Set in the late 1950's Bye Bye Birdie is the story of rock star and teen idol Conrad Birdie being drafted into the army. Conrad's financially strapped manager, Albert Peterson collaborates with his secretary and long-time love interest, Rosie Alvarez, to hatch a scheme that will not only send Conrad off to the army on a high note, but also to put Albert in the black. Albert writes a song entitled "One Last Kiss" for Conrad to sing on the Ed Sullivan Show, right before giving one lucky fan one last kiss before going into the army.

The lucky fan, chosen at random, is Kim McAfee of Sweet Apple, Ohio. Conrad, Rosie and Albert all make the trip to Ohio to broadcast the number there. The town goes crazy for Conrad, all execpt Hugo Peabody, who has recently pinned Kim as his steady. When Albert falls for the mysterious tap dancing temp Gloria Rasputin, Rosie and Hugo stage a stunt to set things right, but which only throws the town into chaos.

Bye Bye Biride was first produced on Broadway in 1963 and ran for just short of 1000 performances. It has been produced as a film in both 1963, starring Ann-Margaret, Dick Van Dyke and Janet Leigh and in a 1995 TV version starring Jason Alexander, China Phillips, George Wendt, Vanessa Williams and Tyne Daly.

For tickets to the Middlebury production, click here.