AHOSKIE – The Gallery Theatre, 115 Main Street West in Ahoskie, announces its 51st season of quality live entertainment featuring the best of Off-Broadway in the production of Bat Boy: The Musical; an American literary classic adapted for the stage in To Kill A Mockingbird; and a classic comedy revival in Noises Off.

The Gallery Theatre’s new season begins with Bat Boy: The Musical on Oct. 28 and is performed for three consecutive weekends ending Nov. 13.  Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 pm.  Sunday performances begin at 2:30 pm.

Bat Boy: The Musical, story and book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming, music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe is based on a story in The Weekly World News, BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL and is a musical comedy/horror show about a half boy/half bat creature who is discovered in a cave near Hope Falls, West Virginia. For lack of a better solution, the local sheriff brings Bat Boy to the home of the town veterinarian, Dr. Parker, where he is eventually accepted as a member of the family and taught to act like a “normal” boy by the veterinarian’s wife, Meredith, and teenage daughter, Shelley. Bat Boy is happy with his new life, but when he naively tries to fit in with the narrow-minded people of Hope Falls, they turn on him, prodded by the machinations of Dr. Parker, who secretly despises Bat Boy. Shelley and Bat Boy, who have fallen in love, run away together from the ignorant town folk and have a blissful coupling in the woods, but their happiness is shattered when Meredith arrives and reveals a secret. Soon the entire town arrives and hears the shocking story of Bat Boy’s unholy origin.

Bat Boy: The Musical is directed by Tommy Hurdle with musical direction by Bobby Hoggard.

To Kill A Mockingbird, adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel and based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Harper Lee, will be presented Feb. 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 2017. This American masterpiece about the power of childhood innocence, morality, and love is directed by Hope Miller.

Brimming with slapstick comedy, Noises Off by Michael Frayn, is a delightful backstage farce, complete with slamming doors, falling trousers, and—of course—flying sardines! This “festival of delirium”, as described by the New York Times, lights up the Gallery stage under the direction of James Schafer on April 28, 29, 30 and May 5, 6, 2017.

Patron tickets are available at $60 each and season tickets are priced at: adult $45, senior (62+) $39, and student (ID on request) $33. General admission tickets are: adult $15, senior (62+) $13 and student (ID on request) $11. Student tickets are available for persons aged 6-K12 or currently enrolled in an institution of higher learning.

For reservations and more information call the Gallery Theatre at (252) 332-2976. Visit us on the worldwide web at www.gallerytheatre.org.

This project was supported by the N. C. Arts Council a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.