A loving musical send-up of the early 1960s, small-town America, teenagers, and rock & roll, Bye Bye Birdie remains as fresh and vibrant as ever. Teen heartthrob Conrad Birdie has been drafted, so he chooses all-American girl Kim McAfee for a very public farewell kiss. Featuring a tuneful high-energy score, plenty of great parts for kids, and a hilarious script, Bye Bye Birdie remains one of the most popular shows in schools across the country. Hit songs include “Put on a Happy Face,” “One Last Kiss,” “One Boy,” “A Lot of Livin’ to Do,” “Kids!” and “Rosie.”

Bye Bye Birdie opened on Broadway, April 14, 1960, and played for 607 performances at the Martin Beck Theatre (later at the 54th Street and the Shubert Theatres) starring Chita Rivera as Rose and Dick Van Dyke as Albert. The show played for 268 performances in London at Her Majesty’s Theatre. In 2009, it was revived on Broadway at Henry Miller’s Theatre.

New Bern High is an intimate theatre that evokes an immersive feel. With only 196 seats, that are raked, it makes it easy to see from every angle. The school was built in 1986 and is the only full-time running high school theatre in the county.