The Sheboygan
Theatre Company announces the cast and crew for “Bye, Bye Birdie,” the opening
production of the Seventy-Fifth Anniversary Season, which is sponsored by The
Stefanie H. Weill Charitable Fund and Acuity for the Arts. For three-quarters of a century the
organization has been presenting live entertainment to the
With a book by
Michael Stewart, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics
by Lee Adams, it’s the story of singing idol Conrad Birdie’s publicity stunt
that has him giving “one last kiss” to a fan before going into the army.
Filled with song,
dance, comedy and wonderful characters, “Bye, Bye Birdie” is
typical of the Great American Musicals from the 50’s and 60’s. But as an affectionate satire of the Elvis
Presley phenomenon it stands alone as an extremely wild, energetic and
fun-filled Broadway show. That it’s all
about Rock and Roll only adds to the excitement of the piece. Given the period, the style and the music,
this is wonderful nostalgia of the first order for those who either lived
through the Fabulous Fifties or only heard about them.
In the lead roles
of Albert Peterson and Rose Alvarez are Zach
Pledl and Lisa
Golda respectively. Pledl was last seen as Abner Yokum in “li’L Abner,” while Golda is making her debut with the Theatre
Company. Stephen Nelson, in the
title roe of Conrad Birdie, is a newcomer, as is Colleen Schulz, playing Kim MacAfee. Her parents are portrayed by Chris Fontaine, who was last seen in “li’L Abner,” and by Tamara Richelle
Pool, who most recently appeared in “Seussical.”
Clayton Michener, another newcomer, is Kim’s little
brother, Randolph, while Holland White,
the boy, Jojo, in “Seussical,”
plays her boyfriend, Hugo Peabody. Lorraine Selinski, seen last season in
“Miracle on
The large cast of
teenagers includes Ariannah Albrecht, Atheana Albrecht, Indigo Beilfuss, Jonathan
Block, Connor Giles, Erika Herrmann, Alex Kussow, Allie Macknick, Anna
Menzer, and Elizabeth Plotka. Zoe Schroeder, Kim Singer, Mandelyn Tenpas, Annie Van Zeeland, Heidi White, Hope White,
Alexandria Wickland,
Cassie Ziegelbauer
and Lily Zimmermann are also
youngsters enthralled by Conrad.
Adults in the
chorus include Neil Beaton, Michelle Bestul,
Directed by Ralph Maffongelli, “Bye, Bye Birdie”
features musical direction by Janice
Westphal and choreography by
Veronica Hilke, while Michael A. Eberhardy is the Assistant Director and Stage Manager. Dustin L. Uhl, the staff Technical
Director/Designer, is designing the sets and Rick Klein the lights.
Costume designs are by Bernard J.
Markevitch and make-up designs
by Christy Zimmermann, while Dave Steinmeyer is the sound designer
and Nan Gibson the property master. Master carpenters are Jordan Justus and Phil
Zimmermann, paint master is Lee J.
Schneider and master electrician is Scott Landgraf,
Jr. Stephanie Gibson is assistant stage manager for the production.
Sponsored by Wilson Mutual Insurance
Company, "Bye, Bye Birdie" will open Friday, September 26, and be
performed each evening through Saturday, October 4, with the exceptions of
Sunday and Monday. There is also a
matinee on Sunday, September 28. The
production will be presented at the Leslie W. Johnson Theatre,
Admission is $20.00
for adults, $16.00 for seniors sixty and over and $10.00 for youngsters through
high school and college students.
Tickets are available at the Theatre Company office in the Community
Recreation Department,