Cabrillo Music Theatre Welcomes Jim J. Bullock in BYE BYE BIRDIE, Now thru 7/27

Before Beatle-Mania, before Bieber Fever, there was the first, the original...Conrad Birdie! America's rock 'n' roll heart-throb drives the teen girls bonkers as Cabrillo Music Theatre brings back the nostalgic, Tony-winning family-friendly Broadway Musical, BYE BYE BIRDIE. BYE BYE BIRDIE opens today, July 18th, 2014, playing until Sunday, July 27th, and features an added mid-week matinee on July 23rd, at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

Musical Direction by Lloyd Cooper

Choreography by John Charron

Directed by Lewis Wilkenfeld

BYE BYE BIRDIE takes us on a trip to the small town of Sweet Apple, Ohio, where the nation's most popular rock-and-roll singer, Conrad Birdie, arrives to give his biggest fan one last kiss to the Fan Club's President, Kim MacAfee, before going into the army - and on the Ed Sullivan Show, of course! At the same time, his manager, Albert Peterson, must deal with his frustrated secretary/girlfriend, Rose Alvarez, while handling his overbearing mother. Meanwhile, Mr. MacAfee fumes while Conrad Birdie takes over his bed, his house, his daughter, and his life! A town full of colorful characters, including crazed teenagers, a jealous boyfriend, a squeaky secretary, and a banquet-room-full of wild-eyed Shriners make for a rollicking, irreverent good time that the entire family will enjoy. BYE BYE BIRDIE features classic songs like "Put On A Happy Face," "The Telephone Hour," "Kids," and "A Lot of Livin' To Do," plus dances to rival the best of Broadway.

"My journey with BYE BYE BIRDIE began right here in Thousand Oaks in 1998, when I directed Cabrillo's last production of the show," reminisces Lewis Wilkenfeld, Cabrillo Music Theatre's Artistic Director, who will direct. "I'm thrilled to once again work with choreographer John Charron to make BIRDIE come alive for a new generation of theatre-goers." Adds Wilkenfeld, "With a cast of over sixty - our biggest company in years - and a full orchestra, BYE BYE BIRDIE will bring Cabrillo's 20th Anniversary Season to a memorable close!"

Indeed, BYE BYE BIRDIE's enormous company includes Jim J. Bullock as the put-upon Mr. MacAfee. Bullock, who played "Prince Valium" in Mel Brooks' "Spaceballs", and "Monroe Ficus" on ABC's "Too Close for Comfort" for six seasons, joins theatre veterans Zachary Ford (SPAMALOT National Tour) as Albert Peterson, Michelle Marmolejo (MEMPHIS National Tour) as Rose Alvarez, and Moorpark resident Noelle Marion (Cabrillo's ANNIE and ONCE UPON A MATTRESS) as Kim MacAfee. In keeping with Cabrillo's mission to nurture and launch young talent, the cast includes U.C.L.A. student Austin MacPhee as Conrad Birdie, Young Artists Ensemble's Harrison Meloeny as Hugo Peabody, and Thousand Oaks' Francesca Barletta as Ursula Merkle. BYE BYE BIRDIE features choreography by John Charron (Broadway's PETER PAN and the upcoming CAN-CAN), celebrating his 20th Anniversary as a choreographer for Cabrillo, and Musical Direction by Lloyd Cooper.

Cabrillo Music Theatre continues its nationally-recognized "Beyond the Footlights" Animal Rescue program during BYE BYE BIRDIE, in which many organizations from across the community bring their animals to the Civic Arts Plaza at all performances. At past productions, such as CATS, ANNIE, and LEGALLY BLONDE, Cabrillo Music Theatre has found homes for dozens of in-need animals, as well as helped to drive up donations and awareness for the organizations that do such good work, and BYE BYE BIRDIE promises even more successful additions to families. Audiences should arrive early at all performances to check out these worthy local animal rescue groups.

As with all Cabrillo shows, BYE BYE BIRDIE will feature a signed performance for the deaf and hard-of-hearing on Friday, July 23rd, at 8:00 PM. In addition, to accommodate audience demand and requests from Cabrillo's seniors for this popular cross-generational hit, a mid-week matinee performance has been added on Wednesday, July 23rd, at 11:00 AM, featuring lower prices for seniors and free parking.

Combining humor, dance, satire, nostalgia, and rock-and-roll music, BYE BYE BIRDIE, appropriate for all audiences, is the perfect finale for Cabrillo Music Theatre's 20th Anniversary Season! Become Conrad Birdie's biggest fan with BYE BYE BIRDIE at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza!

BYE BYE BIRDIE will open on Friday, July 18th, 2014, and run through Sunday, July 27th. Performances are Thursday at 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00pm, with a special Wednesday Matinee performance for the public on July 23rd at 11:00am. A post-show discussion with cast, staff and audience will follow the Saturday, July 19th, 2:00pm performance. A signed performance for the deaf and hard-of-hearing will take place on the Friday, July 25th performance. Cabrillo's Animal Rescue Program will take place outside the theatre before all performances.

Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza Box Office located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks, or through any Ticketmaster location, or by phone (800) 745-3000. For groups of 10 or more, please call Group Sales, Cabrillo Music Theatre at (805) 497-8613. Ticket prices range from $30-$65. For ticket and theatre information, call (805) 449-ARTS (2787). BYE BYE BIRDIE performs exclusively at the Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, Bank of America Performing Arts Center, at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

CABRILLO MUSIC THEATRE's 2014-2015 Season will open with MEMPHIS (November 14-23, 2014), then "travel" to England with MARY POPPINS (April 17-26, 2015), and make a stop in OKLAHOMA! (July 17-26, 2015). Next season also includes a "bonus" show in the Civic Arts Plaza's Scherr Forum Theatre, COMPANY (January 23-February 8, 2015). Single show and Season Tickets are available. For more information, visit www.cabrillomusictheatre.com.

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