Book by Michael Stewart
Music by Charles Strouse
Lyrics by Lee Adams
A smash hit when it opened on Broadway in 1960, Bye Bye Birdie ran for 607 performances and won two Tony Awards including Best Musical. It is also well known for introducing film audiences to Ann-Margret, who played Kim in the popular 1963 movie, which also starred Dick van Dyke and Bobby Rydell.
Inspired by the hysteria surrounding Elvis Presley’s induction into the army, Bye Bye Birdie traces the shock waves created when a drafted rock’n’roll star, Conrad Birdie, visits Sweet Apple, Ohio, to kiss an adoring fan goodbye before joining the army. Rose, the feisty secretary of Conrad’s agent, Albert Peterson, has put the whole plan in place. She’s hoping that Conrad will sing a song composed by Albert, which would give him freedom from his domineering mother and allow Rose and Albert, after eight years of courtship, to finally be married. When it is decided that Conrad will give his One Last Kiss on The Ed Sullivan Show, the whole town goes into a spin.
The Production Company’s Bye Bye Birdie starred Philip Gould (The Wizard of Oz) as Albert Peterson and Tamsin Carroll (Dusty, Oliver!) as Rose Alvarez. It featured the songs “One Last Kiss”, “What’s the Matter With Kids Today”, “A Lot of Livin’ to Do”, and the classic “Put on a Happy Face”.
Director: Ross Coleman
Music Director: Anthony Gabriele