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‘Birdie’ to rock BECAHI

Published April 07. 2026 01:26PM
by Ed Courrier Special to the Bethlehem Press

“Bye, Bye, Birdie” will rock the auditorium stage from 7 p.m. April 10, 11; 3 p.m. April 12; 7 p.m. April 17, 18, at Bethlehem Catholic HS, 2133 Madison Ave., Bethlehem.

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, book by Michael Stewart and originally produced by Edward Padula, 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 Bethlehem Catholic production includes Tyler Alonge as Albert Peterson, Theresa Ruhl as Rosie Alvarez, Madison Araniego as Ursula Merkle, Madelyn Araniego as Kim MacAfee, Elizabeth Schock as Mrs. Doris MacAfee, Canon Morrow as Mr. Harry MacAfee, Olivia Hann as Randi MacAfee, Deidre Michels as Mrs. Mae Peterson, Matthew Oviedo as Conrad Birdie, Ben Searfoss as Hugo Peabody, Thomas Thornburg as Mayor/Maude, Julia Barbier as Mayor’s Wife, Anna Maigur as Mrs. Merkle, Andreia Dias as Helen, Addison Stametz as Nancy, Anna Nagle as Alice, Ava Frio as Margie, Ruby Romero as Penelope, Ruby Romero as Gloria Rasputin and Lorenzo Massa as Harvey Johnson.

Ensemble members include Julia Barbier, Cheyenne Brown, Olivia Hann, Sophia Kirk, Anna Maigur, Lorenzo Massa, Emma Sheetz and Thomas Thornburg.

Musical director Joseph Fink conducts pit musicians Jen Vandegrift, Lucienne Kovatch, Steve Lauducci, Alex Fink, Paul Chepolis, Rebecca Amrick, Mark Bensinger II, Pete Willner, Fran Kaczmarek, Jacob Gooding and Ethan Bachstein.

Director Marcie Mulligan is aided by assistant director Barbara Ruhl, choreographer Allyn Roche, costumer Peggy Mulligan and technical director DJ Seibert.

For tickets, visit bit.ly/becatheater.

Press photos by Ed CourrierSweet Apple, Ohio, teens jam the lines with gossip with “The Telephone Hour” at the April 6 dress rehearsal. At center are high school sweethearts Madelyn Araniego as Kim MacAfee and Ben Searfoss as Hugo Peabody.
At center, Tyler Alonge as Albert Peterson attempts to cheer up a couple of mopey Conrad Birdie fans at Penn Station with “Put On A Happy Face.”
As they dance, Madelyn Araniego as Kim MacAfee sings “One Boy” to reassure Ben Searfoss as Hugo Peabody she loves him.
At center, Elizabeth Schock as Mrs. Doris MacAfee, Olivia Hann as Randi MacAfee and Canon Morrow as Mr. Harry MacAfee are joined by other families frustrated with their teens in performing a reprise of “Kids.”
Theresa Ruhl as Rosie Alvarez is wooed by Tyler Alonge as Albert Peterson with “Rosie” at the Sweet Apple, Ohio train station.