By BERNADETTE SUKLEY

Special to The Press

Seniors bid farewell to the Northwestern Lehigh High School stage in the spring musical “Bye, Bye Birdie.”

The show will be performed 7 p.m. on March 3-5; and at 2 p.m. on March 6.

Seniors share their favorite memories about the 2022 spring musical and reflect on their drama careers.

Molly McGorry who plays Kim Macafee (the lucky teen chosen for Conrad Birdie’s last kiss) is certain, “This is the best play yet. I really like this one, everything about it.”

Charlize Bobbyn is honest about not missing the drama behind the drama, but “I like this play - being with my friends, and making new ones.”

Alina Palma is the musical’s dance captain.

“My best drama memory, is watching my brother (Aaron Palma) perform in ‘All Shook Up’ but the worst was getting my face painted for ‘The Addams Family’,” she says.

Twin sisters, and seniors, Jocelyn and Roselyn Bernhard have been acting, singing and dancing since they were in elementary school.

“We’ve been in seven plays together,” says Jocelyn.

“It’s hard to imagine only one of us being on stage, but we’d still cheer for each other and be a little nervous for her too,” adds Roselyn.

For senior Sidney Utt, “the best part isn’t the music or dancing-it’s the people.”

Although she says it’s tough being a senior.

“There’s just so much on your plate. You’re finishing your classes, preparing for college and doing all the things that you do in your last year.”

Director Bill Mutimer understands the pressure on his student actors.

“This musical is more complicated than last year’s musical [Mary Poppins]. It’s intricate, with lots of moving parts.”

He notes all the seniors have given this play their best effort.

It’s not an easy musical to do.

“‘Bye Bye Birdie’ is more of a classical musical containing all the parts: singing leads, funny comic bits, dancing and a full chorus,” he explained.

New to the Northwestern drama scene this year is musical director, Chad Miller.

Miller has more than a decade of musical director experience in the Lehigh Valley.

“Miller has done an excellent job of working with the Northwestern Lehigh students by using technology to perfect their singing,” says Mutimer. “He’s able to cue in to personalize the music for each individual, and the harmonies sound great.”

Mutimer knows that the audience is aware of the well-known movie by the same name.

But the movie is very different from the stage play.

“The movie was made for actress Ann-Margaret [cast as Kim Macafee]. The musical we’re performing was written to focus more on the relationship of Albert and Rosie.”

Mutimer and the cast agree that this musical marks a welcome return to a full in-person audience.

For the even better news: The concession stand is back.

Theatergoers will have their popcorn and eat it too; as well as hot dogs, pretzels, candy and beverages.

The play, set in the 1950s, revolves around songwriter, Albert Peterson and his secretary/right-hand gal and fiancé Rose Alvarez.

Their biggest client, Elvis-like singer Conrad Birdie is a selfish, womanizing talent.

But Conrad is drafted into the Army, and threatens Albert’s financial future.

As a desperate publicity scheme, before Conrad goes, Albert and Rosie plan a big send off.

“One Last Kiss” is a song written for his final public appearance.

They choose a fan who will give him one last kiss on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Lucky teen, Kim Macafee is the chosen fan, but is dating jealous boyfriend, Hugo Peabody.

When Albert, Rosie and Conrad arrive in Kim’s hometown, Sweet Apple Valley, they turn it upside down.

Smother mother Mae Petersons shows up to thwart Rosie and Albert’s plans for a happy life together.

Birdie could care less.

Hugo shows up at the Ed Sullivan show and punches Conrad, ruining all of Albert’s hopes for a songwriting windfall.

So, will Conrad leave town? Will Mae let go of Albert? Will Rosie get Albert all to herself? Will Hugo get Kim?

You won’t know unless you go!

The link for ticket purchases is northwesterntigers.org/main/otherad/contentID/53577066.

Masks are optional.