APRIL 19, 1968
Conrad Birdie To Come To MW April 25, 26, 27
Students will have a chance to judge the annual musical for themselves at 8 p.m. April 25, 26, and 27 in the Maine West auditorium. An additional twilight performance will be given at 4:30 p.m. April 24 for district junior high students and possibly Viet Nam veterans from the Great Lakes Naval Station.
Members of the "Conrad Birdie International Fan Club," however, must buy tickets within the next week. The reserved seats have been on sale in the bookstore and at Maria Schaefer's Music Store for $1.50 and $2 since March 25.
Birdie himself will appear in the form of Conrad Bar '70 on Wednesday and Friday and Steve Conrelius '68 on Thursday and Saturday. His manager Albert J. Peterson will be played by Dave Larson '68 at the Wednesday and Friday performances and by Phil Witkay '68 on Thursday and Saturday.
Other double-cast roles, with the Wednesday and Friday performers named first, are Rosie, played by Donna Dc Franco '68 and Carolyn Hummel '69; Ursula Merkel, played by Barb Bednarz '69 and Bonnie Bridwell '70; and Mae Peterson, played by Lise Pahnke '69 and Kathe Wilson '68.
The MacAfee family will be represented by Mrs. MacAfee, played by Pam Osburn '68 and Lorrie Ware '68; Mr. MacAfee, played by Bob Connelly '68 and Rick Kautz '68; Kim, played by Vicki Anderson '68 and Rhonda Sundquist '69; and Randolph, played by Mike Greene '71 and Mike Osburn '71.
Still other major cast members are Hugo Peabody, played by Max Elsey '68; Charles F. Maude, played by Randy Stamp '68; the television stage manager, played by Rick Wilson '69; and Mr. Johnson, played by Bob Lorz '68.
Also on stage will be a teen chorus, a male quartet, cheerleaders, a group of Shriners, a group of teenagers, and several reporters. The show even includes something curtly de-scribed as "Ed Sullivan's voice" and associated with Don Hammer '70.
In all, according to Viv Geiger, there will be over 100 people on stage and a total of 250 students involved in the production. "There are hordes of people on stage," commented Viv. "At one point all the people in Sweet Apple, Ohio, appear. One scene ends in mass hysteria."
Also assisting as a student director is Carolyn Shayman '68. Pam Osburn '68 and Peg Heller '68 have been helping with the musical aspects of the show.
"The cast is all working very very hard," Phil Witkay remarked, "and the show is pulling together faster than we expected."
The general director and con-ductor of Bye, Bye Birdie is Mr. Robert Kuite. The vocal director is Mr. Wilbur Schafer, and the drama coach is Mr. Garth Boyer.
Other directors include: Mrs. Mildred Heidorn, orchestra director; Mr. George Blanas, sets and costume design; Mr. Robert Pelikan, technical director; Mr. Conard White, lighting director; and Mr. Verne Brownell, audio director.
Still other are Mrs. Kathleen Lawyer, choreographer; and Mr. Michael Cuthbert and Mr. Robert Rupar, publicity.