Photo, left to right: Michael Treder, Bailey Sexton, Patric Xiong, Luke Barder, Phoebe Janisch, Tanner Cronce rehearse choreography for the SPASH musical Bye Bye Birdie.

Story and photo by Robert Whitmire

The Stevens Point Area Senior High School Theatre Department will stage the musical Bye Bye Birdie Thursday, January 30 through Saturday, February 1.

Show times are 7 PM all three days with a 1 PM matinee performance on February 1 in the SPASH auditorium.

Dena Mercer- who teaches Drama, Speech and Creative Expression at SPASH- is the show’s director and teams with Vocal Director Deb Pionek and Orchestra Director Cindy Kiepert.

“This musical was performed at SPASH when I was a senior,” Deb Pionek said. “I have many wonderful memories of being in the show.  It’s a lot of fun and has great songs.”

Bye Bye Birdie opened on Broadway April 14, 1960 with an original cast that included Chita Rivera, Dick Van Dyke, Dick Gautier, Paul Lynde, Susan Watson, Kay Medford, and Michael Pollard. The show had a run of 607 performances.  A movie version of the show was made in 1963.

The lead character, Conrad Birdie (Jake Weisbrod) is the biggest rock and roll star of the 1960’s to ever be drafted. Before he leaves, however, aspiring song writer, Albert Peterson (Tim LaRose) hatches a plan to make his fortune and marry his girlfriend Rose Alvarez (Phoebe Janisch) by getting Conrad to appear on the Ed Sullivan Show and kiss his high school girlfriend goodbye. Meanwhile Albert’s mother is trying everything she can to break Albert and Rosie up.

Audience members will recognize several hit songs from the show including Put on a Happy Face, How Lovely to Be a Woman, Spanish Rose, Kids and many more.

“One of the bittersweet parts of directing this musical is that some of the cast are children of the kids that were in the Music Man with me.  They are seniors now and ready to leave SPASH.  It’s been great to be working with them for the last time, but it’s their final show with me,” said Mercer.

Rosie Alvarez is the first big role in a SPASH production for Phoebe Janisch, even though she is a veteran of the stage, having appeared in numerous middle school plays and in the chorus of several musical productions.

“It’s a lot more work than expected, but working with the cast is a lot of fun and I can feel my growth as an actress improving each rehearsal,” Janisch said. “It’s a great musical to be a part of and I’m excited for the community to see what a great job and all the effort we put into it.”

Kiepert is also a Birdie veteran and recalls the challenges of a musical score with many key changes and really quick tempo for high school student musicians.

“I played the show when I was a teen for a student performing company in Manitowoc. The orchestra books are written for professionals that play multiple instruments but the SPASH orchestra and band students are doing a great job,” Kiepert explained.  “The show will have great appeal for our students and families in Stevens Point.”

Tickets will go on sale beginning Wednesday, January 22^nd through Friday, January 31 and can be purchased at the SPASH South Commons ticket booth from 11:25 AM to 1 PM.

Tickets will also be sold at Mitchell Piano (General Admission only) and Jim Laabs Music (Reserved and General Admission).  Tickets may also be ordered by phone at 715-498-1966(Please leave your name and phone number).

Ticket prices will be $9.00 for adults and $6.00 for students and senior citizens reserved seating. General Admission prices are $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for students and senior citizens.