Alyssa Sozinho fulfills theatre ambitions as a lead in Redwood’s production of “Bye Bye Birdie”

By: Keira Bixler

Alyssa Sozinho ’23 is a Drama student at Redwood and has earned one of the lead roles in this year’s school musical, Bye Bye Birdie.

She says playing Rose Alvarez is “…like a dream come true. I felt like I gave it my all in that audition room and prepared as much as I could. I felt like this role was such an amazing ending to my high school theater experience. It was like everything I worked for all of high school had payed off and now the real work began to tell this story.”

Sozinho as Rose Alvarez in “Bye Bye Birdie”
Photo courtesy of n.miller

Sozinho has been involved in musicals both here at Redwood and throughout the community for a large portion of her life.

In preparation for this year’s show, Sozinho says she “watched lots of other people play this role for inspiration. As I’m playing it, I just think about staying in character and going big every time. Big reactions to every line and really telling the story of how she would actually feel in that moment.”

She carries this philosophy into rehearsals and says, “Rehearsals are like my heaven on earth. I love being so focused and giving all my energy and effort to every scene. Also, keeping my mind in character off stage and helping with set changes and props. I’ve also held extra rehearsals at my house with some of the other people in the cast.”

With the show approaching, Sozinho is looking forward to opening night.

Sozinho in “Bye Bye Birdie”
Photo courtesy of n.miller

One being the audience, having them hear the jokes that aren’t funny to us anymore because we’ve practiced them 100 times. But it is their first time seeing the show so I’m so excited to hear laughter or applause if they like something. That means they are invested in the show,” says Sozinho.

Sozinho says, “I’m also looking forward to the feeling backstage. That kind of situation bonds cast mates and I have made some of my best memories in theaters.”

Tickets are available to purchase online here or in-person at the LJ Williams Theater on February 2, 3, and 4. The musical will debut February 2 and 3 at 7:00pm, and the 4 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm.