Dalton Daily Citizen
DALTON —
“We love you Conrad, oh yes we do! We love you Conrad and we’ll be true!”
Teenagers from Sweet Apple, Ohio (and Dalton) will swoon when the classic musical “Bye Bye Birdie” hits the Artistic Civic Theatre main stage for opening night Aug. 5 at 8 p.m.
Set in 1958, “Bye Bye Birdie” tells the story of heartthrob Conrad Birdie (Jonathan Beam), a wildly popular rock-and-roll singer who has been drafted into the U.S. Army. To fuel his popularity and bolster record sales, Birdie’s agent, Albert Peterson (Ward Satterfield), stages a publicity stunt on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in which one lucky girl will give Birdie his last kiss as a civilian.
Kim MacAfee (Tanner Blackton), president of the Conrad Birdie Fan Club in Sweet Apple is the lucky winner of the national contest. Not only does she get a kiss from her idol, her family (Richard Bryan, Heather Holloway and Aaron Buckner) will appear on the show as well. Things get complicated when Kim’s jealous boyfriend (Matt Byrum) punches Birdie on live TV and Albert’s secretary and girlfriend (Pattie Renz) decides to quit. Will there be a happy ending in store for everyone?
Also featured in this multi-generational cast are Emma Phinney, Katie Beth Jewell, Anna Orr, Hannah Etheridge, Mary Mae Sims, Chandler Renz, Sheridan Fromm, Allison Hasty, Erin Farmer, Kate Orr, Kate Phinney, Millie Witherow, Josh Satterfield, Patton Locke, William Alderman, Heidi Long, Danny Buckner, Nick Amonett, Joe Ballew, Stephanie Redding, Colt Redding, Michelle Huch, Tim Etheridge, Caleb Satterfield, Lori Etheridge, Meg Phinney and Sydney Holloway.
“Bye Bye Birdie” is sponsored by Dental Implants and Periodontal Care, PC and is directed by Jennifer Phinney with musical direction by Lynn Murphy. The musical is scheduled for Aug. 5 to 7 and 12 to 14 at 8 p.m. and Aug. 8 at 2 p.m. For ticket information or to reserve seats, call ACT at (706) 278-4796.
