“No cuts, no edits. It’s a shorter script, and being a musical, the storyline moves fast,” said Donald Beach, a longtime performer with the group and first-time producer.
By MARY ANN BAIL
Special to The Republican
SOUTH HADLEY - The Black Cat Theater will present “Bye, Bye Birdie” in its entirety at South Hadley High School.
“No cuts, no edits. It’s a shorter script, and being a musical, the storyline moves fast,” said Donald Beach, a longtime performer with the group and first-time producer. “I particularly like the songs, they’re upbeat, and they don’t drag.”“I’ve memorized most of them myself,” he adds with a smile. When rock star Conrad Birdie (Chris Rojas) is called up for the Army, it’s the beginning of trouble for Albert Peterson (Greg Williams), agent and songwriter.
Rosie (Allison Smartt) outlines her plot for a big publicity stunt to her boss-boyfriend, Albert Peterson (Greg Williams) on stage at South Hadley High School during a rehearsal for the Black Cat Theater's production of "Bye Bye Birdie." Albert’s secretary, aka girl friend “Rosie,” (Allison Smartt), not only hatches a plan to enlist Conrad in a publicity stunt, she also wants Albert to quit the music business and become “an English teacher.” But first, Conrad must perform Albert’s new song, “One Last Kiss,” and smooch one lucky girl on “The Ed Sullivan Show” before he heads for boot camp.
There are 60-plus cast members including teens and youths in the show from the age of 10 to “retired.” They come from South Hadley, Granby, Chicopee, Ludlow, Northampton, and East Longmeadow. Because of the declining school budgets for music, dancing and drama, Black Cat Theater is committed to “giving young people the experience of being involved. It gives them a sense of camaraderie, I think,” said Donald Beach, a longtime performer with the group and first-time producer.
“All of them are in the chorus, but we try to give everyone at least one line. Everyone has a character,” he added.
“They get along well and take direction pretty good,” Beach said. “They have good voices and add to the show.”
South Hadley's Black Cat Theater is staging a production of "Bye Bye Birdie." Here, three performers wait in the wings, as Dawn Larder, director, shows cast how to take a bow at the end of the show. They also draw bigger audiences.” And all that is important to Beach’s role as producer.
Aside from heading a production crew and assuring they have everything they need, enlisting volunteers to work with the crew and keep an eye on the younger kids, finding all the right props, thanks to Smith College, Mt. Holyoke College and South Hadley High’s Harlequins, co-ordinating ticket and refreshments sellers and ushers at the performances, the producer needs to keep an eye on the bottom line. “It costs a lot of money to put on a show,” admitted Beach. “First we have to buy the rights for the play, in addition to so much for copies of each song.” Then, there are costumes, janitorial staff, lights. This performance is underwritten by Pizza D’Action, Village Eye Care, Veryl’s Automotive Services, the law offices of Daniel D. Kelly, Gerry’s Music Shop and Kevin L. Davidson Foundation. It is also supported in part by a grant from the Cultural Council.
“We’ve done our first run from start to finish. Everyone is working hard,” added Dawn Larder, cast director. “The show is coming along well.” Performances will curtain Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at South Hadley High School Auditorium. General admission is $15; seniors and students, $12. Admission is free for all active and retired military and for Boy and Girl Scouts in uniform with a non-perishable donation for the food pantry.For reservations, call (413) 563-6023.