“Lizard Boy” a new Indie-Rock musical with book, music and lyrics by Justin Huertas is currently playing at New World Stages presented by Prospect Theater Company. It can be described as an LGBTQ+ story but themes of identity, coming of age, acceptance and human kindness and forgiveness are relevant to all, regardless of gender, race, or political persuasion. It has a certain comic book reality, but is never silly enough or too fantastical, to deter from the important themes.

The story centers around gay musician Trevor (a likable Justin Huertas), who while playing with friends in the playground was covered with the blood of a dragon that came from the erupting Mt. Saint Helens volcano in his hometown. The blood from the dragon seemingly turns his skin green and scaly resembling that of a lizard. He stays inside confined to his home because of the way he appears but goes out one day a year during an event called Monsterfest so anyone that sees him thinks he is just dressed in a great costume, therefore becoming very accepted. He met a boy at last year’s event who he fell in love with but was rejected after his real identity was revealed. As he looks for him on Tinder during this year’s event he runs into Cary (a delightful William A. Williams) another gay musician who wants to hook up at his place. Things get off to a rocky start but eventually they settle in, until Trevor notices the picture of a singer named Siren (a remarkable Kiki deLohr) on the cover of a music magazine who is performing at a local club that night. Trevor has kept a journal of his comic book like drawings and one of the drawings is of Siren even though he had never met her before. Trevor and Cary attend the concert, and this is where the fantasia takes a few twists and turns that would be spoiler alerts.

The book tends to be a bit drawn out and starts to drag once the proverbial “cat is out of the bag” and the story becomes larger than life. Fortunately, the exceptional three actor/singer/musicians, along with a few instruments that include piano, ukulele, guitar, cello, glockenspiel, melodica, and a few kazoos provide all that is necessary to entice the audience to join in their journey. Percussion is imaginatively achieved by using various set pieces. Mr. Huertas turns in a valid character in Trevor, filled with fear, anticipation, loneliness, and vulnerability. Mr. Williams creates a comical Cary, scattered, hopeful, sincere, and lovable. Ms. deLohr is a temptress as she inhabits the character of Siren. Her captivating vocals are powerful, pure, piercing, and haunting.

Direction and Musical staging by Brandon Ivie are inventive, using everything possible on the relatively sparse set and cleverly guides his cast over every inch of space the stage offers. Lighting by Brian Tovar is spot on, creating numerus moods and pinpoint precision that add to the action. Lizard Boy premiered at the Seattle Repertory Company in 2015 and traveled across the country before arriving in New York. The themes are certainly still relevant during these anti- LGBTQ+ times but perhaps it is time for a second act or sequel to discover how Lizard Boy and his newfound companions can use newly found powers to help calm the country’s current turbulent tide.