Bye Bye Birdie, with book by Michael Stewart, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams, is the inaugural production of The Musical Theatre Academy at Theatre Three.

Directed by Mark C. Guerra and musical direction by Lynn Ambrose with a cast featuring Dallas area students from ages 10 – 19, Bye Bye Birdie is one of the most captivating musical shows of our time. It tells the story of a rock and roll singer who is about to be inducted into the army. The singer, Conrad Birdie, an Elvis Presley type, has a pompadour and thick sideburns; he wears gaudy gold costumes and speaks in a rugged voice. Albert Peterson, his agent, is a very pleasant mild mannered young man. Albert’s faithful secretary Rose Alvarez keeps him and Birdie moving forward in the world. Rosie concocts one final national publicity plan before Conrad’s induction.

Conrad will bid a typical American teen-age girl goodbye with an all-American kiss. Kim MacAfee in Sweet Apple, Ohio wins the honor. All of the phones in her town are already busy during The Telephone Hour as Kim has just been pinned to Hugo, a local boy. She is a pretty girl of 15 and sings with spring-like ardor How Lovely to Be a Woman, as she pulls on the plaid woolen socks and the baggy mustard colored sweater considered stylish and popular among young ladies.

Bye Bye Birdie is a satire done with the fondest affection. It gives an insight into the everyday life that is very much part of us all.

All performances will be in Theatre Too.