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Posted April 3, 2008

Assumption players say 'Bye Bye Birdie'
By Jamie Jung
Daily Tribune staff
Superstar Conrad Birdie has been called to active duty in the U.S. Army, and his agent, Albert Peterson, is concerned about his future.

Albert's girlfriend, Rosie Alvarez, cooks up a clever publicity stunt to have Conrad kiss a lucky fan one last time on "The Ed Sullivan Show" before he departs for war.

But it doesn't go as smoothly as planned.

Find out how the tale unravels when Assumption High School presents the musical comedy "Bye Bye Birdie" at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

"The music is wonderful, the story is hilarious and the kids just do a fantastic job singing and dancing," director JoAnn Goodness said of the production.

The show will feature 70 students on stage, in the pit band and in the technical crew. Two physical education teachers at the high school, Cathy Genteman and Mike Schulte, also will take the stage.

"The play is loosely based on Elvis Presley being drafted," Goodness said. "However, because it's a comedy, there are several other underlying stories going on at the same time."

To play the role of Rosie Alvarez, junior Olivia Freundl has had to alter her appearance.

"She's Spanish, so I've been tanning, and tomorrow after school I'm going to die my hair brunette and straighten it," Freundl said on Monday. "I'm so nervous. I'm going to have straight brown hair instead of curly blonde. I've always had blonde hair."

But Freundl said it's all worth it because Rosie is a fun character to portray.

"She's kind of got a little flare to her; she's a spitfire," she said.

This is the third musical Freundl has performed in at Assumption and she said the best part is seeing it all come together.

"I get really, really nervous like 10 minutes before the show, and then once I'm on stage it all goes away," she said. "It's really fun."

Senior Shane Hickey had a small role in "Copacabana" last spring, but this is the first time he's played a lead character. He stars as Conrad Birdie.

"After I found out I was going to be Conrad, I was pretty scared," Hickey said. "Singing in front of people, I've never done that before. It's just new to me -- the atmosphere, being on stage.

"It's really exciting. It's a lot of fun."

Being on stage is also new to junior Jon Brux, who plays Albert. This is the first time he's been on stage.

"People kept saying to try out and finally I did, and I was cast in a lead role," he said. "It's been a lot of fun. I don't get real nervous, I like public performance."

Tickets for the show are $10 for adults and $5 for students and children. They can be purchased in advance at the high school office, the Central Wisconsin Cultural Center, the Heart of Wisconsin Business and Economic Alliance and Daly Drug.

Tickets also will be available at the door.

"This play is set in the same time period as 'Grease' with that family fun music," Goodness said. "It will take people back to the 50s.

"It's really for all ages."

Jamie Jung can be reached at 422-6732 or jamie.jung@cwnews.net.

Olivia Freundl struts her stuff Monday as cast members of the Assumption High School production of “Bye Bye Birdie” perform during a dress rehearsal. DOUG ALFT/DAILY TRIBUNE

If you go

What: "Bye Bye Birdie," presented by Assumption High School

When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Where: Assumption High School Auditorium, 445 Chestnut St.

More info: Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and children. They are available at the high school office, 445 Chestnut St.; the Central Wisconsin Cultural Center, 240 Johnson St.; Heart of Wisconsin Business and Economic Alliance, 1120 Lincoln St.; and Daly Drug, 3215 Eighth St. S. They also will be available at the door.