Audience members at Eastview Elementary School were transported back to the 1950s this weekend with the production of “Bye Bye Birdie” brought to life by the Madison High School Music Department.
“Bye Bye Birdie” tells the story of agent and songwriter Albert Peterson, played by junior Anthony Frizell, and his troubles when hip-thrusting rock-and-roll superstar Conrad Birdie, played by junior Zane Speelman, is drafted into the Army. Inspired by the events that transpired when real-life rock-and-roll superstar Elvis Presley was drafted into the Army in 1957, the classic tale of “Bye Bye Birdie” was an attractive choice for director Craig Green.
“I was looking for something wholesome; and a lot of the Broadway shows that are full-length out there, there’s a whole lot of sexual innuendo and foul language and things like that, and I don’t feel like I could personally do that,” said Green.
The chance to highlight Mansfield native Lee Adams, who wrote the lyrics for “Bye Bye Birdie,” was an added bonus for Green.
“It’s a hometown hero, Lee Adams wrote the lyrics so we’re keeping it hometown,” he said. “We actually received a letter from a community member telling us about Lee Adams and she was so proud we were doing it. It still means something to the folks in the area.”
Friends and family members in the audience on Sunday afternoon were excited to see the show. It was the second time Stephanie Cyrus had seen the show for her daughter, junior Hailey Cyrus, who played Ursula Merkle, the hyperactive best friend of Kim MacAfee and a Conrad Birdie enthusiast. Hailey’s boyfriend Brandon Farr accompanied Stephanie, and both described the show as “awesome” and “outstanding.”
Also in the audience for support were Scott and Casey Neff, who attended to see their son Kaleb Neff play Maude, owner of Maude’s Roadside Retreat. As a freshman at Madison High School, Casey said this is Kaleb’s first show for the high school.
“We’re so excited to see him,” said Casey. “He wasn’t nervous at all; he’s a ham. He enjoys performing.”
Green noted since beginning tech week last Sunday and weaning his actors off script, all the cast members have started to intensely develop their characters to the point of creating back stories to help them personalize their roles. The actor most enthusiastic about his role was Speelman, who came to school on Friday dressed as Conrad Birdie himself according to Green.
“His mom is a hairdresser and she dyed his hair black and he really got into it,” said Green with a laugh.
With the closing of the show on Sunday, Green said his favorite part about the show was watching the actors develop and really start to get into character.
“The kids are hungry for something like this to do, so to provide this outlet they really came into it,” he said.
