Thank you to Harlan for sending me this trivia on Bye Bye Birdie.
The name Conrad Birdie was a play off of the name Conway Twitty, who at the time was more of a rock-and-roller than a country singer.
The location of “Sweet Apple, Ohio” was inspired by lyricist Lee Adams hometown of Mansfield, Ohio.
Paul Lynde, who played Harry MacAfee, was born and raised in Mount Vernon, Ohio, just south of Mansfield.
Famous alumni of Bye Bye Birdie include Tommy Tune, Steve Zahn, Doris Roberts, Rue McClanahan, Gary Sandy, Randy Jones of the Village People, Marc Kudisch, Rachel Bilson, Jeff Trachta, Dick Van Dyke, Chita Rivera, Paul Lynde, Ann-Margret, Bobby Rydell, Jason Alexander, Vanessa L. Williams, Chynna Phillips, George Wendt, and Tyne Daly.
Gregory Gai played Conrad Birdie in the 2005 Justin-Siena Theater rendition of Bye-Bye Birdie. At 6’3″ (6’6″ in his three-inch heels), he was the tallest Conrad Birdie in the show’s history.
Bye Bye Birdie is often parodied on cartoons, including a “Telephone Hour” parody in Family Guy episode “Petarded” and a “Kids” parody in The Simpsons.
Put on a Happy Face was used by Wal-Mart in the 2000s for an advertising campaign with its smiley logo.
Rose Alvarez, who hails from Allentown, Pennsylvania in the play plot, is not the only Broadway character to hail from Allentown. In the plot of 42nd Street, up-and-coming Broadway star Peggy Sawyer also is from Allentown.
Mount Vernon, WA – Auditions for Bye Bye Birdie will be August 27 and 28 at Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church in Mount Vernon, WA. This show is produced by META Performing Arts. This is a large teen and near-teen cast with great adult roles too. (Dick Van Dyke was in the original movie). A very fun musical comedy. For audition details visit http://www.MetaPerformingArts.org
This is the official musician info page for META Performing Arts production of Bye Bye Birdie at McIntyre Hall, Mount Vernon, WA 2007.
NEWS
09/26/07 – Scores are in. Pick up at Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church, 15th and Broadway. 9am-4pm Mon-Fri. BYE BYE BIRDIE ORCHESTRATION
Violins – closed RH (keys)
Cello 1 – closed Joe Bichsel
Cello 2 – closed SS
Bass – closed PB
*NOTE* – We will split reed parts up dependent on what players can double on.*
Reed Ia: Alto Saxophone – closed KM
Reed Ib: Clarinet,
Reed Ic: Flute & Piccolo – closed LS
Reed II: Alto Saxophone – Thomas Harris
Reed II: Clarinet – open
Reed III: Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – closed MH
Reed IV: Clarinet, Bass Clarinet & Baritone Saxophone – closed RW
Horn – closed AM
Trumpets I – closed CL
Trumpet II – closed NV
Trumpet III – cut
Trombone I – RQ
Trombone II – cut
Piano – closed LL
Keyboard II – closed KK
Glockenspiel, Vibraphone, Xylophone, Chimes (from percussion part)
Percussion II: – closed DB
* Trap drum set-
o Bass Drum
o Snare Drum & Rack Tom
o Floor Tom
o various Cymbals
+ hi-hat
+ crash
+ ride
+ finger
o Wood Blocks (2)
o Bongos
o Large Military Snare Drum
o Gong
o Gunshot
* Kazoo (or Ratchet)
Both percussion players use Piatti, Triangle and Ratchet
1 Guitar-Banjo – closed LH
(Banjo for “Overture Aâ€; Electric Bass for “Telephone Hour†and “One Hundred Ways – Ballet†only)
A special Keyboard Synthesizer part is available, when the complete orchestration is used, at an additional charge. It may be substituted for the 3 violin and 2 cello parts.
SHOWS
McIntyre Hall – Mount Vernon, WA
Nov 16 Friday 7:30
Nov 17 Saturday 7:30
Nov 18 Sunday 2pm
Nov 23 Friday 7:30
Nov 24 Saturday 2pm and 7:30
Nov 25 Sunday 2pm
REHEARSALS
Sat Oct 13 – 2pm-5pm – Orchestra – MVPres Church
Tue Oct 16 – 9-11pm – Rhythm section only (drum, guitar, keys) – MVPres Church
Sun Oct 21 – 1pm-5pm – Orchestra – MVPres Church
Sat Oct 27 – 1pm-5pm – Orchestra – MVPres Church
Thurs Nov 1 – 6-10pm – Music only w/cast – MVPres Church – Good Shepherd Hall
Sat Nov 3 – 1pm-5pm – MVPres Church
Thurs Nov 8 – 6-10pm – Run thru w/cast – MVPres Church – Good Shepherd Hall
Wed Nov 14 – 6-11pm – Tech with Orchestra – Load in starts 5pm. McIntyre Hall.
Thurs Nov 15 – 6-11pm – Dress Rehearsal McIntyre Hall.
SCORES
Scores in 9/26 – pick up at MV Pres Church. 15th and Broadway, Mount Vernon -9am-4pm.
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.
High Resolution Logo – Click for Full Size
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 Kissâ€. 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
