Theater News

Bat Out Of Hell — The Musical Announces New York City Engagement

The Jim Steinman musical will play New York City Center this summer.

Christina Bennington and Andrew Polec in Bat Out of Hell.
Christina Bennington and Andrew Polec in Bat Out of Hell.
(© Specular)

Jim Steinman's Bat Out of Hell — The Musical is back after a sudden postponement, and will play a six-week run at New York City Center August 1-September 8. Opening night is set for August 8.

Directed by Jay Scheib, the production will star original West End cast members Andrew Polec and Christina Bennington as Strat and Raven, alongside Bradley Dean as Falco, Avionce Hoyles as Tink, Danielle Steers as Zahara, and Tyrick Wiltez Jones as Jagwire. The ensemble includes Will Branner, Lincoln Clauss, Kayla Cyphers, Jessica Jaunich, Paulina Jurzec, Adam Kemmerer, Nick Martinez, Harper Miles, Erin Mosher, Aramie Payton, Andres Quintero, Tiernan Tunnicliffe, and Kaleb Wells. Casting for the role of Sloane will be announced shortly.

Bat Out of Hell — the second studio album by American rock singer Meat Loaf and his first collaboration with composer Jim Steinman — became one of the best-selling albums of all time after its release in 1977. The stage adaptation is a romantic adventure about rebellious youth and passionate love, set against the backdrop of a post-cataclysmic city adrift from the mainland. Strat, the forever-young leader of the Lost, has fallen for Raven, daughter of Falco, the tyrannical ruler of Obsidian.

The production will have choreography by Emma Portner and Xena Gusthart, with musical supervision and additional arrangements by Michael Reed, set design by Jon Bausor, costume design by Mr. Bausor & Meentje Nielson, lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe, video design by Finn Ross, sound design by Gareth Owen, orchestration by Steve Sidwell, and musical direction by Ryan Cantwell.

The musical originated at the English National Opera before moving to the West End. A previously announced North American tour was cancelled at the end of its launching run last fall at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto. The production has also decided to forego a select tour of certain cities this summer, in favor of the New York run.