Meat Loaf Musical Bat Out of Hell to Make New York Debut Next Summer

The Jim Steinman musical Bat Out of Hell will make its New York City debut next summer, playing an eight-week run at New York City Center, according to spokespeople for the production. The run will take place July 30-September 22, with additional information still to be announced.

Originally written as a musical, 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. Now adapted for the stage, the musical 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.

Directed by Jay Scheib, Bat Out of Hell: The Musical has a book, music, and lyrics by Jim Steinman, choreography by Emma Portner, with musical arrangements and supervision by Michael Reed. The production has set design by Jon Bausor, costume design by Meentje Nielsen and Jon Bausor, video design by Finn Ross, lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe, sound design by Gareth Owen, orchestrations by Steve Sidwell, and musical direction by Ryan Cantwell.

The Bat Out of Hell national tour stars Andrew Polec, who originated the role of Strat in the musical's London premiere at the English National Opera before transferring with it to Toronto, and then the West End. He is joined in the company by Emily Schultheis as Raven, Bradley Dean as Falco, Lulu Lloyd as Sloane, Avionce Hoyles as Tink, Harper Miles as Zahara, and Tyrick Jones as Jagwire.

The ensemble includes Will Branner, Samantha Pauly, Zuri Washington, Alana Randall, Erin Mosher, Emilie Battle, Kaleb Wells, Nik Alexander, Adam Kemmerer, Michael Milkanin, Lincoln Clauss, Alex Deleo, Paulina Jurzec, Nick Martinez, and Tiernan Tunnicliffe.