Encores! 2026 Update?- Page 6

[Back Row]

Posted: 6/24/25 at 11:30pm

As I said, there have been a number of actors who played Bat Boy, and I’m guessing that most of them had their own take on the character. One production I saw had Bat Boy come in initially as something like Chris Kattan’s Mr. Peepers character on SNL. It was hilarious, but I’m not sure if Taylor Trench has that kind of extreme physicality in his bag of tricks. It will be interesting to see which way he takes the character. 

[nybkg609]

Posted: 6/25/25 at 1:02am

I'm currently hoping for Robyn Hurder to be cast as Queenie in "The Wild Party". Post-"Smash" closing, this is a perfect role for her. Do you agree?

[Yessica Haircut]

Posted: 6/25/25 at 5:02pm

KevinKlawitter said: "Taylor Trensch is Bat Boy"

I had Jeremy Jordan/a Jeremy Jordan type on the mind, and it wound up being his recent co-star. Funny how the universe works like that sometimes.

After mulling over some other Bat Boy casting, I am loving the idea of Kerry Butler moving up to Meredith. Also, Brian D'Arcy James strikes me as another potential great Dr Taylor. Also also, not sure how it might work out in terms of scheduling or contracts, but Gracie Lawrence could be an excellent Shelley (she's already working in an Alex Timbers-directed production).

Just figured I put all that out into the universe.

[Back Row]

Posted: 6/25/25 at 6:55pm

Ten years ago, Jeremy Jordan would have been on a short list for a role like this, but he has slowly moved away from projects like that and on to roles that recognize that he’s now a forty year old man. I never thought of him as a serious option for this role. My first thought was that Edgar would be one of the former Evan Hansens, and Shelley would be one of the Lydias from Beetlejuice. Options for Meredith include, of course, Kerry Butler, and Sarah Chase, another former Shelley who was recently in The Great Gatsby. 

Updated On: 6/25/25 at 06:55 PM

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 6/25/25 at 7:36pm

Considering they want to move this production of Bat Boy to Broadway, Taylor is not a big enough name to sell tickets to a very strange and cult musical

[Back Row]

Posted: 6/25/25 at 8:01pm

I wonder if Bat Boy could take on the kind of long term rotating cast existence in a small off Broadway house that has worked for Little Shop? Big names might be able to come and go. I’m not so sure this works in a big Broadway house anyway. 

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/25/25 at 8:04pm

Victoria Clark as Madam Arcati?

Would mean $9 in ticket sales but I'd like to see it!

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/27/25 at 2:02pm

Back Row said: "I wonder if Bat Boy could take on the kind of long term rotating cast existence in a small off Broadway house that has worked for Little Shop? Big names might be able to come and go. I’m not so sure this works in a big Broadway house anyway.

"

I'm gonna say no; the reason Little Shop has run this long is both because it's a quirky small show, AND because it's one of the most beloved musicals of all time. Bat Boy is a very niche cult show; Little Shop has had a wildly popular movie, revivals every decade or so, and even a Saturday morning cartoon. You can go into Hot Topic, Spirit Halloween or even Michaels' Craft Store and see Little Shop merchandise or knockoffs. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/27/25 at 2:47pm

darquegk said: "I'm gonna say no; the reason Little Shop has run this long is both because it's a quirky small show, AND because it's one of the most beloved musicals of all time. Bat Boy is a very niche cult show;"

Yeah I really don’t see ANY path to commercial success for Bat Boy on Broadway or even Off. Unless they did something really interesting or environmental off B, in which case why waste money at City Center? 

The two recent musicals that have found success Off-Broadway in open-ended runs have had major brand IP (Titanic + Celine Dion, plus Little Shop + star casting). And one of those apparently recouped due to a COVID stimulus bill, and one apparently didn’t actually recoup but will because of the international rights.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/27/25 at 5:04pm

Also: Little Shop is an incredibly easy show to get replacements into, because it's not very demanding and everybody is already familiar with the big songs of the score. 
 

It feels like every Encores production is rumored to be  ready to transfer. 

Updated On: 6/27/25 at 05:04 PM

[tomorrowBIGLITES]

Posted: 6/27/25 at 5:25pm

It’s funny people talk about this show like it’s so niche.

It’s very conventional “misunderstood monster” storytelling and the songs are catchy

This totally could have Broadway commercial appeal. 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 7/30/25 at 12:22pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Kerry-Butler-Alex-Newell-Andrew-Durand-More-Join-BAT-BOY-at-New-York-City-Center-20250730

Pretty good casting.  Trench, Sieber, Durand and Newell will be great in these roles.  No Shelly yet.  Concerned about Butler. We get a thin nasal sung Meredith?  The weak link for us - although great as original Shelly.  Meredith? no.

Updated On: 7/30/25 at 12:22 PM

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 7/30/25 at 12:34pm

tomorrowBIGLITES said: "
It’s funny people talk about this show likeit’s so niche.

It’s very conventional “misunderstood monster” storytelling and the songs are catchy

This totally could have Broadway commercial appeal."

