The SPFHS Repertory Theatre is proud to present this year’s production of Broadway’s hit musical Bye Bye Birdie. Performances will be held on Friday, March 10, Saturday, March 11, Thursday, March 16, Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, March 12 at 2 pm. All shows take place at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, 667 Westfield Road, Scotch Plains.
This classic musical set in the late 1950s features rock and roll star Conrad Birdie, an Elvis Presley type, at a time when he’s at the top of the charts and drafted to the US Army. Birdie’s manager and songwriter, Albert Peterson, and his longtime love, Rose Alvarez hatch a publicity stunt to help sell Birdie’s new song, “One Last Kiss” and save their business from going under. They arrange for Conrad Birdie to give “one last kiss” on national television to Birdie superfan Kim MacAfee, a teen from small-town Sweet Apple, Ohio, at Birdie’s farewell performance on the “Ed Sullivan Show.” When Birdie and his team arrive in wholesome Sweet Apple everyone is abuzz, Kim’s boyfriend, Hugo, is quite jealous and both merriment and chaos ensue.
The cast features a total of 53 students, 5 of whom are seniors and is under the direction of Mrs. Courtney Nemec, Director, SPFHS Repertory Theatre, a 5th grade teacher at Park Middle School and Mrs. Jan Allen, SPFHS Choral Director, SPFHS Repertory Theatre Music Director and Producer. The show has a large stage crew and importantly, features a pit band as well.
According to Allen, “The staff are very excited to present this classic show, Bye Bye Birdie, to the local community and beyond. The cast has been working tirelessly to put together a delightful on-stage performance, and all of the other off-stage components, with the commitment of many other students, are coming together in an equally exciting way.”
Tickets may be purchased at BirdieSPFHS.BrownPaperTickets.com and are $13 for students/seniors and $15 for adults. Seniors with “Gold Cards” may contact Kathleen Sheehy at kgsheehy405@gmail.com to arrange for their ticket.
