By: Bella Aldridge, Karli Branson, and Donya Hassanshahi
In preparation for opening night, cast members of the RHS production of the Bye Bye Birdie musical give it their all during the final dress rehearsal.
The RHS musical production of “Bye Bye Birdie” will debut its premiere on February 2nd at 7:00 pm. It will be followed by showings on February 3rd at 7:00 pm and 4th at 2:00pm and 7:00pm.
Bye Bye Birdie is a musical that takes place in 1954 and features a rock and roll singer named Conrad Birdie (played by Raul Arredondo ’23) who has been drafted into the army. Birdie must deal with his fans’ devastation while his agent Albert Peterson (played by Owen Koford ‘23) plans to send him out with a bang and one final hurrah.
An underlying love story emerges between Peterson and his secretary Rose Alvarez (played by Alyssa Sozinho ‘23). This romance is not the only one as Kim MacAfee (played by Hailey Rasmussen, ’23) also finds hardships in her relationship and must identify where her loyalties lie.
As they navigate the challenges of growing up and crushes on boys, the characters must confront past relationships and forge new ones, all while adapting to the expectations of society
As Koford and Sozhino take the stage, it is clear that that time and care were spent on costuming and design for this show. And it is also clear that Rose cares for Albert.
As the musical progresses, both the backgrounds and stage sets move fluently from one scene to another. Props shown in various scenes often reappear in the musical numbers and work incredibly well. The changes from scene to scene are subtle and effective.
The shows choreography moves the audience and takes them on an emotional ride. There are no missing steps and the performance shows a tremendous amount of hard work and practice.
Lighting adds to this show greatly. The spotlight and accent lighting directed on the particular actors in the scene draws the audience’s attention to focus on the small and meaningful details. This allows the audience to visually split scenes which enhances the emotion shared on stage.
The orchestra in Redwood Musical Theatre’s “Bye Bye Birdie” greatly enhances the overall viewing experience as they seamlessly integrate with the spoken dialogue, elevating the performance to new heights.
When Sozhino’s character, Rose, becomes frustrated by Koford’s character, Peterson, decision to hire a new secretary (played by Audrey Roper, ’24), the musical composition displays her character’s frustration and makes the audience feel as though they are a part of the ongoing conflict that is portrayed.
Sozhino also draws the audience to her fiery character, Rose, during a bar scene that is humorous and entertaining. The red hue of her dress matches the hat pieces worn by the men in the scene, as the black floral accents mimic her .
Throughout the colorful scenes, set designs, and wardrobes, the cast and stage-crew instill a heartfelt sensation within the audience that reflects the message of the musical, the message being that: one must fall in love with themselves first before they can be committed to someone else.
The comedic scenes are brought to life as the balance between playful and serious tones are conveyed.
This show is a must-see. Do not miss it, in fact, we think you should go twice.
To support dedicated students and view this vibrant musical, tickets may be purchased online here or in-person at the LJ Williams Theater on February 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
Donya Hassanshahi
Donya Hassanshahi, '24 is a third year journalism student writing for the Redwood Gigantea. She seeks interest in the Humans of Redwood, hoping to inspire the Redwood community with her writing. You can reach her by her email at donya.hassanshahi@gmail.com.
Tags: arts & entertainment, Bella Aldridge, Bye Bye Birdie, Donya Hassanshahi, karli branson, musical, musical review, rangers, Redwood, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, rhs, rhs drama, visalia ca