playbill vip

    Bye, Bye Birdie is the tongue- in- cheek musical satire of the often riotous performances of Elvis Presley and his pending induction into the U.S Army in March, 1958. Our teen idol, Conrad Birdie, is set to plant “One Last Kiss” on fifteen year old Kim MacAfee before he begins time serving his country. The Ed Sullivan Show is the venue for the excitement. 

    Though many, if not most, teen idols fall from their pedestals in time, Elvis lives on.  In like fashion, Bye, Bye Birdie lives on as one of our favorite American musicals. Birdie has enjoyed a long life on Broadway, as well as on amateur stages and in high school productions.  

    Birdie received four Tony Awards for Best Musical, Director, Choreography, (both won by Gower Champion) and Featured Actor, (Dick Van Dyke) and also received four other Tony nominations.  Birdie also won The Outer Critics Circle Award for Musical.

    I have enjoyed working with this year’s Spring Musical cast and crew!  I cannot say that I agree with Harry MacAfee’s jaded view of “Kids.”  I have been privileged to work with these students, these NHS Konkrete Kids!   If Mr. MacAfee were to ask me, “What’s the matter with kids today?”  I would have to respond, “Not a thing!”

    In spite of snow days ambushing our rehearsal schedule, we are ready to entertain you with our version of Bye, Bye Birdie.  So, sit back and relax, because in the words of Ed Sullivan, “Tonight we have a really big show!”