Red, white and blue ‘Birdie’

coming to Lakewood H.S.

By Joyce Blay

Staff Writer

LAKEWOOD — Elvis Presley is long gone, but the ghost of his popularity will come vividly to life in the Lakewood High School Fine Arts Department’s production of Bye Bye Birdie.

Bye Bye Birdie was the first musical production ever performed at the school in 1969. It returns this week for three performances.

Bye Bye Birdie will be presented on April 4 and April 5 at 7:30 p.m. and on April 6 at 2 p.m. at Lakewood High School, Somerset Avenue. Tickets will cost $5 for general admission and $6 for reserved seating. Student tickets will cost $3 for general admission and $4 for reserved seating. Senior citizens who present proof of residency in Lakewood are eligible to receive a free general admission ticket. For further information call (732) 905-3519.

Based on a time in Presley’s life when he was drafted into the U.S. Army, the musical is about Conrad Birdie, a fictional rock and roll star whose career bears a striking resemblance to that of his real-life counterpart. As part of a public relations strategy, a teenage girl from a small midwestern town is selected to give Conrad Birdie a kiss good-bye at the conclusion of a televised song he performs live before leaving for military service. But in a surprising twist, his handlers and legions of love-struck girls get an unexpected revelation about their idol-turned-soldier that changes everyone’s impression of him.

Love, laughter and a happy ending give the intergenerational story a timeless quality that has continued to be enjoyed by succeeding generations. According to Jared Moskowitz, the musical director, this production of the hit show will be no different.

"We have a cast befitting their roles," Moskowitz said. "I couldn’t have asked for better kids to play these parts. We even have parents and teachers playing roles in the show."

On a Friday afternoon a week before the curtain will rise, Moskowitz and director Angela Corenblith are rehearsing the cast. On the stage above them, several actors sit on a miniature bleacher beneath a flagpole with an American flag.

"One, two, three, go!" said Moskowitz, cueing the students as they launch into the song "I’ve Got a Lot of Living to Do," an exuberant staple of the venerable Broadway musical.

Suddenly, the stage is filled with smil­ing dancers who perform with skipping steps, gesturing hand motions and an élan that makes the production seem as fresh as it must have been to its first audience decades ago.

As the number ends, the performers briefly hold their final pose before dispers­ing to talk with a visitor.

"I’m one of the secondary leads," said Kiera McKee, 17, a junior. "I play Kim MacAfee. Last year I was Jan in Grease."

Pointing toward John Mahon, 15, a sophomore, she said, "He’s my Randolph," referring to the role he played as her brother in the production. Then, gesturing to Andrew Schertzer, 17, a junior, she said, "He’s my father."

Andrew plays Harry MacAfee. Dana Ponti, 18, a senior, is his wife, Mrs. MacAfee.

Bruno Silva, 17, a junior, plays the key role of Conrad Birdie. Bruno said he also built most of the sets.

"So modest," said Ashley Cunliffe, 17, a senior, who plays Rosie. "I’m Albert’s secretary."

When asked if she wanted to be an ac­tress, Ashley shyly smiled and said, "I want to be on MTV News. (I was on) a TV news show here called Lakewood in the Morning."

Dan Kelly, 16, a junior, plays Albert Peterson, Conrad’s manager.

"He’s one of the leads," said Jenn Rosseter, 17, a senior, who plays Mrs. Peterson, Albert’s mother.

Ryan Budde, a sophomore, plays Hugo, Kim’s boyfriend.

Corenblith, a veteran teacher of both the performing arts and English, and Moskowitz, the youthful director of choral activities at the high school and the middle school, are the team guiding the performers as they reinterpret the show for a new au­dience.

When asked what made this production special, Corenblith said, "The energy and the youth of a very dedicated cast. We’re also making the show very patriotic. It was always there, we just played it up."