BIRDIE Sings Tonight At Lyric Stage
By: Gabrielle Sierra Jun. 18, 2010
Lyric Stage's BYE BYE BIRDIE, 1961's Best Musical Tony Award winner, opens tonight at the Irving Arts Center's Carpenter Performance Hall. Lyric Stage's production will feature a 31 piece orchestra playing Robert Ginzler's original Broadway orchestrations. This will be only the second time Ginzler's fantastic orchestrations have been heard since BIRDIE's Broadway debut. Tickets can be Ordered Online by Clicking Here: https://www.tytixhosted.com/scripts/max/192.168.1.8-2000/maxshop.exe?STORE=WS2 or by calling the box office @ 972-252-2787.
BYE BYE BIRDIE took Broadway by storm on April 14, 1960. Inspired by Elvis Presley's Army draft, BYE BYE BIRDIE tells the tale of hip-swingin' teen idol superstar Conrad Birdie's farewell performance before reporting for duty. Birdie's manager Albert and his secretary Rosie have cooked up a plan to send him off with a swell new song and one last kiss from a lucky teenage fan...on 'The Ed Sullivan Show!' Stouse and Adams' score includes "Put On a Happy Face," "Kids," "Rosie," and "A Lot of Livin' to Do."Producer Edward Padula hired composer Charles Strouse and lyricist Lee Adams to write their first complete Broadway score for his new musical Let's Go Steady. After several book writers took a stab at it (including Mike Nichols), Michael Stewart succeeded and Let's Go Steady became BYE BYE BIRDIE. Gower Champion was approached about starring opposite his wife Marge, but opted to make his Broadway debut as a director of a book musical with BIRDIE instead.
For Lyric Stage's production, Founding Producer Steven Jones has reassembled the creative team from last season's premiere of the restored THE KING AND I. Cheryl Denson returns as director with Jay Dias as music director/concuctor and Ann Nieman as choreographer. Lighting design is by Julie Simmons Moroney, costume design by Drenda Lewis, scenic design by Chris Potter, Woody Mahoney and Mamie Trotter, sound design by Bill Eickenloff and properties are by Jane Quetin. Margaret J. Soch is production stage manager.
Lyric Stage's cast is headed by Steve Barcus as Albert and Catherine Carpenter Cox as Rosie. The McAfee family includes Mary McElree (Kim), Mike Gallagher (Mr. McAfee), Wendy Welch (Mrs. McAfee) and Chet Monday (Randolph). Daniel Johnson will appear as Conrad Birdie with Charlotte Franklin (Mae Peterson) and Lee Jamison Wadley (Gloria Rasputin) rounding out the principal cast.
The supporting cast includes Eric Aultman, Alex Aultschuler, Felecia Benton, Meredith Cole, Ryan Cowles, Vicki Dean, Dayton Spencer Dobbs, Eric Domuret, Caitlin Galloway, Graham Galloway, Katharine Gentsch, Ben Giddings, Martin Guerra, Babs Ipaye, Emily Jackson, Cameron Kirkpatrick, MacKenzie Orr, Kristi Rowen, Lindsay Sawyer, Ty Taylor, Raleigh Tyler, John Venable and James Williams.
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