PerformedAugust 15, 16, 17, 22, and 23rd of 2003
at the Historic Miner’s Theater in Collinsville…..
BYE BYE BIRDIE is one of the most captivating musical shows of ourtime. It is a satire done with the fondest affection, and tells the story of arock and roll singer who is about to be inducted into the army. An EnglishTeacher, What Did I Ever See in Him?, Put on a Happy Face, One Boy, A Lot ofLivin' to Do, Kids, Rosie and Spanish Rose are musical theatreclassics. This is the tops in imagination and good old fashion fun.
A Musical Comedy
Book by Michael Stewart
Music by Charles Strouse
Lyrics by Lee Adams
Originally Produced by Edward Padula
Conrad and Friends
Synopsis:
BYE BYE BIRDIE is one of the mostcaptivating musical shows of our time. It tells the story of a rock and rollsinger who is about to be inducted into the army. The singer, Conrad Birdie, anElvis Presley type, has a pompadour and thick sideburns; he wears gaudy goldcostumes and speaks in a rugged voice. Albert Peterson, his agent, is a verypleasant mild mannered young man. Albert's faithful secretary Rose Alvarez keepshim and Birdie moving forward in the world. Rosie concocts one final nationalpublicity plan before Conrad's induction.
Conrad will bid a typical American teen-age girlgoodbye with an all-American kiss. Kim MacAfee in Sweet Apple, Ohio wins thehonor. All of the phones in her town are already busy during The TelephoneHour as Kim has just been pinned to Hugo, a local boy. She is a pretty girlof fifteen and sings with springlike ardor How Lovely to Be a Woman, asshe pulls on the plaid woolen socks and the baggy mustard colored sweaterconsidered stylish and popular among young ladies.
The arrival of Birdie in Sweet Apple causes peopleof all ages to swoon. Birdie says that his success is due to the fact that he isHonestly Sincere when he sings, and the quiet little town goes into aspin. The MacAfee household is completely upset by the visiting celebrity. It isdecided 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 andbehaves like a ham on the TV show. Hymn for a Sunday Evening is a saluteto the greater glory of Ed Sullivan.
Birdie becomes disgusted with his life and goesout on the town with the teenagers. He feels tense with Albert and is tired ofbeing supervised. The parents of Sweet Apple cannot understand the newgeneration and express this in Kids. Rosie, still waiting for that bandof gold from Albert after eight years, invades a Shriners' meeting. An extremelyhilarious ballet ensues. She then decides to become the Latin American spitfirethat she is painted as, by Albert's lead-footed catastrophe-ridden mother. Sheis determined to become Spanish Rose. Kim is reunited with Hugo, and Rosewith Albert in the lovely number Rosie. Other hit numbers include ALot of Livin' to Do and Put on a Happy Face.
BYE BYE BIRDIE is a satire done with the fondestaffection. It gives an insight into the everyday life that is very much part ofus all. It is the tops in imagination and frivolity; a show that will be enjoyedby the cast as much as the audience.