(BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- As the first show in Bernards Township’s “Plays in the Park” summer series, Trilogy Repertory Company will produce the popular musical Bye, Bye, Birdie with performances July 14-16 and July 21-23 at the outdoor amphitheater at Pleasant Valley Park, Valley Road, in Basking Ridge, at 8:00pm each evening. Set in 1958, the story involves rock singer Conrad Birdie (Alex Ridder) who travels to Sweet Apple, Ohio, to make his farewell performance for The Ed Sullivan Show and kiss his biggest fan, Kim MacAfee (Ally Vikovic), before he is drafted. 

Kim’s boyfriend Hugo Peabody (Ethan Conklin) is not thrilled with this nor is her father Harry MacAfee (Joseph Schmidt).  Albert Peterson (Carl Bird), his girlfriend Rosa Alvarez (Rachel Appleton) and his mother Mae Peterson (Tori Clemens) add to the drama.

The cast also includes:  Kara Vandal, Nancy Jean McBride, Bret Prejean, Maurice Marvi, Holly Vandal, Michailia Monfalcone, RJ Clemens, David Rittenhouse, Germaine McGrath, Colleen Ridder, Katherine Mierisch, Owen McKenna, Michael Ehlert, Cierra Woickenhauer, Lily Perrotti, Ellena Krever, Julia Schmidt, Caroline Zugale,  Caitlin Carey, Grace Aulicino, Grace McLaughlin, Alexandra Rooney, Amaira Bhatia, Josh Blankman, Karen Blevins, Charlie Giacalone, and Michael Kearins.

The musical’s book was written by Michael Stewart with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams and was originally produced by Lee Padula.

Trilogy’s musical is produced by Lorrie Lane and directed by Jaye Barre, with musical direction by Emily Bengels and choreography by Jill Cookingham.  The production team also includes Veronica Sokira (Stage Manager), Kathleen Dempsey and Beth Berger (Costumes), Don Schlachter (Sound and Lights), Kevin Dodds (Set Construction), Bev Webb (Set Decoration), and Cathy Mondoro (Program and Poster).

Performances take place on July 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, and 23. The shows are free to the public, but donations to support this program, sponsored by the Bernards Township Department of Recreation, are gratefully accepted.  The musical will be followed by Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing on July 29, 20, and August 4, 5, and 6.  Patrons should plan to bring a lawn chair, blanket and a flashlight to enjoy a night of theater under the stars.  

Bye Bye Birdie opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theater on April 14, 1960, and ran for 607 performances, winning four Tony Awards, including “Best Musical.” There has been a Broadway revival, movie, and television production, and the show has been produced all over the world. 

The partnership of Trilogy Repertory and Bernards Township has produced over three decades of family entertainment and achieved several awards for both groups for excellence in theater programming.  Most prominent are the awards from ACT (Achievement in Community Theater) and the prestigious “Excellence in Cultural Arts Programming.