Agreed. That cast recording just hits every time. 

 

[tomorrowBIGLITES]

Posted: 7/30/25 at 1:01pm

tomorrowBIGLITES said: "thirtythirtyninety said: "I’d love to see Kerry Butler move up to the mom role

I mean, Encores would be fools to not consider this idea. People would freak out"


Encores is not fools. Bravo

[Crusty Bagel]

Posted: 7/30/25 at 1:04pm

Of course my tickets for heathers was during the run of this.  I just bought new tickets cause I want to see Kerry. I’m assuming she’s going back into Heathers after this?

[Mickey3309]

Posted: 7/30/25 at 1:39pm

CoffeeBreak said: "https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Kerry-Butler-Alex-Newell-Andrew-Durand-More-Join-BAT-BOY-at-New-York-City-Center-20250730

Pretty good casting. Trench, Sieber, Durand and Newell will be great in these roles. No Shelly yet. Concerned about Butler. We get a thin nasal sung Meredith? The weak link for us - although great as original Shelly. Meredith? no."

Oh wow, really? I'm not concerned at all. So excited about this casting in particular. I agree her voice can be nasal, but thin? Anytime I've seen her her voice has sounded notably resonant and powerful. I think she'll be a stellar Meredith and sound great on things like A Home for You and Three Bedroom House - plus I think she's got the drama and the comedy chops. My longtime dream was an Ana Gasteyer Meredith, but since that opportunity now seems passed, Kerry Butler is definitely my #1 choice. I think this casting is all-round perfect in theory - we'll see. I can't wait. 

 

Updated On: 7/30/25 at 01:39 PM

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 7/30/25 at 7:09pm

I’ll believe it when I hear it.  Her voice is not robust to us.  Thin but she finds nasal placement that fools.  Just prefer a dramatic voice as opposed to nasal child-like sound.  She was a great Shelly - Meredith just needs more heft . We will see …

[kdogg36]

Posted: 7/31/25 at 10:36am

I don't know much about the show, but I'm excited for the return on Mary Faber, who was perfection in Avenue Q, American Idiot, and How To Succeed.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 7/31/25 at 10:59am

I'm so excited about Kerry Butler. Wouldn't it have been something if Deven May were her Thomas? I don't know if he's still performing. Durand will be great though, Newell too. Great cast. 

[Demitri2]

Posted: 7/31/25 at 12:33pm

One of the earliest musicals my parents took me to see was HIGH SPIRITS which is still one of my all-time favorite shows. For me, the only person who could come close to filling Bea Lillie's shoes as Madame Arcati would be Bette Midler. Tammy Grimes was also perfect casting in the role of Elvira (especially performing "Home Sweet Heaven" so I'm curious who'll also be cast in that role. 

UPDATE: Since I truly doubt Midler would ever agree to play Arcati another name just popped into my head. And that's Andrea Martin. I'm a huge fan of Bernadette Peters, Donna Murphy, Christine Ebersole, and Victoria Clark BUT the actress cast has to be innately funny. A true comedienne at heart. In the straight play, Angela Lansbury was quirky enough to pull it off yet when I saw BLITHE SPIRITS with one of the theatre's greatest dramatic actresses, Geraldine Page, she was absolutely dismal in the role. Her attempt at being a madcap medium was embarrassing. So no matter how great an actress is she has to be a consummated comedienne to pull off the role. 

Updated On: 7/31/25 at 12:33 PM

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/31/25 at 1:09pm

Scarywarhol said: "I'm so excited about Kerry Butler. Wouldn't it have been something if Deven May were her Thomas? I don't know if he's still performing. Durand will be great though, Newell too. Great cast."

The last time I saw Deven May's name, he was an understudy in SCOTLAND, PA at the Roundabout right before the pandemic. He was so astonishingly talented and BAT BOY should have been a star-making role, but he ended up being a JERSEY BOYS lifer for a while. I hope the money was good at least.

[Synecdoche2]

Posted: 7/31/25 at 2:33pm

Bat Boy and Kerry Butler have a long history together. I think she'll do a great job, and I'm glad to see she's still attached to the show all these years later.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/10/25 at 12:48pm

Here's a nerdy question:

I was thrilled to see that the original orchestrations for LA CAGE are being used at The Muny. They have been unavailable to companies of any size following the 2010 revival, as Jerry & Harvey felt that was the best version of the show, but an inferior 8-piece orchestration corresponded with the changes to the show.

Has anyone who knows the various versions of LA CAGE seen it at The Muny? Has Harvey relented and is letting them use the 1983 book, or has someone matched the new book to the old orchestrations? 

The original charts will also be used at Encores later this year, though unclear which book will be used.

Updated On: 8/10/25 at 12:48 PM

[Crusty Bagel]

Posted: 8/10/25 at 1:02pm

Neither, they’re letting Billy Porter make up new lines for the show

[Kad]

Posted: 8/10/25 at 1:05pm

I wasn't aware the book had been revised in a substantial way for the 2010 revival- what are the differences?