Bye Bye Birdie

Description

Inspired by Elvis Presley and his draft notice in 1957, Bye Bye Birdie is set in 1958 and centers on the effects of a popular rock-and-roll star leaving for the army. The suave superstar is question is Conrad Birdie (based on real-life musician Conway Twitty). When Conrad is drafted, his agent devises a publicity stunt to have him premiere one last song and to kiss a girl from his fan club on The Ed Sullivan Show before going overseas. When fifteen-year-old Kim MacAfee from Sweet Apple, Ohio is chosen as that lucky girl, the news thrills everyone in her small town except her boyfriend Hugo. As the show and impending kiss draw closer, tension and teenage romance play out against the backdrop of the late 1950s emerging rock-and-roll culture in this popular musical comedy.

Written by Michael Stewart, with lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strouse, Bye Bye Birdie was originally performed on Broadway in 1960, and won four Tony awards including Best Musical. The famous titular song was written for the 1963 film adaptation starring Ann-Margret, Janet Leigh, and Dick Van Dyke.