Purple Haze
Let the musical practices and memories begin
By Elizabeth Thomas

January 13, 2011

_____It’s the second week in January and some students are already hard at work learning their lines and songs for this year’s high school musical, Bye Bye Birdie. Some students were excited to get up on that stage and step into character, especially when they learned that the musical would be an upbeat comedy. Auditions had taken place in the beginning of December, and they ran very smoothly, despite the jitters some students get when they audition alone on stage. Now they can look forward to the memories and fun that comes with the practices and set building.
Bye Bye Birdie takes place in the 1950’s, a time of excitement and rock and roll. Fans of the Elvis-like superstar, Conrad Birdie, are devastated to hear that he’s been drafted into the military, especially his song writer and manager, Albert Peterson, who earns his money from Conrad’s success. Albert’s secretary and love interest, Rosie Alvarez, is tired of waiting for his marriage proposal and assisting him for eight years, but she formulates a plan to save his company. Conrad will appear on the Ed Sullivan show, sing Albert’s song, One Last Kiss, and plant a goodbye kiss on one of his fans. The lucky girl is Kim MacAfee from Sweet Apple, Ohio. Happy to be a grown woman of fifteen, Kim is thrilled to kiss Conrad on national television, but the thought makes her new boyfriend, Hugo Peabody, jealous. The story has many supporting roles, including Mrs. Peterson, Albert’s overbearing mother, and Mr. and Mrs. MacAfee, Kim’s parents.
_____The principle cast is as follows: Albert (senior Jack Krimmel), Rosie (senior Kate McGown), Conrad (senior Taylor Bream), Kim (senior Elizabeth Thomas), Mrs. Peterson (sophomore Kim Bartol), Mr. MacAfee (junior Nick Sooy), Mrs. MacAfee (senior Kaeleen Martin), and Hugo (sophomore Matt Zook). Some of you may be familiar with a few of the songs, such as Put on a Happy Face, One Boy and Honestly Sincere.
_____The performances are scheduled for March 4, 5 and 6, and tickets begin selling in the high school auditorium entrance on February 8 between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Parents and students are welcome to help with set construction on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the high school auditorium.
_____Complete with upbeat music, plenty of laughs and lively dancing, Bye Bye Birdie is one show you will not want to miss this spring. So, mark the ticket sale date on your calendars, and the cast, crew and pit hope to see you opening night!