Audience members will likely leave with a happy face after watching an upbeat, humorous tale featuring a rock ’n’ roll heartthrob crooning sock hop tunes.
Bethlehem Middle School will showcase the musical “Bye, Bye Birdie, Jr.” for three consecutive nights at the end of the month. Lindsay Dashew, director and choreographer of the production, said musicals and plays selected for the students to perform are typically something relatable for the kids.
Some variation in themes and topics is important, too.
“We try to keep it with themes the kids can relate to, because we find we are just more successful that way,” said Dashew. “In ‘Bye, Bye Birdie’ there are a lot of teens. I think all of us know what it is like to have a crush on a heartthrob.”
The fictional story takes place in 1958 centering on rock superstar Conrad Birdie, who has hip gyrations like Elvis Presley, and his agent Albert Peterson. Rose Alvarez, Peterson’s secretary and girlfriend, also plays a key role.
When Birdie gets drafted into the army, Peterson concocts a publicity stunt to release a final hit for the rock star, which is the song “One Last Kiss.” The song is set to be performed live on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” with a girl from Birdie’s fan club selected to receive his real last kiss on the show before he is deployed.
While the production isn’t something students knew as well as the last two shows, Dashew said the kids are “on board” with it.
“There is a lot of screaming that happens and they love it,” she laughed.
Grant Napierski, an eighth grader, said he likes the musical because it’s very different from productions he’s previously done. Napierski is portraying Birdie’s agent, Mr. Peterson.
Fellow eighth-grader Natalie Convertino, who plays Peterson’s girlfriend, agreed the “feel” of the production is different, but still has some the same energy.
“Definitely, the time period is different than the production we did last year,” Convertino said. “We had to learn about a lot of names for things and a lot of different people that were famous during that time period.”
For Napierski, he was a part of an ensemble in prior shows, so this is his first standout character. His character ultimately faces the choice of being a “momma’s boy forever” or getting married, said Convertino.
“The characters are definitely really old fashioned,” said Napierski.
There are more than 70 students on stage, with about another 70 students on the production crew. Several dozen parents are also helping out. “It takes a village to put on a show here,” she said.
Dashew said she and her husband, Jason, have a high level of expectations for students in every production.
“We don’t look at it as a middle school show. We look at it as a production that is happening in the community,” she said. “We expect kids to perform at a high level and they always do.”
“Bye, Bye Birdie, Jr” will start at 7 p.m. from Jan. 29-31. There will also be a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31. Tickets can be purchased during the hour prior to each show.