek Outson, Chris Hynes and Seth Peterson.
Kendall said Bartholomai has done an incredible job in developing his character, which goes from a cage-climbing animal to a refined human being.
"It's really fun to see him change," she said.
Bartholomai has enjoyed the process. He said playing a bat is quite a bit different than playing a cat.
"This is great opportunity for me to work on my craft," he said.
Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.
If you go
What: "Bat Boy: The Musical"
Where: Studio Theatre, Lincoln Community Playhouse, 2500 S. 56th St.
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday and July 31; 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. next Friday and July 30
Tickets: $15 for 7:30 p.m. performances; $10 for 10:30 p.m. show; 489-7529
Note: Material may not be suitable for children.