All eyes are on Sweet Apple, Ohio—and Conrad Birdie—as a new production of Bye Bye Birdie begins at Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center June 7, part of the Broadway Center Stage series. The musical will be in the company's Eisenhower Theater through June 15.
Leading the cast are Christian Borle as Albert Peterson, Krysta Rodriguez as Rosie Avarez, Ephraim Sykes as Conrad Birdie, Caroline Aaron as Mae Peterson, Ashlyn Maddox as Kim MacAfee, Richard Kind as Harry MacAfee, and Jennifer Laura Thompson as Doris MacAfee.
WATCH: Christian Borle, Krysta Rodriguez, Ephraim Sykes Perform Songs from Bye Bye Birdie
The company also includes Jackera Davis as Ursula Merkle, Miguel Gil as Hugo Peabody, Henry Kirk as Randolph MacAfgee, and Megan Sikora as Gloria Rasputin, along with Allison Blackwell, Sarah Chiu, David Aron Damane, Victor de Paula Rocha, Jalen Michael Jones, Evan Kinnane, Kevin Ligon, Kelly LoMonte, Luke Kolbe Mannikus, Linda Mugleston, Maria Cristina Posada Slye, Renell Taylor, and Dori Waymer.
The 1960 musical—featuring music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Lee Adams, and a book by Michael Stewart—centers on music executive Albert Peterson, his sweetheart and secretary Rosie Alvarez, and Elvis stand-in Conrad Birdie as the latter descends upon Sweet Apple, Ohio, for "One Last Kiss" before answering a draft notice and joining the army. The comic story is inspired by a real-life situation with Elvis, with the musical parodying the screaming teen fans and bewildered parents in the rock 'n' roll icon's orbit.
Marc Bruni is directing the new revival, which is being dedicated to late Kennedy Center honoree (and Bye Bye Birdie original Broadway cast member) Chita Rivera. Denis Jones is choreographing, with John Bell serving as music director. The production features scenic design by Lee Savage, lighting design by Cory Pattak, costume design by Linda Cho, sound design by Haley Parcher, video and projection design by Nathan Scheuer, and wig design by Tom Watson. Casting is by Geoff Josselson.
The series presented tick, tick...BOOM! earlier this year, in a new production directed by Neil Patrick Harris; and will conclude its 2024 season with Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit's Nine in August.
Visit Kennedy-Center.org for more.
