Bye Bye Birdie Graphics

Bye Bye Birdie plot overview and logo reference graphics. “We Love You Conrad, Oh Yes We Do….” – never in the history of Western music has a pen turned such sublime lyrics.

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BYE BYE BIRDIE GRAPHICS

ABOUT BYE BYE BIRDIE

he worst possible thing has happened! Conrad Birdie, the biggest singing sensation of the 1960’s has been drafted! Teenie-boppers all over the country are crying and fainting at the thought! Before he heads off to the army, his manager has cooked up the ultimate publicity stunt: Conrad will kiss one randomly chosen member of his fan club goodbye on a live broadcast of The Ed Sullivan Show after singing his latest hit “One Last Kiss”. Little does Kim MacAfee of Sweet Apple, Ohio know that her life is about to change forever when she will be the lucky girl chosen to receive the nationally-televised kiss.

Thus begins the story of Bye, Bye Birdie. A hilarious look back at the bygone decade where easy listening pop music was being overtaken by rock and roll. It is no accident that Bye, Bye Birdie is following on the heels of Forever Plaid at the Round Barn Theatre. In terms of musical progression, Birdie picks up where Plaid leaves off. Step aside Perry Como and Bing Crosby. Elvis Presley and the Beatles are about to leave their footprints in the concrete of popular music, much to the chagrin of parents all across America. They think rock and roll signals the downfall of society and will be the ruination of teenagers everywhere. Kim MacAfee’s parents are no different. Her father, Harry, makes it perfectly clear that his daughter will absolutely, positively NOT get involved with the project. That is, until Birdie’s manager, Albert Peterson, mentions the two magic words that change Harry’s mind forever: Ed Sullivan.

Both Forever Plaid and Bye, Bye Birdie employ the one constant force between these two types of music: The Ed Sullivan Show. From 1948 until 1971, Ed Sullivan used his variety show to bring emerging musical trends to the forefront while also showcasing the tried and true favorites of his viewing audience. His uncanny ability to locate and showcase new talent kept him on the air for 23 years and the prime topic of conversation every Monday morning at the water cooler as well as homeroom. He cultivated his broad audience by bringing featuring artists like Itzhak Perlman and Rudolf Nureyev alongside Buster Keaton, Bob Hope and Henny Youngman. Kate Smith, Beverly Sills and Mahalia Jackson sang on his show, but so did Elvis, The Bealtes and The Rolling Stones. He exposed a generation of viewers to everything that American culture had to offer in the fields of art and entertainment. The likes of his show had never been seen before or since and will likely never be seen again. It is no wonder that Harry MacAfee was instantly changed and the mere mention of being on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Bye Bye Birdie’s creative team, Charles Strouse (composer), Lee Adams (lyricist) and Michael Stewart (librettist), make no effort to hide the fact the story parodies Elvis Presley’s rise to fame and his eventual stint in the Army. However, the name Conrad Birdie is actually a play-off of Conway Twitty, who, at the time the show was written, was a rock and roller, not yet a country singer. Imitation, as they say is the sincerest form of flattery, and it is all in good fun. When the show opened on Broadway in 1960, it was a send-up of what was current popular culture, but because of its timeless themes, it is just as popular today as a fun look at days gone by. The original cast included Dick Van Dyke, Chita Rivera and Paul Lynde, all of whom went on to star in the film version of the show. Charles Nelson Reilly was in the ensemble and was the standby for Dick Van Dyke.

Scenes and Musical Numbers

Act I
Overture – Teen Chorus
Scene 1
Office of Almaelou Music, New York
An English Teacher – Rosie
Scene 2
Sweet Apple, Ohio
The Telephone Hour – Teen Chorus
Scene 3
Macafee Home, Sweet Apple
How Lovely to be a Woman- Kim
Scene 4
Pennsylvania Station, New York
Put on a Happy Face – Albert
A Healthy, Normal, American Boy – Albert, Rosie, Company
Scene 5
Railroad Station, Sweet Apple
One Boy – Kim, Rosie
Scene 6
Courthouse Steps
Honestly Sincere – Conrad, Company
Scene 7
Macafee Home
Hymn for a Sunday Evening (Ed Sullivan) – The Macafees, Company
Scene 8
Stage and Backstage Office, Central Movie Theatre, Sweet Apple
Scene 9
Stage Central Movie Theatre, Sweet Apple
One Last Kiss- Conrad

Act II
Scene 1
Macafee Home
What Did I Ever See in Him- Rosie, Kim
Scene 2
Street Outside Macafee Home
A Lot Of Livin’ To Do – Conrad, Teen Chorus
Kids – Mr. and Mrs. Macafee
Scene 3
Maude’s Roadside Retreat
Baby, Talk to Me – Albert, Male Quartet
Scene 4
Back Door, Maude’s Roadside Retreat
Scene 5
Ice House
An English Teacher Reprise – Rosie
Spanish Rose – Rosie
Scene 6
Sweet Apple Railroad Station
Rosie – Albert, Rosie