Six performances of upbeat musical Bye Bye Birdie at Hylton Center in Manassas late July

Bye Bye Birdie, the feel-good ‘50s musical, is coming to the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas for six performancs over two weekends, July 19-20-21 and July 26-27-28.  It’s an affectionate satire on the popularity of superstar and teen idol Elvis Presley.

In the fictional world of Birdie, every teen’s dream is rock ‘n’ roll sensation Conrad Birdie, who’s about to go into the Army. His agent sees this as an opportunity for major publicity and arranges for the star to get a goodbye kiss from one lucky girl on The Ed Sullivan Show. Soon, Birdie’s arrival in the small-town home of the winning girl makes unexpected waves in the lives of its residents. Winner of the 1961 Tony Award for Best Musical, Bye Bye Birdie features such beloved songs as “Put on a Happy Face,” “Kids,” “One Last Kiss” and “A Lot of Livin’ to Do.”

With a book by Michael Stewart, lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strouse, Bye Bye Birdie, this Prince William Little Theatre production is directed by Don Petersen, produced by Melissa Jo York-Tilley, music directed by Beth Atkins, choreographed by Danica Shook and stage managed by Mary Ann Hall.

Curtain times are 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.  The Hylton Center is located at 10960 George Mason Circle, on the Manassas campus of George Mason University.  Tickets are available at http://www.hyltoncenter.org/tickets/ticket_sales.html

This hit musical features local actors Joshua Wilson (Albert Peterson), Holly McDade (Rose Alvarez), Megan Griggs (Kim Macafee), Clare Baker (Ursula Merkle), Danica Shook (Mrs. Macafee), Dave Ermlick (Mr. Macafee), Susy Moorstein (Mrs. Mae Peterson), Landon Dufrene (Conrad Birdie), Danny Waldman (Hugo Peabody), Owen Orwig (Randolph Macafee), Tyler Parowski (Harvey Johnson) and Caroline Simpson (Gloria Rasputin) with Candi Baker, Katy Chmura, Zach Fletcher, Cana Wade, Amber Armstrong, Victoria Baker, Sarah Barlow, Dan Bellotte, Amber Elston, Jonathan Faircloth, Carleigh Hopkins, Laura Kline, Jennifer LePaige, Tina Mullins, Gwenyth Murphy, Stephanie Powlen, Paul Rubenstein, Alyssa Ryberg, Sarah Scott, Taylor Shook, Kyle Turnage, Don Wilson, and Alden Lester.

PWLT’s production team also includes Becca Jackson (assistant stage manager); Stacy King (lighting design); Stan Harris (sound design); Jarrett Baker (set design); Susy Moorstein (costume design); Jennifer Busse (costume assistant) Carl Brandt Long (fight choreography); Veronica Thomas (props mistress/sound tech).

Providing quality local community theatre since 1985, the all-volunteer Prince William Little Theatre is partially funded by grants from Prince William County, the City of Manassas, and private contributions.  PWLT has won awards from the NVTA One Act Festival, the Virginia Theatre Association and the Washington Area Theatre Community Honors (WATCH).  http://www.pwlt.org  Message line: 703-330-7796