ACT's Youth Class presents "Bye Bye Birdie, Jr."

A bonafide heart-throb, a nation full of young fans, and a host of confused parents who just aren’t sure what all the fuss is about … all in the days before Instagram! Bye Bye Birdie, Jr. is an apple-cheeked musical that will be presented by Youth Production Class at Asheville Community Theatre October 30-November 1, 2015.   

Bye Bye Birdie, Jr. features a cast of 32 students from across Buncombe County. Performances are Friday, October 30 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1 at 2:30 pm. All tickets are $5.00 and are available online, by phone at 828-254-1320 or at the door.   

It’s the 1950’s and Conrad Birdie, the original rock n’ roll heartthrob, has captivated every girl in the nation. When he’s suddenly drafted into the Army, he’s called to record one last song with one lucky girl. Much to the dismay of her “steady,” that lucky girl happens to be Kim MacAfee. Bye Bye Birdie, Jr. is a fun, family-friendly show that’s a true American classic.

“We chose Bye Bye Birdie, Jr. because it’s the perfect fit for a cast of middle and high school students. As they continue on and continue to audition, they’ll have age appropriate monologues and music to refer to. Also, it’s a history lesson. The show is set in the 1950s and we’ve had a lot of discussions about pinning, Elvis and Ed Sullivan, and – hilariously enough – telephone etiquette when there’s only one phone in the house!” said Chanda Calentine, Program Director at ACT. “This class ended up consisting of a lot of returning students, and it’s been so wonderful to see how their trust in each other has deepened over the years. It’s also wonderful to see how inclusive they are to the new students!”

Bye Bye Birdie, Jr. is directed by Mark Jones (currently starring in Young Frankenstein on the ACT Mainstage) with musical direction by Linda Shuler. Students have been rehearsing afterschool since mid-August to learn the music and choreography, develop their characters, and create a complete production.

The Asheville Community Theatre production stars a cast of 32 students between the ages of 10 and 15.  From auditions to the final curtain call, the Youth Production Classes at ACT provide students the opportunity to participate in a play from beginning to end. 

For more information about the production, or about upcoming classes, please visit www.ashevilletheatre.org or call 828-254-2939 x27 for Program Director Chanda Calentine.