BYE BYE BIRDIE Now In Rehearsals At H-K High School

The family event of the H-K school year is almost upon us! The year is 1958, and the much-adored rock-and-roll idol Conrad Birdie, played by H-K Senior, Giovanni Casella, has been drafted into the US Army. His songwriter and agent, Albert, (Brandon Iovene) and Albert's secretary and some-time girlfriend, Rosie, (Allegra Rosa) hatch a plan for a farewell performance to take place on The Ed Sullivan Show which they hope will help sell Birdie's new song "One Last Kiss" and ultimately save Almaelou records from going under.

To cap off the performance, Birdie will actually give 'one last kiss' to Kim MacAfee (Emily Bourdon), an avid member of the Conrad Birdie fan club from Sweet Apple, Ohio. When Albert and Rosie head to Sweet Apple to prepare for Birdie's arrival, things start to unravel. Kim's father (Arjun Badami) is star-struck at the thought of being on The Ed Sullivan Show with his daughter, and Kim's new steady, Hugo, (Devin Coon) gets jealous at the thought of Kim kissing Conrad on national television. Other Cast includes: Alexandra DeCrosta portraying Kim's mother and H-K MS student Kiera Degnan joins the family as Kim's little sister Rebecca, Elizabeth McManus as Kim's best friend Ursula, and Cristina Barragan as Mae Peterson.

The teenagers rule this show and are wonderfully portrayed by Abby Manley, Addy Hawkins, Charis Caples, Hannah-Laird Hoover, Marissa Thiel, Anthony Lineberry, Zach Houlton, and Tyrese Lawrence. Hunter Campbell, Logan Hill, Ashley Wolf, Gabby Lester, Morgan Bowles, Wyatt Morrell, and Connor Chute round out the talented adult ensemble.

The creative team for Bye Bye Birdie includes Director Marcy Webster and Choreographer Nicole Phaneuf. We are proud to feature a live pit orchestra directed by Timothy D'Amato with student instrumentalists: Emily Soja, Rebecca Salerno, Brooke Catalano, Jimmy Bobbi, Colton Lavoie, Schuyler Dragoo, Siobhan O'Sullivan, and Jake Torello. Curtis Kubacka and Bridget Harry are the Stage Managers with Maranda Morrell as the Assistant Stage Manager.

The 1950s set was a collaboration with the director and crew along with Melissa Thompson providing intricate hand-painted decorations to our set. Lighting design is complemented with input by Marianne Herbst and the spot light is run by Grace DiMatteo. Period costumes from the H-K Players vault include designs and handmade items by Cristina Barragan, props created by Summer McNeil, Zoe Smith and Tyrese Lawrence, and hair and make-up by Rowan Lamoureux and Summer Statkiewicz. Graphic design and technical support on many fronts is expertly provided by Patrick Boots. Running the crew and special projects are Rory Ballachino, Chelsea Lovelace, and Amber Edwards.

Bye Bye Birdie: May 4th and 5th at the Haddam-Killingworth High School Auditorium at 7:00pm

TICKETS: $10 available for pre-order or at the door, quantities permitting BOX OFFICE: 860-345-8541

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