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SYNOPSIS OF Bye Bye Birdie is a satire that takes place in 1958 and centers around an type superstar (Conrad Birdie) who is drafted into the army. His agent and song writer (Albert Peterson) and Albert's secretary and love interest (Rosie Alvarez) plan a farewell performance for Birdie on the television show, which they hope will provide the publicity to sell his new song "One Last Kiss" and bring Albert's out of debt. At the conclusion of the performance, Birdie will give a real kiss to a lucky girl from his fan club. The lucky girl, randomly chosen, is Kim MacAfee from Sweet Apple, Ohio, and is a avid member of the local Conrad Birdie fan club. Albert and Rosie come to Sweet Apple to prepare for Birdie's arrival and things begin to unravel. Kim's father (Harry MacAfee) begins to get excited about the thought of being on with his daughter and Kim's new steady (Hugo Peabody) starts to get jealous of the thought of Kim kissing Birdie on national television. After Birdie's arrival in Sweet Apple, things continue to come undone as Birdie's charms enrage Hugo to punch him out on national television as he embraces to kiss Kim. Later, Birdie confesses that he is tired of show business and goes out on the town with the kids to show them how to party. This leads to Birdie's arrest. Meanwhile, Rosie is getting tired of waiting for Albert to propose and figures that eight years is long enough. She is also tired of Albert's domineering mother (Mae Peterson) who is constantly interfering in their relationship. Rosie goes out on the town and stumbles into a Shriner’s meeting, leading to a humorous ballet sequence. The show ends with Albert bailing Birdie out of jail prompting Birdie to ask Albert to be his agent forever as he gets on the train to New York and his induction into the army. Kim and Hugo make up as Hugo proposes to Kim and Albert finally decides to propose to Rosie to tie up the remaining romantic knot before the show's finale.

BACKGROUND OF & BYE BYE BIRDIE MUSICAL Music by Charles Strouse; Lyrics by - Book by Michael Stewart. STAGE PRODUCTION The original produciton of Bye Bye Birdie played for 607 performances on Broadway in three theatres between April 4, 1960 and October 7, 1961. Opening at the Martin Beck Theatre, (4/14/1960 - 10/22/1960), moving to the 54th Street Theatre, (10/24/1960 - 1/14/1961) and finally to the Shubert Theatre, (1/16/1961 - 10/7/1961). The original produciton starred , , , as Kim MacAfee, and Kay Medford as Albert's mother, Mae Peterson. MOVIE Bye Bye Birdie was made into a film musical in 1963 by MGM. The movie starred Dick Van Dyke, , Paul Lynde and a young Ann-Margret as Kim MacAfee. TELEVISION The 1995 made for television version starred , , George Wendt, and Chynna Phillips as Kim MacAfee. played Albert's mother, Mae Peterson. AWARDS (1959-60) - 4 Musical, Director, Choreography and Supporting or Featured Actor The Outer Critics Circle Award for Music (1961) 1961 Tony Award® Best Musical Book by Michael Stewart; Music by Charles Strouse; Lyrics by Lee Adams; Produced by ; Produced in association with L. Slade Brown [winner] 1961 Tony Award® Best Featured Actor in a Musical Dick Van Dyke [winner] [nominee] 1961 Tony Award® Best Featured Actress in a Musical Chita Rivera [nominee] 1961 Tony Award® Best Scenic Design (Musical) Scenic Design by Robert Randolph [nominee] 1961 Tony Award® Best Choreography [winner] 1961 Tony Award® Best Direction of a Musical Gower Champion [winner] 1961 Tony Award® Best Conductor and Musical Director Elliot Lawrence [nominee] CAST OF CHARACTERS DANCE NOTE: - Yes means that this is a role for someone with some experience in dance (often with classical/jazz/tap dance training). Many of these roles are intended to be featured dancers. - Some means that there the role requires some dancing, but not necessarily a trained dancer. The ability to learn simple dance steps is needed. - No means no dance ability is necessary. AGE NOTE: The age range is a general guide to the approximate age of each character. Some characters can be played older or younger depending upon the director's vision. Also, your age is less important than your ability to portray a character of that age. The plus sign (+) next to an age indicates that there is no specific upper limit on age for that role.)

