Redmond will get a taste of Sweet Apple, Ohio, in March when SecondStory Repertory will present the Tony-Award-winning “Bye Bye Birdie.”
In the classic tale set in 1957, superstar Conrad Birdie (Michael Renney) arrives in town to give a lucky girl “one last kiss” before his induction into the Army. The nostalgic trip will feature soda fountains, screaming fans, Ed Sullivan, comedy, romance, and songs like “Put on a Happy Face,” “A Lot of Livin’ To Do” and “The Telephone Hour.”
“Bye Bye Birdie” was originally performed on Broadway in 1960–1961. It also took flight on London stages and didn’t stop there. The play continued its success by launching a sequel, a 1963 film and a 1995 television production. It is based on the Michael Stewart book and features music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams.
The local production will run March 2-25 under the guidance of director Isaiah Crowson, musical director John Allman and choreography team of Matthew Lawrence and Rena Bailey-Barrett.
A pay-what-you-can preview/final dress will take place at 8 p.m. March 1. Opening night is 8 p.m. March 2 with subsequent 8 p.m. shows on March 3, 8-10, 15-17 and 22-24; a 2 p.m. matinee is slated for March 25.
• In the rep’s Theater for Young Audiences Series, “Junie B. Jones” the musical will run through March 18.
First-grader Junie B. (Lizzie Rose Sande) deals with losing her best friend but meets the new kid in school on the bus. She has trouble reading the blackboard and her teacher, Mr. Scary, thinks she may need glasses. The show also features a friendly cafeteria lady, a kickball tournament and a “Top-Secret Personal Beeswax Journal.”
Upcoming showings will be 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Feb. 24-25, March 3-4, March 10-11 and March 17-18.
The production is adapted from the “Junie B. Jones Series” of books by Barbara Park, with theatrical adaptation by Marcy Heisler (book and lyrics) and Zina Goldrich (music).
The rep’s director and choreographer is Carissa Meisner Smit and musical director is Rebecca Fredrickson.
SecondStory Repertory is located at 7325 166th Ave. N.E. Suite F250, in Redmond Town Center. For tickets and more information, visit secondstoryrep.org or call 425.881.6777.
