TCP cast for 'Bye Bye Birdie' announced

Bill Rethlake, Greensburg Daily News, Ind.
·2 min read

May 24—GREENSBURG — Tree County Players has announced the cast for its upcoming production of the musical comedy "Bye Bye Birdie."

Showtimes are 7 p.m. June 27 through 29 with a 2 p.m. matinee June 30. Ticket prices and availability will be announced.

According to Wikipedia, the Strauss/Adams musical was originally titled "Let's Go Steady."

Based on the book by Michael Stewart, "Bye Bye Birdie" is set in 1958. Stewart was influenced when Elvis Presley was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1957.

The rock star character's name, "Conrad Birdie," is word play on the name Conway Twitty, who had a long career as a country music star but was one of Presley's rock 'n' roll rivals in the late 1950s.

The original 1960/1961 Broadway production was a Tony Award — winning success. It spawned a London production and several major revivals, a sequel, a 1963 film, and a 1995 television production.

The show also became a popular choice for high school and college productions due to its variable cast size and large proportion of ensemble numbers.

"Bye Bye Birdie" is directed by Amanda Gault with Dan Borns as Musical Director.

The Cast

* Albert Peterson — Paul Satchwill

* Rose Alverez — Jamee Scheid

* Conrad Birdie — Conlin Durbin

* Kim MacAfee — Rylee Grimes

* Mr. Harry MacAfee — Jeff Lincourt

* Mrs. Doris MacAfee — Cathy Lincourt

* Randolph MacAfee — Zeke Borns

* Hugo Peabody — Ian Frensemeier

* Mrs. Mae Peterson — Kim Livingston

* Ursula Merkle — Lauren Richards

* Alice — Alaina Schwering

* Deborah Sue — Paige Gauck

* Helen — Mary Schwering

* Nancy — Lily Wynant

* Margie — Isabella Whittington

* Penelope — Jessica Gauck

* Suzie/Sad Girl — Mikayla Young

* Karen — Avery Wallace

* Freddie — Maxwell Gauck

* Karl — Blake Hendrix

* Mayor — Travis Nobbe

* Mayor's Wife — Karen Matthews

* Mrs. Merkle — Kim Gauck

* Harvey Johnson — Drake Ertel

* Mr. Johnson — Andrew Gauck

* Charles F. Maude/Traveler — Matt Boersma

* Maude's Dishwasher/Policeman — Corden Simmonds

* Maude's Customer/Reporter — Sean Durbin

* Reporter — Tom Flemming

* Sad Girl — Katherine Maddux

* Another parent — Debbie Young

Contact Bill Rethlake at 812-651-0876 or email bill.rethlake@greensburgdailynews.com.