Explore this Show

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 longtime girlfriend, 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 Ed Sullivan with his daughter, and Kim’s new steady, Hugo, gets jealous at the thought of Kim kissing Conrad on national television. Rosie gets tired of waiting for Albert to muddle through excuses not to marry her. And Conrad Birdie is a handful to manage!

But with screwball hijinks of all ages, rousing dance numbers, and such classic tunes as “Put on a Happy Face”, “Kids”, and “A Lot of Livin’ to Do”, Bye Bye Birdie is a delightful visit to the past!

Show Information

Lyrics
Lee Adams
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
1
Genres
Comedy, Romance
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
1958, New York and Sweet Apple, Ohio
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Recording
Dancing
Some Dance
Ideal For
Community Theatre, Elementary School, Ensemble Cast, Large Cast, Middle School, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Theatre For Young Audiences (TYA), Mostly Female Cast, Includes Child, Early Teen, Late Teen Characters

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Albert Peterson

Lead

Male

Baritone

Rosie Alvarez

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Kim MacAfee

Lead

Female

Soprano

Mrs. Dorris MacAfee

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Mr. Harry MacAfee

Lead

Male

Baritone

Conrad Birdie

Lead

Male

Baritone

Randolph MacAfee

Lead

Male

Tenor

Ursula Merkle

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Mrs. Mae Peterson

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Alice

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Soprano

Margie Ann

Featured

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Penelope Ann

Featured

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Deborah Sue Merkle

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Harvey Johnson

Featured

Male

Baritone

Freddie

Featured

Male

Tenor, Baritone

Karl

Featured

Male

Tenor, Baritone

Hugo Peabody

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Gloria Rasputin

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Mayor

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Edna

Featured

Female

Non-singer

Lee

Ensemble

Male

Non-singer

Phyllis

Ensemble

Female

Non-singer

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone

Songs

  • “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, Rosie
  • “Honestly Sincere” - Conrad Birdie and Townspeople
  • “Hymn for a Sunday Evening” - Mr. MacAfee, Mrs. MacAfee, Kim MacAfee, Randolph MacAfee
  • “One Last Kiss” - Conrad and Company
  • “What Did I Ever See in Him? (Part 1)” - Rose Alvarez and Kim MacAfee
  • “What Did I Ever See in Him? (Part 2)” - Rosie Alvarez
  • “A Lot of Livin’ to Do” - Conrad Birdie, Kim MacAfee, and Teenagers
  • “Kids” - Mr. MacAfee and Mrs. MacAfee
  • “An English Teacher” - Reprise” - Rosie
  • “Hand Car” - Teens
  • “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

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

Sorry! We do not currently have terms for this guide.

Videos

Quizzes

Sorry! We do not currently have quizzes for this guide.

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.

Quote Analysis

Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.

Guide Written By: