Long Beach Artist, Lucas Pakes Directs Bat Boy the Musical in San Pedro

The Relevant Stage Theatre Company is the first authorized company to get authorization from the authors, in cooperation with Dramatists Play Service to produce the 2004 London/Toronto revival of BAT BOY THE MUSICAL in the United States. This production of BAT BOY has numerous changes to the script and music not reflected in the Off-Broadway soundtrack. One notable change is the inclusion of a new song, “Mine, All Mine” which is embedded in the new script and alluded to in other songs and musical themes.

Directing a talented ensemble of actors is Lucas Pakes. Pakes began his arts career as a dancer, training was tested when he directed the rapidly paced multimedia stage production, Acts of Desperation which was TRS’ inaugural production. Pakes received his BA from CSU in 2005 and in addition to performing as an actor and dancer throughout Nevada and California, he interned abroad for Mark Goucher Ltd., on London’s West End. With a fondness for educational theatre and youth arts, Pakes has directed children’s theatre in Orange County and Northern California and has fostered youth arts programs in South Lake Tahoe as well as TRS Youthorizons’ recent performing arts summer camp in San Pedro that concluded with two performances of Disney’s High School Musical. Ironically enough, BAT BOY THE MUSICAL’s London run had ended earlier the same week that Pakes interned on the West End, but now that West End production will see new life in the port town of Los Angeles – the city where BAT BOY THE MUSICAL originated before its Off Broadway run in the late 1990’s.

Ripped from the headlines of The Weekly World News, BAT BOY THE MUSICAL is a classic love story with a serious bite. Part “Edward Scissorhands,” part “My Fair Lady,” This delicious twist on the modern day musical comedy tells the amazing story of a strange boy with pointy ears, his struggle to find a place in a world that shuns him, and the love that can create both miracles and madness.

It's been touted as a "hip tour de force," (USA Today), "Outrageously silly and totally charming," (The New York Daily News) and "Smart, playful and funny . . . a giggling cult hit," (The New Yorker). Its score, which mixes rock, rap, ballads, tango, and gospel, along with the traditional show tunes, is said to be outstanding.

Southern California audiences can experience the 2004 version of this cult classic musical at Warner Grand Theatre in 2008. BAT BOY THE MUSICAL opens October 9 and plays through October 19.

See the company’s website (http://www.therelevantstage.com) for online ticket purchasing and additional information. Warner Grand theatre is the last remaining functioning local cinema south of downtown L.A. and north of San Diego County. It still screens classic films on its 50 ft. screen and hosts concerts and live performing arts on its vaudeville size stage.

This theatre has for over fifteen years been a favorite filming location, seen in numerous TV series from "7th Heaven", "Melrose Place" and "Party of Five" to major features including "Worth Winning", "What's Love Got To Do With It", (as the Apollo), "Pearl Harbor", "Seabiscuit" and most recently, as a southern West Virginia Bijou in "Win A Date With Tad Hamilton".

The Relevant Stage has been the theatre company in residence at Warner Grand Theater since January, 2008.

Warner Grand theatre is a facility of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and is located at 478 West 6th Street in San Pedro, California 90731.

The Relevant Stage
Sally Lodge - Media Liaison
600 S. Pacific Avenue #220
San Pedro, CA 90731

This release was published on openPR.