Submitted photo / Harry N. Schwentker Henry Lebzelter plays the title character in 13th Street Theatre’s production of “Bat Boy: The Musical.”

13th Street is putting the audience on stage with the title character in its production of “Bat Boy: The Musical.”

Seating will be set up on stage, limiting capacity to 75 audience members per performance.

According to co-director Zach Adkins, “The idea to bring the audience on stage began with a conversation about experience-based theater. How can we immerse you completely in a show and give you an experience you’ve never had before? This show begins the moment you step into our theater and smell the mountains. You’re right there with the actors, surrounded by the set.”

The 2006 musical is based on the tabloid stories about a half-bat, half-human creature. Chaos strikes a small town when Bat Boy (Henry Lebzelter) is discovered in a cave by a group of spelunking West Virginian teenagers.

The town sheriff (Greg Crooks) brings the boy to the home of Dr. Parker (Jacob McKee), the local veterinarian, where he is given the name Edgar.

Edgar begins to assimilate to human life and become a part of the family –while trying to keep his penchant for sucking blood under control. Though he soon grows closer to Dr. Parker’s wife, Meredith (Nina Nichols), and daughter, Shelley (Sadie Drozd), Edgar fails to win over their suspicious and narrow-minded neighbors, and finds himself the target of Dr. Parker’s growing resentment as well. Attraction stirs and tensions mount, and the secret truth about Edgar’s existence refuses to stay buried.

“The show brings you into a really intense situation, then pops the bubble with comedy,” Adkins said. “There’s a lot of misdirection, as well — we keep you guessing.”

Adkins and Kim Godfrey Warren share directing and music directing duties.

“Bat Boy: The Musical” will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through Feb. 1 at Ashtabula Arts Center, 2928 W. 13th St., Ashtabula. Tickets are $19 for adults, $17 for students, senior citizens and military and $15 for children ages 2 to 12 if purchased in advance at ashtabulaartscenter.org or by calling 440-964-3396. Tickets are $21, $19 and $17 at the door.