Before "High School Musical," and even before "Grease," there was "Bye, Bye, Birdie!"
Lots of laughs and great songs have made this favorite hit Broadway show one of the most memorable musicals of all time. And it's coming to The Ritz Civic Center in Blytheville at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27.
When rock star and teenage heartthrob Conrad Birdie gets drafted, the nation's teenagers go haywire and Conrad's songwriter, Albert, faces unemployment. Albert and his girlfriend organize a nationwide contest in which one lucky girl wins a farewell kiss from Conrad on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Kim McAfee turns out to be the lucky teenager and Conrad's whole entourage moves into her quiet Midwestern home -- much to the chagrin of her ever-irritable father and her jealous boyfriend. The result is chaos and a series of romantic complications, plus a lot of laughs.
The hit tunes include "Put On A Happy Face," "A Lot of Livin' To Do," "One Last Kiss," "One Boy" and "Kids." This long-lasting hit was a winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It has often been performed on local amateur stages around the world. This presentation is a professional touring production involving more than 20 professional actors, an eight-piece orchestra and a road crew of five, presented by "Windwood Theatricals" based out of New York City.
This is the fifth program of the 2008-09 Series of The Arts Council of Mississippi County.
Advance tickets are available at $25 for adults, and $20 for students and groups of 10 or more. Call 762-1744 to arrange for groups or to reserve tickets. As with all Arts Council productions, children 5 and under are admitted free. Tickets will also be available at the door on the night of the performance.
In addition to this great evening of entertainment, advance ticket holders, patrons and corporate sponsors of The Arts Council are invited to attend a special "Meet The Artists" gala reception prior to the show, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Blytheville/Gosnell Area Chamber of Commerce office, directly behind The Ritz on Walnut Street.
For more, or to know more about The Arts Council of Mississippi County, visit www.artsmissco.com.