Pace Academy's "Bye Bye Birdie" Brings Back the '50s

The days of poodle skirts, soda fountains and ’50s rock-n-roll came to life in the Pace Academy Middle School’s dynamic production of “Bye Bye Birdie,” which ran in the school’s Fine Arts Center Feb. 20-22. The hilarious musical is an account of teen heartthrob Conrad Birdie’s transition from glamorous rock star to Army draftee.

Under the leadership of Middle School drama instructor Patrick Campbell and musical director Susan Wallace, the cast of 41 students pulled off three outstanding performances for sell-out crowds – despite missing nearly two weeks of rehearsal due to Atlanta’s recent snow storms.

Meg Morrissey’s energetic choreography and Scott Sargent’s colorful set truly transported audiences back to the days when rock stars were royalty and “The Ed Sullivan Show” was a Sunday-night staple.

Eighth-graders Cole McCorkle and Nicole Ortiz led the cast as music agent Albert Peterson and secretary Rose Alvarez, respectively. Seventh-grader Hoke Faser channeled Elvis as Conrad Birdie, and seventh-grader Grace Pottorff perfectly portrayed the typical American teenager in the role of Kim Macafee. Other principal cast members included Susie Pieper, Kendall Willis, Jeb Carter, Jeremy Levin, Schuyler Drose, Aleks Golde and Harrison Husk.

Photo credit: Gemshots