Kelrick Productions Presents BYE BYE BIRDIE

Kelrik returns to a simpler time in an all new production of the the ultimate feel-good musical. Winner of four 1961 Tony® Awards, including Best Musical, BYE BYE BIRDIE runs March 26 - April 3 for six performances only. Tickets may be purchased at the PAC ticket office, by phone at 805-756-ARTS, and online at www.pacslo.org.

BYE BYE BIRDIE is one of the most captivating musicals of our time. The plot revolves around rock-and-roll superstar Conrad Birdie (Joe Ogren), loosely based on Elvis Presley, and his agent, Albert Peterson (Matt Ambrose). Albert has gone deep into debt promoting Birdie's career. Now that Birdie has become a superstar, however, all of Albert's work is about to pay off - or at least it would pay off if Birdie hadn't just been drafted into the army. To make matters worse, Rosie (Heather Malcolm), Albert's long-time secretary and love interest, decides to resign. She has waited eight years for Albert to give up the music business, become an English teacher, and settle down with her in a nice apartment somewhere. She will wait no more!

Desperate not to lose Rosie, Albert promises to quit the music business as soon as he has earned enough cash to pay off his debts. Rosie comes up with a plan: one lucky girl, chosen at random from the Conrad Birdie Fan Club, will get Birdie's good-bye kiss - his last as a civilian -- during a live broadcast of The Ed Sullivan Show. The resulting publicity will make Birdie's new song "One Last Kiss" such a success that Albert will easily make back the money he has lost, enabling him to settle down with Rosie for their new life together. The lucky girl chosen for Birdie's last kiss is Kim MacAfee (Ariana Shakibnia) of Sweet Apple, Ohio. But Kim has just agreed to go steady with Hugo Peabody (Chris Dixon), who is not very happy at the thought of his steady kissing another man on national T.V. Comic complications ensue when Birdie's arrival in Sweet Apple causes women of all ages to swoon and sends the quiet little town into a spin.

Directed by Erik Austin, the Kelrik production features a talented local cast of twenty-seven. According to Austin, "Kelrik is always proud to showcase the immense talent in our community. Because BYE BYE BIRDIE is mostly a story about teenagers, it's a particularly good show for younger performers. We were thrilled to be able to cast so many talented teens in featured roles and in the ensemble. It's gratifying to be able to offer such a great performance opportunity to up and coming local talent."

Other members of the creative team include Joe Ogren (Choreography), Lacey McNamara (Musical Direction), Sean Blauvelt (Stage Manager), David Beils (Lighting Design), and Keith Wetzel of Costume Capers (Costume Design). Professional backdrops will be provided by Kenmark, Inc.

Featuring a book by Michael Stewart, music by Charles Strouse, and lyrics by Lee Adams, BYE BYE BIRDIE offers a comic look at a simpler time. The upbeat score features audience favorites such as "How Lovely To Be a Woman," "The Telephone Hour," "Put On A Happy Face," "A Lot of Livin' To Do," and "One Last Kiss."

According to Erik Austin, Kelrik's Artistic Director, BYE BYE BIRDIE is set in a simpler time, but "the themes of this musical are still remarkably relevant today, given our fascination with papparazzi and pop icons." Come enjoy the toe-tapping music and high-energy dance numbers in this immensely enjoyable family musical.