Kerry Butler and Taylor Trensch Know New York Is Ready For BAT BOY

Perhaps some of the most exciting news that broke in recent memory was the announcement of that New York City Center’s upcoming gala presentation this year was going to be Bat Boy. A beloved musical that ran Off-Broadway starting in 2001, this production marks its first major professional revival. With Alex Timbers at the helm and an all-star cast, it’s shaping up to be the event of the fall. 

I recently caught up with Taylor Trensch and Kerry Butler (who officially met during this interview) to chat all things Bat Boy, returning to iconic musicals, and just what we can expect when performances begin this October. 

Our conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity. 

Theatrely: So, how's it going?

Kerry: Good. First of all, Taylor, have we ever met?

Taylor: I don't know if we ever actually have in person! Hi!

That's incredible.

Kerry: Right. So how's my summer going? It's good. Yeah, it's fun to be in a hit show. It's hard. I'm a working mom. So it's hard, this is my summer where I usually bond with my kids. And so that part's really hard. But you know, I'm happy to have a job and happy to be a working actor.

Taylor: I went camping in the Adirondacks, like true camping intense for the first time in my life. And I really romanticized it beforehand and thought like, oh, this is gonna be so rugged and I'll reconnect with nature. But by night two, I was like, my retinal serums!!! 

Taylor, how did you get involved with this production?

Taylor: I got a call from my manager who surprised me and she played a game. She said, what is one of your dream roles? And it was Bat Boy and she was like, well, you're doing it. I'd worked with Alex Timbers before, doing readings and workshops so he very generously let me be a part of this iteration. And when I found out Kerry was doing it, I... almost puked across the table.

What about you Kerry?

Kerry: So I also worked with Alex Timbers before, and I did a reading as the mom, I feel like seven years ago. So it was a long time ago. Jeremy Jordan was the Bat Boy then. But he's aged out of it now. Luckily for me, the mom can be older. So we did that, and we kind of thought that it was gonna go. And then, I hadn't heard anything at all from that, from that reading until I got the call this time. I was actually in negotiations for something else but I was like no it has to be Bat Boy!

Kerry, take me back 25 years ago now. When you first read the script to Bat Boy, what was your reaction?

Kerry: It's interesting. I'm already working on it. Have you already started working on it Taylor?

Taylor: A little, yeah.

Kerry: So I'm already working on it and when I first read it, I didn't get it. I was like, what is this? And I think I asked my agents at the time and they were like no no it’s really great. It's really funny. Trust us. Now that I'm working on it again, it's like hitting me in a totally different way. And I'm getting, I mean, I wasn't that young when I did it the first time, but I don't know. I guess maybe even life has made it hit me in a completely different way and on a deeper level.

And then Taylor, when did it first come into your life?

Taylor: We did Bat Boy at my high school. I went to a performing arts high school and my freshman year we did Bat Boy. I was in the ensemble, which doesn't exist in the musical, they added an ensemble and we were dressed all in black. And I became deeply obsessed with it. I would listen to that cast recording over and over again. And I've been in love with it ever since. And I didn't even know it was happening at City Center, it was a huge surprise. But I'm so excited to work on it with Alex and Kerry and with the amazing group of actors and designers.

I mean your company is just stacked.

Kerry: Well, I'm so excited because my best friend Marissa Winnokur is going to be in it and we're like, oh my god, I can't believe we get to be on the show together. We're thrilled. We're gonna be like tik-toking it up backstage like a bunch of tweens.

Taylor: Too cool for school. Yeah, it's such an extraordinary group of people I've admired for so long. And it's also so many pals, so many friends and people I've worked with in the past. So I'm so excited to reunite with those people and then get to work with Kerry for the first time.

Talk to me about Alex Timbers as a director. 

Kerry: I feel like Alex is really creative and really funny and inventive, but also creates this super safe place where you can go to him with ideas. He may not take them, but you always feel safe to go to him and you feel safe, to make a fool of yourself. You can try things. It's just a really creative. And I mean..one, if not the nicest person in the business, I think.

Obviously with City Center productions, it's a fast and furious process. What excites you both about jumping into this wildly fast-paced production?

Kerry: I've never done it before, have you, Taylor?

Taylor: No, me neither. I'm mostly terrified right now, but I do think the way you described Alex is so, that was so perfectly said, because I think what's been calming me even a little bit is that I think Alex is the perfect person to have at the helm of a process that's so truncated. I feel like he'll make us feel like it's possible.

