BYE BYE BIRDIE is one of the most captivating musical shows of our time. It tells the story of a rock and roll singer who is about to be inducted into the army. The singer, Conrad Birdie, an Elvis Presley type, has a pompadour and thick sideburns; he wears gaudy gold costumes and speaks in a rugged voice. Albert Peterson, his agent, is a very pleasant mild mannered young man. Albert’s faithful secretary Rose Alvarez keeps him and Birdie moving forward in the world. Rosie concocts one final national publicity plan before Conrad’s induction.

Conrad will bid a typical American teen-age girl goodbye with an all-American kiss. Kim MacAfee in Sweet Apple, Ohio wins the honor. All of the phones in her town are already busy during The Telephone Hour as Kim has just been pinned to Hugo, a local boy. She is a pretty girl of fifteen and sings with springlike ardor How Lovely to Be a Woman, as she pulls on the plaid woolen socks and the baggy mustard colored sweater considered stylish and popular among young ladies.

The arrival of Birdie in Sweet Apple causes people of all ages to swoon. Birdie says that his success is due to the fact that he is Honestly Sincere when he sings, and the quiet little town goes into a spin. The MacAfee household is completely upset by the visiting celebrity. It is decided that Birdie will give his One Last Kiss on the Ed Sullivan show. Kim’s father who laments the whole uproar, tries to break into the act and behaves like a ham on the TV show. Hymn for a Sunday Evening is a salute to the greater glory of Ed Sullivan.

Birdie becomes disgusted with his life and goes out on the town with the teenagers. He feels tense with Albert and is tired of being supervised. The parents of Sweet Apple cannot understand the new generation and express this in Kids. Rosie, still waiting for that band of gold from Albert after eight years, invades a Shriners’ meeting. An extremely hilarious ballet ensues. She then decides to become the Latin American spitfire that she is painted as, by Albert’s lead-footed catastrophe-ridden mother. She is determined to become Spanish Rose.

Kim is reunited with Hugo, and Rose with Albert in the lovely number Rosie. Other hit numbers include A Lot of Livin’ to Do and Put on a Happy Face. BYE BYE BIRDIE is a satire done with the fondest affection. It gives an insight into the everyday life that is very much part of us all. It is the tops in imagination and frivolity; a show that will be enjoyed by the cast as much as the audience.

Character Descriptions

(Final cast for the BRCMS cast may be different from this listing.)

Albert Peterson: (Tenor) He’s our stories central character. What, you thought it was Birdie? Nope. He’s the nervous and high-strung president of Almalou Records. The actor who seeks to fill this role must be a strong vocalist, but he also serves to carry the show’s main action. As such, he must be spot-on in comedic timing and show the core of this man in audition. It’s a great role. Show us something, gents!

Rose Alvarez (Alto): Poor Rose. She really puts up with a lot through the course of the show. Rose is Al’s secretary but dreams of the day when she can adjust his title from “employer” to “hubby.” That was always their plan, but time seems to have slipped away. Despite his often selfish and callous treatment of Rose, she continues to support him, biding her time. Well, for a while anyway. Every woman has her breaking point. The role of Rose requires a woman who can display a truly strong spirit and a spicy inner being who can’t wait to escape. The role of Rose will be secured by the one in audition who can sell the character’s spirit, both via dialog delivery AND vocals.

Conrad Birdie (Baritone): Not gonna lie, he’s kind of a undesirable sorta’ fellow. He’s rude. He’s arrogant. He doesn’t show much regard for others. He’s rumored to have a drinking problem. Eh, he’s a rock start anyway. This is, essentially, the iconic role of the show. In truth, the character doesn’t have much in terms of dialog, but he does command a heavy swath of vocals. In audition, you must sell the vocals, gentlemen. We also need to see, very clearly, the physicality of Birdie. The show was loosely based on Elvis’ entrance into the army. Give us a few king-like indications of the guy, but don’t go full-blown Elvis. The physicality is very important though. We need to see the performer fluidly at-work during the vocal auditions. I want to see the actual, no frills man during the acting auditions. Show us the change.

Kim MacAfee (Soprano): Well, she’s the president of Sweet Apple’s Conrad Birdie Fan Club. Through random chance, she is selected to delivery Conrad Birdie his final kiss goodbye before leaving to join the army. Seems simple enough, a nd her political status in the town certainly indicates valid credentials to fulfill the duty. Unfortunately, her boyfriend Hugo has a few reservations. Kim needs to come across as a typical all-American teenage girl of the 1950’s. She’s convinced that she’s already reached adulthood, and enjoys all the marvelous perks that come along with being a woman. Of course, the jolt of news about Birdie’s imminent arrival and her role in seeing him off is enough to send her reeling back down the ladder rungs int o pure childhood bliss. Funny scene. Anyway, ladies, if you seek to fill this role, you need to be solid on the vocals. You also need to communicate the black and white line that defines Kim at the crossroads of development where she finds herself.

Mrs. Mae Peterson (Alto): Wonderful character role, ladies. Her vocal requirements are a very minor consideration. Ma Peterson is sold via the read in acting auditions. We’ve heard of the stereotypical “ Jewish Mother” before, yes? Well, we’ve not reason to believe the Petersons are Jewish, but Mrs. Peterson does fit the bill for the stereotype popularized in American films and television. Every scene in which she appears presents Mae unabashedly working to guilt trip her poor son. Again, this is a character role, ladies. Go a little crazy with it, but be careful to find your own take. I don’t want to see an early leader in audition set the end-all, be-all pattern of reads for everyone else. Find your own take on Mrs. Paterson. Take some risks. She’s a wonderful character who commands volumes of laughter in the audience. Enjoy it!

Mr. Harry MacAfee (Tenor): Okay, guys, he’s not the star male vocalist in the show, but he does need to be able to sing a little. He’s also a great source of comedy in the production. Yeah, we aren’t given a ton of opportunities to see old Harry’s shtick. However, he does have a couple of really great scenes in which he has the potential to leave the house rolling. Show me your understanding of the potential behind this guy. Give me some really character gusto in the acting reads. And show us you can in fact handle the vocals that come with this role as well. “Parliament has been dissolved; the Magna Carta is revoked, and Nero is back in town!”

Mrs. Doris MacAfee (Alto): She’s on the back-half of female leads roles, but she is on the list! Mrs. MacAfee is a solid role. She has a wonderful scene early on in the show in which she is mortified with her daughter’s abrupt assertion of adult status. I don’t have a ton to offer you in developing this role for the audition process. Give me some options and show me your thoughts. Be inventive, and take a few risks!