Composer

:

Charles Strouse

Genre

:

Musical Theatre

Style

:

Musical Theater

Compose Date

:

1960

Average_duration

:

51:24

'Bye Bye Birdie' is a musical comedy that was composed by Charles Strouse, with lyrics by Lee Adams and a book by Michael Stewart. The musical is set in the 1950s and tells the story of a rock and roll singer named Conrad Birdie, who is about to be drafted into the army. His manager, Albert Peterson, comes up with a plan to have Conrad give one last kiss to a lucky fan on The Ed Sullivan Show before he leaves for the army. The lucky fan is a teenage girl named Kim MacAfee, who lives in Sweet Apple, Ohio. The plan causes chaos in the small town, as everyone wants to be a part of the big event. 'Bye Bye Birdie' was first performed on Broadway in 1960, and it was an instant hit. The musical won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and it ran for 607 performances. The original cast included Dick Van Dyke as Albert Peterson, Chita Rivera as Rosie Alvarez, and Paul Lynde as Harry MacAfee. The musical is divided into two acts, with several musical numbers in each act. The first act introduces the characters and sets up the plot, while the second act focuses on the chaos that ensues when Conrad Birdie arrives in Sweet Apple. The musical features several memorable songs, including "Put on a Happy Face," "The Telephone Hour," and "Kids." One of the characteristics of 'Bye Bye Birdie' is its use of satire to comment on the culture of the 1950s. The musical pokes fun at the obsession with rock and roll music, as well as the way that teenagers were portrayed in the media. The musical also comments on the generation gap between parents and their children, as well as the changing roles of women in society. 'Bye Bye Birdie' has been revived several times on Broadway, and it has also been adapted into a film and a television movie. The musical remains popular today, and it is often performed by high school and community theater groups. Its catchy songs and humorous plot continue to entertain audiences of all ages.

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