Role Voice Type (Range) Dance Age Range Albert Peterson - President of Almaelou Music Corp., Conrad Birdie's agent and songwriter Baritone Some 28-35 Rose Alvarez - Albert's secretary and love Soprano Yes 28-35 Conrad Birdie - Rock and Roll Elvis-like superstar Baritone Some 20-25 Kim MacAfee - Teen-age girl from Sweet Apple, Ohio, slected to kiss Conrad Birdie on the Ed Sullivan Show. Pretty and self-possessed Soprano Some 14-16 Mr. Harry MacAfee - Kim's father Tenor Some 40-45 Mrs. Doris MacAfee - Kim's & Randolph's mother Soprano Some 40-45 Mrs. Mae Peterson - Albert's mother Alto Some 60+ Hugo Peabody - Kim's "steady" boyfriend Tenor Some 16-17 Randolph MacAfee - Kim's younger brother Young Boy Some 8-10 Ursula Merkle - A hyper-enthusiastic dark haired teen friend and neighbor of Kim's Soprano Some 14-16 Mrs. Merkle - Ursula's mother Soprano Some 35+ Gloria Rasputin - A big broad, tap dancing "secretary," Mae's choice to replace Rosie Soprano Some 28-32 - Mayor of Sweet Apple, Ohio All Ranges Some 50+ Mayor's Wife (Edna) - Member of quartette, Act I, Scene 9 All Ranges Some 50+ Harvey Johnson - Speaks Act 1, Scene 2 Tenor Some 14-16 Mr. Johnson - Harvey's father All Ranges Some 35-40 Charles F. Maude - Proprieter/ bartender of "Maude's Roadside Retreat." 2nd tenor in male quartet Tenor Some 30+ Conrad's Guitar Man - Non-speaking All Ranges Some 20-25 Adult Chorus, Neighbors Policeman - Speaks Act I, Scene 4 First Reporter - Speaks Second Reporter - Non-speaking cameraman Third Reporter - Speaks Ed Sullivan's Voice - Offstage Traveler - Speaks Act I, Scene 4 Maude's Dishwasher - Tenor male quartet. Speaks Act I, Scene 4 Maude's First Customer - Baritone male quartet. Speaks Act I, Scene 4 Maude's Second Customer - Tenor male quartet. Speaks Act I, Scene 4 Trainman - Speaks Act I, Scene 4 Lee - Speaks Act I, Scene 5 Phyllis - Speaks Act I, Scene 5 Four Men's Voices - Act I, Scene 7 Another Parent - Act 2, Scene 6 Train Conductor - Act 2, Scene 8 Police - In New York and Ohio (non-speaking) Train Station Workers - Non-speaking 2 Additional Reporters - Non-speaking Travelers - Non-speaking Stage Crew for TV Show - 9 people - Stage Manager, 4 Stage hands, 2 Audio men, 2 Wardrobe women Doctor Sweet Apple Shriners - Male dancers, non-speaking Sweet Apple Parents - Non-speaking All Ranges Some 25-55+ Teen Chorus Helen - Teenage singer (non-speaking) One Girl - Speaks Act I, Scene 4 Nancy - Speaks Act I, Scene 5 Alice - Sweet Apple teenager and Mayor's daughter. Margie Ann - Speaks Act I, Scene 5 & Act I, Scene 7. Deborah Sue - Speaks Girl's Voice - Act 1, Scene 7 Penelope Ann - Speaks Act I, Scene 5, Act II, Scene 7. 2 Sad Girls - Dancers, non-speaking Freddie - Teenage singer, speaks Act I, Scene 5 Karl - Teenage singer (non-speaking) Suzie - Teenage singer (non-speaking) All Ranges Some 13-17 Kids Chorus All Ranges Some 8-12 LIST OF SCENES SETTING: 1958, New York City and Sweet Apple, Ohio ACT ONE Scene 1 Office of Almaelou Music, New York Scene 2 Sweet Apple, Ohio Scene 3 MacAfee Home, Sweet Apple Scene 4 Pennsylvania Station, New York Scene 5 Railroad Station, Sweet Apple Scene 6 Courthouse Steps, Sweet Apple Scene 7 MacAfee Home, Sweet Apple Scene 8 Stage & Backstage Office, Central Movie Theatre, Sweet Apple Scene 9 Stage, Central Movie Theatre, Sweet Apple

ACT II Scene 1 MacAfee Home, Sweet Apple Scene 2 Street Outside MacAfee Home Scene 3 MacAfee's Back Door Scene 4 Maude's Roadside Retreat Scene 5 Private Dining Room, Maude's Roadside Retreat Scene 6 Back Door, Maude's Roadside Retreat Scene 7 The Ice House Scene 8 Railroad Station, Sweet Apple LIST OF MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT ONE 1 Overture Orchestra 2 An English Teacher Rose Alvarez and Albert Peterson 3 The Telephone Hour Sweet Apple Kids 4 How Lovely to Be a Woman Kim MacAfee 5 We Love You, Conrad! Teen Trio 6 Put on a Happy Face Albert Peterson 7 A Healthy, Normal American Boy Rose Alvarez, Albert Peterson and Chorus 8 One Boy Kim MacAfee, Two Girls & Rose Alvarez 9 Honestly Sincere Conrad Birdie and Townspeople 10 Hymn for a Sunday Evening - Ed Sullivan Mr. MacAfee, Mrs. MacAfee, Kim MacAfee, Randolph MacAfee and Neighbors 11 Hundred Ways - Ballet Orchestra 12 One Last Kiss Conrad Birdie and Company ACT TWO 13 Entr'acte Orchestra 14 What Did I Ever See in Him? Rose Alvarez and Kim MacAfee 15 What Did I Ever See in Him? (Reprise) Rose Alvarez 16 A Lot of Livin' to Do Conrad Birdie, Kim MacAfee and Teenagers 17 Kids Mr. MacAfee and Mrs. MacAfee 18 Baby, Talk to Me Albert Peterson and Quartet 19 Shriners' Ballet Orchestra 20 Kids (Reprise) Mr. MacAfee, Mrs. MacAfee, Randolph MacAfee and Townspeople 21 Ice House Livin' Conrad Birdie, Kim MacAfee, and the teens of Sweet Apple 22 An English Teacher (Reprise) Rose Alvarez 23 Spanish Rose Rose Alvarez 24 Hand Car Conrad Birdie Fan Club 25 Rosie Albert Peterson and Rose Alvarez 26 Finale Orchestra