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Lehigh Valley Academy RCS ‘Birdie’ rocks

Published March 31. 2026 11:53AM
by Ed Courrier Special to the Bethlehem Press

The Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter School’s “Bye, Bye, Birdie” rocked the auditorium stage from March 21 - March 22, at Nazareth Area Middle School, 94 Friedenstahl Avenue, Nazareth.

Rock star and Army conscript Conrad Birdie performs a farewell concert before reporting for duty in 1958. The satiric musical revolves around a desperate songwriter and his secretary, as well as a Midwestern fan, her family and the teenager’s jealous boyfriend.

The musical, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Lee Adams, and book by Michael Stewart, opened on Broadway in 1960 and in 2009 as a Broadway revival.

The original Broadway production was nominated for eight Tony Awards, receiving four Tonys in 1961.

“Bye, Bye, Birdie” was released as a movie in 1963 and in 1995 as a television production.

Production numbers include “A Lot of Livin’ to Do,” “Honestly Sincere,” “The Telephone Hour,” “Kids” and “Put On a Happy Face.”

The cast of the Lehigh Valley Academy RCS production includes Rolando Vargas as Albert Peterson, Lynette Rivera as Rose Alvarez, Isabella Scheirer as Kim MacAfee, Jalian Velez as Conrad Birdie, Robert Churetta as Harry MacAfee, Mya Angel Heard as Doris MacAfee, Jace Langlais as Randolph MacAfee, Lyyli Duhigg as Mae Peterson, Saharsh Silparshetty as Hugo Peabody, Katie Sweitzer as Ursula Merkle and Dr. Charles Raeford as The Voice of Ed Sullivan.

Additional cast members include Marina Sweitzer, Rain Dempsey, Cristofer Diaz, Angelika Hope Santana, Amir Smith, Austin Littau, Katherine Seijas, Lavendah Smith, Francesca Ponce Montufar, Nicole Tomeski, Ranoa Bowlds, MJ Albertson, Shania Ayala, Andrew Baladi, Ariannie Ramos, Isabella Azen, Yanelin Duran Ortiz, Genesis Gant, Anthony Gomez, Sebastián Ojeda Gonzales, Olivia Govan, Emely Gutierrez, Britney Hernandez-Batista, Amanda Hidalgo, Yarielis Irizarry, Michael Nova, Ky’Ayanna Oranie, Maryana Sirett-Arroyo, Praisely Toledo, Jackeline Vargas-Sanchez, Brayden Walters, Lily Westbrook and Angelie Zakariya.

Pit Orchestra Director Chad Miller conducts student musicians Nemiah Allen, Dylan Ionescu, Benjamin Ireland, Sean McLaughlin, Daniil Segreaves and Kaleah Thomas.

Director / Producer Amanda Pascale is assisted by Choreographer Ruthann Ciszak, Music Director John Leiderman, Stage Crew Manager / Costumer Natasha Catino, and Set Construction Mike Sanders / Main Stage Productions.

Press photos by Ed CourrierSweet Apple, Ohio, teens jam the lines with gossip with “The Telephone Hour” at the March 20 dress rehearsal.
At right, Rolando Vargas as Albert Peterson attempts to cheer up a couple of Conrad Birdie fans at Penn Station with “Put On A Happy Face.”
At the MacAfee House, the family sings “Hymn for a Sunday Evening” when they learn that Kim is to be featured with rock idol Conrad Birdie on the “Ed Sullivan Show.” From left are Jace Langlais as Randolph, Robert Churetta as Harry, Mya Angel Heard as Doris and Isabella Scheirer as Kim MacAfee.
Taped live remotely from the Central Movie Theater for the “Ed Sullivan Show,” Jalian Velez as Conrad Birdie, right of center, sings “One Last Kiss.”
Flanked by her friends, Isabella Scheirer as Kim MacAfee sings “One Boy” to Saharsh Silparshetty as Hugo Peabody, her boyfriend at the Sweet Apple, Ohio train station.
Lynette Rivera as Rose Alvarez is successfully wooed by Rolando Vargas as Albert Peterson with “Rosie” at the Sweet Apple, Ohio train station.