'Bye Bye Birdie'
Butler Summer Dramatics brings a beloved musical classic to the stage with its production of “Bye Bye Birdie” set to open Aug. 2 at the Succop Theater at Butler County Community College. The show will run through Aug. 5.
Waylon O'Donnell of Clay Township takes on the role of the swoon-worthy Conrad Birdie.
“Think Elvis Presley: young, rebellious, greased up, leather jacket, and a swarm of rabid middle school girls obsessing over him,” O'Donnell said.
The Ashland University senior is not new to this show or to the stage. He has appeared in seven of the last eight Summer Dramatics productions and was in the 2010 version of this musical in the adult chorus.
“Conrad Birdie can drive a crowd of girls crazy with a snap of his fingers. Trying to develop that 'sex symbol' type of character can be a challenge at times,” O'Donnell said.
He said he gets his swagger on by listening to a playlist of Presley music before rehearsals.
Kim McAfee, the girl fated for the infamous Conrad smooch, is portrayed by Tishy Hornsby of Center Township, a sophomore at Butler High School. She is reprising her role from a junior production several years ago in Karns City.
“Kim is 15 and becoming a woman. She is pinned to her steady boyfriend, Hugo, but gets picked to be kissed by Conrad Birdie, a rock star going off to war,” explained Tishy, who enjoys the role because she can relate.
“Kim is a lot like me. She is serious, but vulnerable, and gets pulled in different directions when she gets to meet someone she had only dreamed about,” she said.
Balancing Kim's responses can be a bit tough. “The biggest challenge in playing Kim is that she tries to be serious and responsible but is also starstruck with Conrad Birdie. Her world turns upside down when her idol shows up in her house,” Tishy said.
The role of rowdy Rose Alvarez is being played by AnnMarie Lowerre of Butler Township, who is actually wearing two hats since she is also the choreographer for the show.
The Youngstown State University junior is delighted to play a role that is so diverse. “Rosie is like every color of the rainbow, and that's my favorite part,” Lowerre said. “I get to be sassy, sweet, smart, sad, sentimental, and more. My favorite part is how different she is in each scene.”
Finding Rosie's motives has been challenging but rewarding, Lowerre said.
“Rosie is a firecracker with a soft side. One instant she is following Albert around and the next she is marching to the beat of her own drum. She really is a strong, beautiful and intelligent woman in a time where women were not always looked at that way,” said Lowerre.
She has appeared with Summer Dramatics as Marty in “Grease” and Glinda in “The Wizard of Oz.”
Rosie's love interest, Albert Peterson, is played by Zane Gagliardi of Summit Township, who will be a senior at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School.
“Albert is a neurotic, scatterbrained, mama's boy, music producer,” said Zane, who enjoys the dancing and songs he performs.
“It is an extreme honor to play a role originated by Dick Van Dyke,” he said. “The most challenging part is playing a character almost twice my age,” Zane said.
He has also appeared in “Grease” and “The Wizard of Oz” with Summer Dramatics.
Rounding out the cast is Jerrod Hull as Mr. McAfee, Dory Shearer as Mrs. McAfee, and Morgan Oesterling as Randolph McAfee. Rania Rashid plays the part of Mrs. Peterson. An ensemble cast of 55 also contributes to the production.
The show is being co-produced by Kathy Campbell and Jeanne Spafford.
Gordon Cavalero directs, and Debbe Picerno serves as musical director.
All seats are reserved, and tickets are available now.
WHO: Butler Summer DramaticsWHAT:“Bye Bye Birdie”WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2 to 4 and 2:30 p.m. Aug. 5WHERE: Succop Theater at Butler County Community CollegeTICKETS:$15 for premium center seats and $12 for seating in side sections, available at May’s Music Shoppe. All seats are reserved.
