Lyrics by Lee Adams
Music by Charles Strouse
Book by Michael Stewart
Directed by Gower Champion
Choreography by Gower Champion
Opened: April 14, 1960 at the Martin Beck Theatre (New York) and ran for 607
performances, followed by a run of 268 performances in London at Her Majesty's Theatre.
Movies: 1963, 1995
Awards: Received eight Tony nominations in 1961 and won the awards for Best Musical, Featured or Supporting Actor (Dick Van Dyke), Choreographer (Gower Champion) and Director (Gower Champion). The 1963 movie received academy award nominations for Best Score and Best Sound.
BYE BYE BIRDIE is one of the most captivating musical shows of our time. It tells the story of a rock and roll singer who is about to be inducted into the army. The singer, Conrad Birdie, an Elvis Presley type, has a pompadour and thick sideburns; he wears gaudy gold costumes and speaks in a rugged voice. Albert Peterson, his agent, is a very pleasant mild mannered young man. Albert's faithful secretary Rose Alvarez keeps him and Birdie moving forward in the world. Rosie concocts one final national publicity plan before Conrad's induction.
Conrad will bid a typical American teen-age girl goodbye with an all-American kiss. Kim MacAfee in Sweet Apple, Ohio wins the honor. All of the phones in her town are already busy during The Telephone Hour as Kim has just been pinned to Hugo, a local boy. She is a pretty girl of fifteen and sings with spring like ardor How Lovely to Be a Woman, as she pulls on the plaid woolen socks and the baggy mustard colored sweater considered stylish and popular among young ladies.
The arrival of Birdie in Sweet Apple causes people of all ages to swoon. Birdie says that his success is due to the fact that he is Honestly Sincere when he sings, and the quiet little town goes into a spin. The MacAfee household is completely upset by the visiting celebrity. It is decided that Birdie will give his One Last Kiss on the Ed Sullivan show. Kim's father who laments the whole uproar, tries to break into the act and behaves like a ham on the TV show. Hymn for a Sunday Evening is a salute to the greater glory of Ed Sullivan.
Birdie becomes disgusted with his life and goes out on the town with the teenagers. He feels tense with Albert and is tired of being supervised. The parents of Sweet Apple cannot understand the new generation and express this in Kids. Rosie, still waiting for that band of gold from Albert after eight years, invades a Shriners' meeting. An extremely hilarious ballet ensues. She then decides to become the Latin American spitfire that she is painted as, by Albert's lead-footed catastrophe-ridden mother. She is determined to become Spanish Rose. Kim is reunited with Hugo, and Rose with Albert in the lovely number Rosie. Other hit numbers include A Lot of Livin' to Do and Put on a Happy Face.
BYE BYE BIRDIE is a satire done with the fondest affection. It gives an insight into the everyday life that is very much part of us all. It is the tops in imagination and frivolity; a show that will be enjoyed by the cast as much as the audience.
Principals
Conrad Birdie: Jeff Drew
Albert Peterson: Devin Murphy
Rose Alvarez: Sarah Primmer
Kim MacAfee: Mary Denehy
Harry MacAfee: Dan Campolieta
Doris MacAfee: Christen Sottolano
Supporting Cast:
Helen – Dawn Loveland
Nancy – Sarah Folsom
Alice – Annie Gianokos
Margie – Sam Leathers
Penelope – Sam Zachs
Deborah Sue – Sam Leone
Harvey Johnson – Mike McCann
Ursula Merkle – Lindsay Boroush
Mrs. Mae Peterson – Amanda Mulé
Hugo Peabody – Peter Hoople
Mrs. Merkle – Karina Benjamin
Mayor – Zach Zalinger
Mayor’s Wife – Alexis Derr
Randolph MacAfee – Benjamin Russell
Gloria Rasputin – Erica Fama
Mr. Johnson – Teddy Tablante
Reporters
Caroline Chiappetti
Nicolette Neumann
Dance Corps
Alex Mueller
Stacey Burdick
Lindsay Boroush
Caroline Chiappetti
Sarah Folsom
Katherine Grames
Sam Leone
Dawn Loveland
Sarah Sopelak
Sarah Westbrook
Katie Zavoski
Teen Chorus
Jeffrey Gallant
Sarah Marco
Lisa Martinelli
Michael McCann
Justin Mullen
Kirsten Preskenis
Ellen Rodack
Richard Saunders
Jessica Sikora
Jordan Shafer
Linda VanDusen
Katie Zavoski
Adult Chorus
Alexandra Benjamin
Karina Benjamin
Rachel Boucher
Alexis Derr
Jackie Gowdy
Katherine Grames
Caitlin Griffin
Katherine Kane
Alyssa Markowitz
Nicolette Neumann
Karen Pomerantz
Ariel Rapaport
Julie Rumbold
Teddy Tablante
Zach Zalinger
| Description | Photo |
Contributed By |
| "We love you Conrad. Oh yes, we do." |  |
Jeff Schlichter |
| Who says I'm afraid of my mother? |  |
Jeff Schlichter |
| The Telephone Hour |  |
Jeff Schlichter |
| "What'd ya wanna go get pinned for?" |  |
Jeff Schlichter |
| Call me "Doris" one more time and I'll twist your head right off! |  |
Jeff Schlichter |
| "Just put on a happy face." |  |
Jeff Schlichter |
| "Call me Mrs. Peterson." |  |
Jeff Schlichter |
| The Pledge |  |
Jeff Schlichter |
| I don't believe I'm actually wearing this skirt! |  |
Jeff Schlichter |
| So much for being Mrs. Phi Beta Kappa. |  |
Jeff Schlichter |
| "Ya gotta feel it here." |  |
Jeff Schlichter |
| "Suffer!!!" |  |
Jeff Schlichter |
| The king of his castle? |  |
Jeff Schlichter |
| The breakfast of champions? |  |
Jeff Schlichter |
| "We're gonna be on Ed Sullivan!" |  |
Jeff Schlichter |
| Now that's what I call talent! |  |
Jeff Schlichter |
| "No, it never felt like this." |  |
Jeff Schlichter |
| "Oh, oh, oh! Just give me one last kiss." |  |
Jeff Schlichter |
| "Brace yourself, chick!" |  |
Jeff Schlichter |
| Memories | Contributed By |
Copyright © 2005 Simsbury Summer Theatre For Youth
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