Overview
Synopsis
The year is 1958, and the much-adored rock-and-roll idol -- Conrad Birdie -- has been drafted into the US army. His songwriter and agent, Albert, and Albert’s secretary and some-time girlfirend, Rosie, hatch a plan for a farewell performance to take place on The Ed Sullivan Show, which they hope will help sell Birdie’s new song “One Last Kiss,” and ultimately save Almaelou records from going under. To cap off the performance, Birdie will actually give ‘one last kiss’ to Kim MacAfee, an avid member of the Conrad Birdie fan club from Sweet Apple, Ohio.
When Albert and Rosie head to Sweet Apple to prepare for Birdie’s arrival, things start to unravel. Kim’s father is starstruck at the thought of being on The Ed Sullivan Show with his daughter, and Kim’s new steady, Hugo gets jealous at the thought of Kim kissing Conrad on national television.
Show Information
- Book
- Michael Stewart
- Music
- Charles Strouse
- Lyrics
- Lee Adams
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1960
- Genres
- Comedy, Romance
- Settings
- Period
- Time & Place
- 1958, ohio, new york
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- Community Theatre, High School, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Early Teen, Late Teen, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Large Cast
Context
Bye Bye Birdie was originally titled Let’s Go Steady and billed as a “happy teenage musical with a difference.” Conceived by producer, Edward Padula, who contracted Charles Strouse and Lee Adams. The team eventually sought out Gower Champion as a director/choreographer. Champion did not like the book and the writers were fired. Michael Stewart, who was then brought on, wrote an early version focusing on a couple thinking of divorce. However, Champion wanted something different. It was then
to read the context for Bye Bye Birdie and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
As the overture begins, video plays with footage of Conrad, cutting to rapid shots of mobs of screaming fans, climaxed by a shot of Conrad himself: sideburns, wild hairdo, half-closed eyes, pouting lower lip and all. From within the orchestra, we hear the anthem of Conrad’s fanclub: “We love you Conrad. Oh yes we do! We love you Conrad, and we’ll be true.”
At the office of Almaelou Music Corporation in New York, Albert Peterson is excitedly talking on the phone. His star
to read the plot for Bye Bye Birdie and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Act One
- “We Love You, Conrad” - Teen Chorus
- “An English Teacher” - Rosie Alvarez
- “The Telephone Hour” - Helen, Nancy, Alice, Margie, Harvey Johnson, Teen Chorus
- “How Lovely to Be a Woman” - Kim MacAfee
- “We Love You, Conrad” - Teen Trio
- “Put On a Happy Face” - Albert Peterson and Two Sad Girls
- “Normal American Boy” - Rose Alvarez, Albert Peterson and Chorus
- “One Boy” - Kim MacAfee, Deborah Sue and Alice
- “One Boy - Reprise” - Rosie Alvarez
- “Honestly Sincere” - Conrad Birdie and Townspeople
- “Wounded” - Ursula, Margie, Deborah Sue
- “Hymn for a Sunday Evening” - Mr. MacAfee, Mrs. MacAfee, Kim MacAfee, Randolph MacAfee
- *“One Hundred Ways - Ballet” - *Rosie
- “One Last Kiss” - Conrad and Company
Act Two
- “What Did I Ever See in Him?” - Rose Alvarez and Kim MacAfee
- “What Did I Ever See in Him? - Reprise” - Rosie Alvarez
- “Kids” - Mr. MacAfee and Mrs. MacAfee
- “A Lot of Livin’ to Do” - Conrad Birdie, Kim MacAfee and Teenagers
- “Baby, Talk to Me” - Albert Peterson and Quartet
- *“Shriners’ Ballet” - *Rose Alvarez and the *Shriners
- “Kids - Reprise” - Mr. MacAfee, Mrs. MacAfee, Randolph and Townspeople
- *“Ice House Livin’” - *Teen Chorus
- “Spanish Rose” - Rose
- “Rosie” - Albert and Rose
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
References an era of book musicals written roughly between the 1940s and the 1960s.
A Broadway musical written and produced between 1943 and 1965.
A type of popular dance music originating in the 1950s, characterized by a heavy beat and simple melodies.
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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