Photo courtesy of the Massapequa School District
To give her student-actors a classical theater experience, Director Katie Pearsall chose “Bye Bye Birdie” as this year’s musical production at Berner Middle School in the Massapequa School District. There will be two performances on Nov. 18 and 19.
The cast includes 75 sixth, seventh and eighth graders. Lead actors are Daryus Putnam as Albert Peterson, Sophia Rose Alfieri as Rose Alvarez, Sofia Milowski as Kim MacAfee, Nicholas Bernstein as Conrad Birdie, Juliana Ansaldi as Ursula Merkle, Jack Findling as Hugo Peabody, Nick Cordero and Rhyan O’Leary as Mr. and Mrs. MacAfee, and Drue Miller as Mae Peterson.
Daryus Putnam, who plays Albert Peterson, and the rest of the cast rehearse a musical number from the show.
The two-act show will feature musical numbers such as “A Lot of Living to Do,” “English Teacher,” “How Lovely to be a Woman,” “One Last Kiss” and “Telephone Hour.” Students will be accompanied by a full orchestra pit featuring Massapequa music teachers.
Ms. Pearsall said after doing more modern shows in recent years, it was time for a classic, as “Bye Bye Birdie” debuted on Broadway more than 60 years ago. She is assisted by choreographer Danielle Coutieri, vocal director Christina Guando, pit director Denise McLoughlin and production assistant Andrea Gropf.
Show times are Friday, Nov. 18 and Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Berner auditorium. For ticket information, call the district’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts at (516) 308-5085.
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