Bye Bye Birdie
Auditions- Feb. 26, 2014 6pm
Book by Michael Stewart
Music by Charles Strouse
Lyrics by Lee Adams
Originally Produced by Edward Padula
Harrell Performing Arts Theatre
Produced by Collierville Arts Council
Directed by Keith Salter
Choreographed by Emma Crystal
Music Directed by Dennis Whitehead
Casting adults and teens (must be age 13 or older).
There is only one child role in this show. It is for a 8-10 yr old boy.
Show runs June 20-29th
Rehearsals begin April 30th (we will work with conflicts for college exams)
Auditions will be held February 26, 2014 at 6 pm at Harrell Theatre. Arrive by 5:45 to fill out your
audition form.
Callbacks will be held on March 1, 2014 at Harrell Theatre.
Auditions will consist of a vocal audition, a dance audition and script reading. You will need to sing a
specific song from the show depending on the role you are auditioning for (see chart below for character
descriptions). Music director will have the sheet music and will play the piano for your audition. No CDs.
Wear clothes and shoes appropriate for dancing.
SYNOPSIS OF BYE BYE BIRDIE
Tony Award Winner, Bye Bye Birdie is a satire that takes place in 1958 and centers around an Elvis Presley
type rock and roll superstar (Conrad Birdie) who is drafted into the army. His agent and song writer (Albert
Peterson) and Albert's secretary and love interest (Rosie Alvarez) plan a farewell performance for Birdie on
the Ed Sullivan television show, which they hope will provide the publicity to sell his new song "One Last
Kiss" and bring Albert's company out of debt. At the conclusion of the performance, Birdie will give a real
kiss to a lucky girl from his fan club.
The lucky girl is randomly chosen is Kim MacAfee from Sweet Apple, Ohio, and is a avid member of the
local Conrad Birdie fan club. Albert and Rosie come to Sweet Apple to prepare for Birdie's arrival and
things begin to unravel. Kim's father (Harry MacAfee) begins to get excited about the thought of being on
the Ed Sullivan Show with his daughter and Kim's new steady (Hugo Peabody) starts to get jealous of the
thought of Kim kissing Birdie on national television.
After Birdie's arrival in Sweet Apple, things continue to come undone as Birdie's charms enrage Hugo to
punch him out on national television as he embraces to kiss Kim. Later, Birdie confesses that he is tired of
show business and goes out on the town with the kids to show them how to party. This leads to Birdie's
arrest. Meanwhile, Rosie is getting tired of waiting for Albert to propose and figures that eight years is long
enough. She is also tired of Albert's domineering mother (Mae Peterson) who is constantly interfering in
their relationship.
The show ends with Albert bailing Birdie out of jail prompting Birdie to ask Albert to be his agent forever
as he gets on the train to New York and his induction into the army. Kim and Hugo make up and Albert
finally decides to propose to Rosie to tie up remaining romantic knot before the show's finale.
AGE NOTE:
The age range is a general guide to the approximate age of each character. Some characters can be played older or younger
depending upon the director's vision. Also, your age is less important than your ability to portray a character of that age.
Role
Albert Peterson - Conrad Birdie's agent
and songwriter
Rose Alvarez - Albert's secretary and
girlfriend
Conrad Birdie - Rock and Roll Elvis-like
superstar
Kim MacAfee – Teen girl selected to kiss
Birdie on the Ed Sullivan Show. Pretty
and self-possessed
Mr. Harry MacAfee - Kim's father,
comic actor
Mrs. Doris MacAfee - Kim's mother,
comic actress
Mrs. Mae Peterson - Albert's mother,
comic actress
Hugo Peabody - Kim's jealous "steady"
boyfriend
Randolph MacAfee - Kim's younger
brother
Mrs. Merkle - Ursula's mother
Gloria Rasputin – tap dancing
"secretary,"
Mayor - Mayor of Sweet Apple, Ohio
Audition Song
Vocal
Range
Dance
Age
Range
Baritone
Yes
24-35
Put on a Happy Face
Score is in Key- E
Soprano
Yes
20-35
What Did I Ever See in
Him
Baritone
Yes
18-25
Honestly Sincere or One
Last Kiss
One Boy
Score is in Key D flat/
changes to A flat
Soprano
Yes
13-16
Tenor
Some
adult
Soprano
Some
adult
Alto
Some
adult
Tenor
Some
14-17
Put on a Happy Face
Score is in Key- E
Some
8-10
Put on a Happy Face
Score is in Key- E
Some
adult
Kids
Soprano
Yes
18+
Put on a Happy Face
Score is in Key- E
All
Ranges
Some
adult
Young
Boy
Soprano
Kids
Kids
Kids
Kids
Mayor's Wife (Edna) - Member of
quartette,
Harvey Johnson – comic role
Mr. Johnson - Harvey's father
All
Ranges
Tenor
All
Ranges
Charles F. Maude - Proprietor/ bartender
of "Maude's Roadside Retreat." 2nd tenor
Tenor
in male quartet
Alice, Deborah Sue, Helen, Margie and Soprano
Ursula- teen friends of Kim
or Mezzo
Teen ensemble/chorus includes speaking
roles, non-speaking roles, singers, and
dancers (Freddie, Karl, Suzie, Nancy,
Penelope Ann and others)
Adult chorus – many roles including
speaking roles, non-speaking roles,
singers, dancers and male quartet
Some
adult
Some
14-16
Some
adult
Kids
Put on a Happy Face
Kids
Kids
Some
adult
Yes
13-16
All
Ranges
Depending
on Role
13-17
All
Ranges
Depending
on role
18+
One Boy
Score is in Key D flat/
changes to A flat
Put on a Happy Face
Score is in Key- E
Kids