This month alone, The Weekly World News broke exclusive stories about a modern-day leprechaun colony, a human planet, and a man who speaks French out of his butt ("Poo La La" read the headline). But no front-page star has charmed us quite like Bat Boy, with his pointy ears and precious little incisors. In a recent WWN poll, 51.7 percent of readers chose Bat as their favorite subject. Bigfoot came in a distant second with just 17.2 percent of the vote. Of course! What's not to love about a creature who was found in a cave in West Virginia and taken to a federal laboratory for testing —- but ripped the steel door off his cage and escaped? Despite humiliation by the feds, Bat joined the Marines and helped oust the Taliban in Afghanistan just weeks after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Now Bat Boy: The Musical brings our hero from the page to the stage, focusing on his early years and his search for acceptance. A love story and much drinking of blood complicate the plot. Sing along to tunes like "Let Me Walk Among You," "Hold Me, Bat Boy," and "Apology to a Cow" Thursday through Sunday both this weekend and next at the Fine Arts Theatre at Broward Community College (3501 SW Davie Rd., Davie). Tickets cost $5 to $20. Call 954-201-6884. (DF)
FRI 21
Depending upon whom you ask, the Confederate flag is either a tribute to Southern heritage or a thinly veiled symbol of racism. Unfortunately, the issue is all too often reduced to jingoistic bumper stickers like "You wear your X, I'll wear mine" or "Fighting terrorism since 1861." Bucking this trend are the teen actors in the play A Heart Divided, based on a novel by Cherie Bennett and Jeff Gottesfeld. The story follows Kate, a liberal New Yorker who recently moved to a small town in Tennessee. When Kate finds herself at the center of the controversy to remove the flag from a public school, the town around her is as divided as, well, the rest of the country. A Heart Divided opens tonight at the Studio (640 N. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale). Tickets cost $30 to $50 on opening night, $12 to $15 thereafter. The play runs through October 30. Call 954-763-6683, or visit www.flct.org. (JB)
SAT 22
You can stay home tonight and watch D.L. Hughley's Weekends at the DL on Comedy Central. Or you can go to the Palm Beach Improv at CityPlace (550 S. Rosemary Ave., Ste. 250, West Palm Beach) and see the comic in person. Of course, Hughley's live show won't include interviews with dead presidents via "Coffin Cam" or arguments with a Republican mouse puppet. But you can expect lots of socio-political humor — and a good dose of venting as well. While Hughley's shtick veers toward the left, there's enough pure comedy for everyone. If you are a Bush fan, though, you might want to, you know, keep it on the DL. Hughley performs Friday through Sunday. Tickets cost $28.75. Call 561-833-1812, or visit www.palmbeachimprov.com. (JB)
SUN 23
Jeez, this week is just packed with misunderstood creatures. Here's another: wrestlers. Why would anyone in his right mind want to wiggle around on a mat with another man in a spandex singlet? Duh — because you get to make up a name for yourself, wear an intimidating mask, and bust someone upside the head with moves like the "Cross Face Chicken Wing." At 3 p.m., pros from around the state gather at Florida Atlantic University (777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton) for an all-star show put on by Maximum Xtreme Pro Wrestling. Reigning champion Chaz takes on Tommy Vandal in a title match; Joe Gomez, the Blackheart, Hack Meyers, and Ram Man are also on the card. It's free, but make a donation for victims of Hurricane Katrina, OK? Visit www.MaxXtremePro.com. (DF)
MON 24
Last week, members of the Minnesota Vikings were investigated for having what the Toronto Star called an "out-of-control sex party" on a yacht. Apparently, some people think that's a bad thing. No such problems here — Sam Madison's Grand Ghoul Charity Halloween Party will be full of good behavior, with auctions benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County and Madison Avenue for Kids. A continuous buffet, an open bar, and seeing Ricky Williams in a Halloween costume make the shindig well worth the $100 ticket. The event takes place at the Signature Grand (6900 State Rd. 84, Davie) at 7 p.m. Call 954-254-0469, or visit www.grandghoul.org. (DF)
TUE 25
If the Rolling Stones' latest offering were a Christmas album, you can bet that it'd fall flatter than Keith Richards trying to climb a chimney. Such concept albums are best approached by prog rockers like Jethro Tull. Though it sounds a little iffy on paper, The Jethro Tull Christmas Album — the band's latest studio recording — delighted critics like a well-chosen stocking stuffer. More than a kitschy attempt at a quick buck, singer/songwriter Ian Anderson is merely fulfilling his prog-rock duty to embrace new musical territory. It's not like Tull's dabbling in religious topics is anything new; the band's 1971 album, Aqualung, dealt with Anderson's conflicting relationships with God and organized religion. So consider today's performance an early Christmas present. The sleigh bells ring at Mizner Park Amphitheatre (590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton). Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $48 to $60. Call 561-962-4109. (JB)
WED 26
Any rapper whose website design is fashioned after the New York Stock Exchange is probably swimming in the Benjamins — especially if his name's Young Jeezy. The Atlanta-based MC (where'd you think he was from, Boise?) is like the Bud Fox of hip-hop, even referencing said Wall Street character in "Standing Ovation" ("I tell 'em money talks like Charlie Sheen" — yeah, boy!). Proving that he knows a record deal ain't shit without the right connections, Jeezy hooked up with Jay-Z on the single "Go Crazy." That's not to say all the songs on his album Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 are about making money. In "Gangsta Music," Jeezy points out that other special perk to being a hip-hop star: "The hos love my voice/Make they pussy moist. " We'll have to take his word on that one. The Snowman performs tonight at 8 with Bobby Valentino and the SonikRok b-boy crew at the Florida Atlantic University Auditorium (777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton). Tickets cost $7 to $10 for students, $10 to $15 for the general public. Call 954-462-0222. (JB)
