Aloha Performing Arts Company

The husband and wife team of Randy Ressler and Sue Boyum headline the cast of characters for the award-winning Broadway musical "Bye Bye Birdie," the next production of the Aloha Performing Arts Company. Ressler, a Kona dentist, is playing songwriter Albert Peterson, and Boyum, an instructor at Innovations Public Charter School, plays his fiancee Rose Alvarez. Marc Valenti, first mate of the Fair Wind, is playing the title role of rock star Conrad Birdie, who is about to go into the army and as a publicity stunt arranged by Albert and Rose, visits Sweet Apple, Ohio, to bestow "One Last Kiss" on a girl from small town America. That girl is Kim MacAfee, played by Hualalai 9th grader Elise Levin. Kim's parents, Mr. and Mrs. MacAfee, are played by Jerry Tracy and Gayle Keller. Her brother, Randolph, is portrayed by Bowen Ressler, son of the two leading players. Hugo Peabody will be played by Tyler Wood, and Ursula Merkle by BriAnna Johnson. Catherine Hansen plays Albert's mother, Mae Peterson, and another husband and wife team, Kelly and Marylei Drake, play the Sweet Apple mayor and his wife.

A group of young people who serve as the teen chorus and various supporting characters will consist of Christi Halversen, Sandra Burck, Katelyn Howard, Caitlynne Johnson, Celine Pinault, Edward Drake, Erica Keller, Lee Motter-Glennan, Jason Fowler, Jaylynne Fowler, Dalia Salem, Megan Walters, Jessica McDonald, Delaney Ross, Alex Moore, Kenna Flanders, Chamika Fujioka, Sara Frazier, Louis Jaeger, and Jacquelynn Collier. The adult chorus and supporting cast includes Vickie Higginson, Vince Mott, Christine Giblin, Paula Cornwell, Julie Hayward, Kelly Ann Miles, Kathy McKown, Peter Shonberg, Chuck Makanui, Tiffany Hughes, Mindi Bachard, Ernie Gianotti, and Dick Gray.

Kelly Ann Miles is guest director for the production, and Kelly Drake is assistant director and dance captain. Dale Ross is musical director, and Sue Boyum is choral director. Marylei Drake is choreographer, assisted by Tiffany Hughes. Mari-Jo Allen is associate choreographer, and Vickie Higginson is tap choreographer. Designers are: Julie Hayward and Lee Lorenz, costumes; Lisa Week, props; Cathy Riehle, set; Ra, graphics; Scott Burton, lighting, and Joanie Carey, hair and makeup, assisted by Bridget Clarke and Mindi Bachard. Trish Gura is technical director, producers are Jerry Tracy and Katharine Howard, and Burt Foerschler is stage manager and construction chief.

"Bye Bye Birdie," by Michael Stewart, Charles Strouse, and Lee Adams, is a Tony award winning musical often described as "the first of the great rock musicals." It opened on Broadway in 1960, ran for a year and a half, and made "Put On a Happy Face" and "Lotta Livin' to Do" household tunes. Two movies have been made of the show, the first with Dick Van Dyke and Ann Margret and a later one with Jason Alexander, Vanessa Williams, and Tyne Daly. "Bye Bye Birdie" will be performed at the Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu January 19 through February 11, 2007. Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday shows are at 2:30 p.m. There will be no show on Saturday February 10, and two shows on Sunday February 11, at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Premium seating is availble for any performance at $30. On Thursdays and Fridays, all other seats are $15. Saturdays and Sundays, regular admission is $18, with $15 tickets for senior citizens and students with ID. Tickets can be obtained by phone at 322-1648, at the box office beginning one hour prior to curtain, or online at www.apachawaii.org. Dinner theatre packages can be purchased through the Aloha Angel Cafe at 322-2122. For more information, call the APAC office at 322-9924.