The Yardley Players' BYE BYE BIRDIE Comes to Kelsey Theatre, Now thru 7/22

Poodle skirts and leather jackets are the height of style as Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre 2012 Summer Festival presents The Yardley Players in the rock n' roll musical, "Bye Bye Birdie." Performances are Fridays, tonight, July 13 and July 20 at 8 p.m.; Saturdays, July 14 and 21 at 8 p.m.; and Sundays, July 15 and 22 at 2 p.m. Kelsey Theatre is located on the college's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance tonight, July 13.

Inspired by the media frenzy that surrounded Elvis Presley when he was drafted into the army in 1957, "Bye Bye Birdie" tells the story of Conrad Birdie, the biggest rock & roll star of the late 1950's. Conrad's agent, Albert Peterson, is convinced he can make his fortune and marry the girl of his dreams if he gets Conrad on "The Ed Sullivan Show" to make his farewell television performance and kiss his "biggest fan" before he goes to war. But Albert's mother is against his marriage and Conrad's contest winner is in love with another (or so she says). Will the show go off without a hitch?

Dick Van Dyke was the first to make this Tony Award-winning musical a success, playing the role of Albert Peterson both on the stage and in the 1963 film. Tying in the seriousness of war with a plot that is both humorous and captivating, "Bye Bye Birdie" is a show for the entire family to enjoy.

Cast members include Peter Alexander of Princeton Junction as Harry MacAffe; Sally Graham of Yardley, PA, as Kim MacAfee; Laurie Hardy of Hamilton as Mae Peterson; Chris McHugh of Morrisville, PA, as Hugo Peabody; Chris Neuman of Hamilton as Albert Peterson; Ashley Patrick of Langhorne, PA, as Doris MacAfee; Lorraine Perri of Florence as Rose Alvarez; Jason Schwartz of Richboro, PA, as Randolph MacAfee; and Brent Tuccillo of Hamilton Square as Conrad Birdie.

Ensemble cast members include Arnold Brown of Monroe Township, Mike Diiorio of Hamilton, Roland Felkner of Yardville, Alan Hardy of Hamilton, Art Miller of Kingston, Adam Nicolai of Plainsboro, Gene Pullen of New Egypt, Ron SanGiovanni of Burlington, Ed Szemis of West Windsor, Carolyn Anzuini of East Windsor, Carol Feinstein of East Windsor, Alex Kasdin of Princeton, Amanda Mancino of Hamilton, Sharon Underberg of Belle Mead, Liz Wurtz of Levittown, PA, Holden Bihl of Robbinsville, Matt Blazejewski of Trenton, Stephen Blazejewski of Trenton, Quinton Darling of Morrisville, PA, Justin Ghaffoor of Hamilton, Jonathan Martin of East Windsor, David Rowcotsky of Ewing, Stephen Szemis of West Windsor, Kaitlyn Bader of Westampton, Alexandra Caldwell of Princeton Junction, Margaret Delucia of Robbinsville, Elizabeth Felkner of Yardville, Rachel Garretson of Cranbury, Kimmy Graham of Yardley, PA, Joanna Latini of Hamilton Square, Taylor Lloyd of Hamilton, Grace Ann Manno of Burlington, Abby Oliver of Hamilton, Caroline Purdy of Cranbury, Karlee Sangiovanni of Burlington, Caroline Scott of Skillman, Tara Wagner of Hamilton, and Erin Wurtz of Levittown, PA.

The show is produced and directed by Marge Swider, with assistant direction by Amy Zalot, musical direction by David Bohn, choreography by Laura Murey, stage management by Mike Diiorio, and set design by Mike Almstedt.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors, and $14 for students and children. For tickets, call the Kelsey Theatre box office at 609-570-3333, or visit www.kelseytheatre.net. Kelsey Theatre is wheelchair accessible, with free parking available next to the theater.

Also part of Kelsey Theatre's Summer 2012 Series are: "Eat a Peach," a musical tribute to The Allman Brothers presented by the Reock And Roll Revue (July 28-29); "The Wizard of Oz" Sing-Along (Aug. 3-5); the 2nd Annual Kelsey Theatre Awards Ceremony (Aug. 11); and "Nunsense," presented by Shore Repertory Company (Aug. 17-26). Patrons who purchase tickets for all five shows will receive a 35% discount. For more information or to purchase a discounted series package, visit www.kelseytheatre.net.

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