Centerstage Presents BYE BYE BIRDIE

Centerstage Theatre is closing out our 2018-19 season with the classic musical comedy BYE BYE BIRDIE! A diverse and vibrant cast brimming with talent brings a fresh feel to an old favorite. When rock'n'roll superstar Conrad Birdie (played by local actor and model DUNCAN MENZIES) gets drafted, his manager Albert, (played by Centerstage patron favorite JOSHUA JERARD), must come up with one final hit song before they lose their golden boy overseas. His brilliant assistant Rose, (played by Seattle actress LARA McLEOD, who is also a member of popular a capella group A Shot in the Dark), comes up with a plan that takes them from fast-paced NYC to Sweet Apple, Ohio...a town just as provincial as it's name suggests. Turing up to throw a wrench in things is Albert's mother Mae, (recently retired professor of the theatre arts DIANA TROTTER), and a saucy new secretary named Gloria (played by recent UW alum JESSICA LORENZ). Can Sweet Apple handle the bright lights of mega stardom coming their way? Celebrity, sincerity, gender, and generations collide in this beautifully scored show that includes the songs "Kids," "Spanish Rose," and "Put on A Happy Face."

Centerstage is pleased to include several interns from around the South Puget Sound region in this production, appearing in the roles of the teenagers. In the lead as Kim MacAfee is JASMYNE MENDOZA, a Federal Way resident and student at Decatur HS. Playing her new boyfriend Hugo Peabody is DONOVAN MAHANA, of Tacoma. GILLIAN GOMES plays Kim's best friend and the leader of the Conrad Club, Ursula Merkle.

Kim's family features South Sound favorite Sam Barker as Mr. MacAfee, ALYSSA HERSEY as Mrs. MacAfee, (recently off a production of A Little Night Music in Tacoma), and a soon-to-be Centerstage favorite in 11 year old NIGEL JOLLY as Randolph.

Rounding out the denizens of Sweet Apple are LILY JOHNSON, JARED HERNANDEEZ, MARC MONTAGUE, KIM MYERS, and ANNELISE MARTIN in a variety of character roles. And last but in no way least, our incredible teen ensemble is made up of Federal Way students RICKY LEUNG, CEDRIC DENNARD, BELLA BeSERRA, and MEGAN SERU, as well as South Sound area students HARRISON GOMES as the iconic Harvey Johnson, JOCELYN ROBINSON as Deborah Sue, AMELIA HARRINGTON, KATRINA BURNS, and DEAN MARSHALL.

The show opens Friday, May 31st, and plays through Sunday, June 16th. Shows will take place on the following dates and times: Friday, May 31st at 7:30pm; Saturday, June 1st at 7:30pm; Sunday, June 2nd at 2:00pm; Friday, June 7th at 7:30pm; Saturday, June 8th at 2:00 and 7:30pm; Sunday, June 9th at 2:00pm; Friday, June 14th at 7:30pm; Saturday, June 15th at 2:00pm and 7:30pm; and Sunday, June 16th at 2:00pm. (Unlike the rest of our season, this show runs three weekends instead of four.)