And then Kerry, I know when you step away from Heathers for a moment, Kate Rockwell will be taking your place. I'm curious, have you spoken with her at all?

Kerry: I texted her, told her she's gonna have a great time. She's gonna be fantastic. She's a wonderful choice. And also she has a little baby, so it's kind of, I mean, I feel like for me that would be perfect. Like, oh, I'm doing this for one month and then I get to go back to my baby. But so, yeah, I told her if she has any questions for me, ask me! I was nervous. I mean I haven't been in a dressing room with a lot of women since college. And it feels like college, but it's super fun. We all get along great and I feel they're keeping me young.

So Kerry, I was doing some research and found some press from the original production of Bat Boy. 

Kerry: Oh my gosh…

I found a newspaper clipping from 2002 where you mentioned that everyone comes up to you on the street and asks you to do the Bat Boy dance, so of course my first question is, does that still happen?

Kerry: No, people don't do the bad boy dance anymore, but there are a few people who are still like: this is the top thing that I've ever done.

You also talked quite a bit about how after the 9/11 attack closed the show, it just fizzled away and lost all of its momentum. Reflecting back now 25 years later, does this homecoming feel like unfinished business? 

Kerry: Yes, it's very nostalgic, because right before September 11th, there was talk that we were moving to Broadway. And it was, you know, we were kind of the underdog, you know, not finding our way, not having great audiences, but having people come back, you know 12 times, all this. Then it was like we were finally like building steam. And we always got great reviews, but it was just finding our audience, we're building steam. And then September 11 happened. We were right across the street from the memorial, it was so sad to go down there, nobody wanted to go down there. And yeah, it was, it was really hard. And so to be able to go back, I mean, I, I feel bad that I'm the only one from our cast that's getting to, you know, like, there's like a little bit of guilt there. But they are all coming. There's a group chat and they're all gonna come and support one night at the show and they are giving them tickets, I think, to see it. And of course they're really supportive of me doing it, especially Kaitlin [Hopkins], who I think is a genius. And like, if I could just do it like her, then she's so good.

When young folks come and see the show whether for the first time or they've listened to the album or they did it in high school, what do you want young folks to take away from this upcoming production?

Kerry: Well, I do think it's very on brand now with what's happening on Broadway, you know, very much like Beetlejuice in kind of the vibe and tone. But I think, I hope that people take away that you are loved and accepted. No matter your quirks or anything or things that, you're still valuable and embrace the things that make you different.

Taylor: Totally. I think also I hope it continues to shine a light (to reference Kerry’s number in Heathers) how truly grotesque and ineffective scapegoating is.I also hope it's so silly and fun and entertaining. And so I hope people laugh and leave thinking about what a truly brilliant score this is. It perfectly straddles the function of theatrical storytelling while also having this accessible, amazing, authentic pop sound. And I think something that's exciting is this production we're doing at City Center. A lot of the score is intact. Everything you love, like Comfort and Joy and Three Bedroom House, all of the hits. But there are a few new songs to look forward to that I think people will really flip out for.

Speaking of etlejuice, Kerry third time it is back on Broadway. How does that feel?

Kerry: I'm excited. I'm happy. I'm especially thrilled for all our creators because again, like the same thing happened with Beetlejuice that happened with Bat Boy where it was like, we were gonna close. In a month, a month after we opened, it was like, we were probably gonna close. Then it was, then we built, built, build, built. And then we were a huge hit, like selling out. And then COVID happened, and then we closed, and then had to switch theaters. We reopened, but we kind of never got back to where we were. So, I mean, people love Beetlejuice. So it's been exciting kind of to have that be part of my legacy. And I'm really excited for them to get this chance. Hopefully the momentum has built even more and it will sell out and do amazing.

Taylor: Absolutely. I don't think I knew that, that beginning was so unpredictable. I was there opening night and I don't think I've ever heard an audience so pumped to be somewhere in my life. And you were so, as per usual, so extraordinary.

Kerry: Yeah, I mean, the audience was bananas, but the tickets weren't selling as much because it's a huge theater and it's an expensive show, obviously. So they weren't sending as much tickets as they needed, but then we were making a lot of money and then COVID happened.

Well here we are, third time's the charm.

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