Bye Bye Birdie cast in early preparation for the musical

By Margo Moore

Redwood’s drama department is working hard to put on Bye Bye Birdie, the upcoming musical. The cast this year is promising. “Every cast is unique in some way,” says Mrs. Galvan, director of the drama department, but “this cast is young. Meaning there are a lot of people who haven’t been leads before, that earned lead spots. So, they have more homework to do in being ready for show time in February. “

Galvan says that “having younger/newer cast members makes it fresh for everyone. It gives everyone a challenge, including directors.” 

Kylie Schieferle, ’23, says “the cast this year is so full of talent, each person who has their own unique and distinct voice, adding lots of color and dimension into both the characters and songs throughout the musical.”

Kylie’s role in the musical is the character Kim’s best friend, Ursula Merkle. The musical surrounds “Conrad Birdie, a famous singer, who comes to a small town to kiss a girl named Kim for his last kiss before being sent off to the war while singing a song written by a struggling musician named Albert Peterson.”

Brooklyn Burch, ’23, says her “role in the play is Mae Peterson; [she is] the overbearing mother of Albert Peterson.”

“What is really cool about the musical is that it is not just drama students, or just choir kids, or just dancers, but a combination of everything. Even students that don’t get to experience those electives come and participate with the musical productions, so the cast is always diverse and unique,” Brooklyn says. “We all have our talents and in a musical, not only do we get to express our own but we can share them with others and learn new talents from our cast-mates.”

“Our progress begins from just reading through the script to understanding our character. Each person has a message to say; the actor must learn how to best convey it through dance, song, and stage performance,” says Brooklyn. Kylie says “As of right now, we have one day a week dedicated to vocal rehearsals with the other two days focusing on choreography and blocking.”

“We are on course to have everything blocked, choreographed, and vocally ready before winter break,” Galvan says. The cast is working to perfect the pieces they have learned before Thanksgiving break next week.

Bye Bye Birdie will perform in the LJ Theater on February 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. 

Tags: drama, drama show, musical, redwood gigantea, redwood high school