Ann Arbor says hello to ‘Bye, Bye, Birdie’

Ann Arbor Civic Theatre will present the musical comedy “Bye, Bye, Birdie,” directed by Rachel Francisco, Sept. 16-19 at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre.
One of the most beloved American musicals, “Bye, Bye, Birdie” finds a small town in Ohio in the mid-20th century turned upside down by the arrival of a famous rock star, Conrad Birdie. Birdie’s agent, Albert, has arranged for Birdie to kiss a local girl before his induction into the army – a publicity stunt that goes awry when the less-than-wholesome star hurtles into town. With timeless comedy and classic songs like “Put on a Happy Face” and “A Lot of Livin’ to Do,” “Bye, Bye Birdie” is one of the best feel-good musicals of all time.
“I really wanted to direct something light, happy, and fun,” said director Rachel Francisco in a press release. “‘Birdie’ fits the bill, and it has great roles for people of all ages. We have lots of new faces in this production, including a kids chorus of adorable youngsters as young as 5 years old. We’re striving to preserve the look and feel of the era, and the result is a classic musical for the entire family.”
Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday. Friday, Saturday and Sunday tickets are $22 ($20 for seniors and $12 for students). On Thursday only, all seats are $17. Tickets and information are available online at http://www.a2ct.org, through the A2CT office at 734-971-2228, or at the door of the theater before each performance.