“Bye Bye Birdie,” the quintessential rocking musical of the 1960s, is coming to Shelton State Community College.
“Bye Bye Birdie” was originally produced by Edward Padula and written by composer Charles Strouse and lyricist Lee Adams in 1960. The original show was first put on April 14, 1960, at the Martin Beck Theatre and closed October 7, 1961 after 607 performances. The original cast included theatre greats like Dick Van Dyke and Paul Lynde.
Adam Miller, managing director of Theatre Tuscaloosa, said the show will bring the community together.
“We cast people throughout the community; we have some students from UA, students from Shelton as well as community members,” Miller said. “It is a homegrown theatre. Everyone on stage is a part of the West Alabama community.”
The play was inspired by Elvis Presley and his being drafted into the Army, which is portrayed through main character Conrad Birdie. His name stems from country music star Conway Twitty.
“Bye Bye Birdie” follows different people and shows how they are affected by Birdie being drafted, including his songwriter Albert Peterson. Peterson is stuck trying to gain fortune in order to marry his girlfriend Rosie and is convinced that getting Conrad to kiss a young fan on “The Ed Sullivan Show” before departing would do the trick.
Even though the play was written in 1960, it has some modern themes that audience members of all ages can enjoy and relate to. With classic tunes such as “Put On A Happy Face” and “One Last Kiss,” the show is likely to get audiences singing along.
Daniel Velasquez, a UA freshman majoring in musical theater who plays the lead role of Conrad Birdie, promised an energetic show.
“It’s high energy. It’s hilarious and entertaining,” Velasquez said. “The music is classic. Most people will come into the show and be like, ‘Oh, that’s where this song is from.’”
Director and choreographer Stacy Allen said the play has something everyone can relate to such as love, growing up and just moving into adulthood.
“I really wanted to bring a fresh perspective but yet keep it realist in terms of the environment that the playwright intended,” Allen said. “It deals with our obsession with celebrity, and in today’s age, we are completely obsessed with celebrity.”
Other than just the cast, the production crew had a lot to bring to the show. Jerell Bowden, shop foreman, is in charge of building the sets and setting up as well as the lights and sounds of the overall production.
Bowden has seen the play in its entirety and said “the cast is easily a 10.”
“If you want to see an energetic show with lots of young talent, this is the one to see,” Bowden said.
