‘Birdie’ flies into town

Published 12:06 am Saturday, March 10, 2012

Below: Alectricia Barnes and Ethan Jones pause during a set change Thursday.

What happens when America’s biggest teenage heartthrob is enlisted into the military and forced to give up his singing career? The answer to this question can be found tomorrow as the Andalusia High School chorus presents the Broadway musical, “Bye-Bye Birdie.”

Performance times are Sunday at 2 p.m. and Monday at 7 p.m. in AHS auditorum.

Directed by Paula Sue Duebelt and Sue Bass Wilson, the cast is made up of 6 through 12 graders.

Science teacher Angie Sasser, on keyboard, leads the pit orchestra, which includes Sue Wilson and Robert Myer on keyboards and Patty Meyer on flute and piccolo.

Originally released on Broadway in the early 1960s, the play tells the story of Conrad Birdie, a teenage rock idol who is the envy of every teenage girl in 1950s America. The musical features several well-known songs, including “Kids,” “Put on a Happy Face” and “A Lot of Living to Do.”

Tickets are $7 and may be purchased at Ansley Place, Bass Agency, Andalusia Elementary and Andalusia High as well as the door.

Cast list

Albert Peterson: Will Jones on Sunday and Carlos Luckie on Monday

Rose Alvarez: Savannah Ricks

Kim Macafee: Megan Rogers

Mr. Harry Macafee: Hampton Glenn

Mrs. Doris Macafee: Kat Dean

Mrs. Mae Peterson: Robynn Wiggins

Conrad Birdie: Austin Shirey

Conrad’s Guitarman: Ethan Jones

Hugo Peabody: Catlin Jones

Randolph Macafee: Brandon Rogers

Mayor: Wesley Maye

Mayor’s Wife: Alexis Horton

Policeman: James Holley

Mrs. Merkle: Alex Hart

Helen: Lorren Shaffer

Nancy: Anna Ammons

Alice: Mary Johnson

Deborah Sue: Judy Johnson

Margie: Sydney O’Brien

Penelope: Cassie Cooper

Suzie: Kelse Moore

Ursula Merkle: Katie Hollinghead

Harvey Johnson: Steadman Glenn

Reporters: Niguel Jones and Deontae Maye

Gloria Rasputin: Lorren Cooper

Mr. Johnson: Cameron Gibson

Mrs. Johnson: Sarah Emily Barefoot

Maude: Jacard Townsend

Conductor: Jared Ragland

Female teenagers: Alexa Curry, Christian Davis, Mary-Ella McClain, Danyella Akins, Bronwyn Grimes, Ferris Dooley, Erica Gardner, Megan Still, Brandee Phillips and Alectricia Barnes.

Male chorus: Andrew Williamson, Gus Maraman, Victor Clem, Triston Hilburn, Mayur Patel, Aaron Velazquez, Kevin Nguyen, Lakelyus Adams and Blake Hostetter.