EHHS’s production of Bye Bye Birdie, which was performed on April 9th to April 11th, brought excitement and strong performances to the stage. The musical, which follows teen rock star Conrad Birdie while preparing to leave the army and visits a small town to give one lucky fan a goodbye kiss, gave students the chance to show their talent and also their hard work behind the scenes.
While the audience saw a put together performance, the cast explained that getting there took a lot of effort and practice. Charlize Santiago talked about one of her most difficult moments to rehearse was a scene in the bar. “The hardest scene to rehearse might have been the scene where I have to climb on the table,” she said. “It made me really nervous each time I climbed on the table.” Even though Charlize was put in an unusual situation for herself, she pushed through and gained confidence, saying she plans to use what she learned in singing and acting for her future opportunities that also include her summer theater program. Other cast members also talked about how confidence played a big role in their performances. Ava Rosarbo explained how she handled mistakes on stage. “During a performance, I handle mistakes by being confident within myself and reminding myself that the audience is not aware of every detail of the show, so unexpected moments are alright,” she said. She also gave advice to future performers: “I would advise them to walk in with confidence and don’t be worried whatsoever, as everyone’s so supportive.” Ava also mentioned that a lesson from Ms. Collins stuck with her: to “always presume positive intentions,” which helped her stay positive during stressful moments in the show and rehearsal.
The cast also emphasized how important teamwork and bonding were throughout the play. Ava explained that “The cast has bonded together in various ways, mostly with everyone being a constant supporter to one another.” This strong bond with one another made rehearsals more enjoyable and helped everyone perform better on stage. She also mentioned that she was inspired to audition again because of her past experiences with the show, saying she had already been a part of three EHHS productions and “due to the atmosphere I have wanted to return to the rest of the shows.” For Lynn Licciardi, some of her most challenging moments turned into her best memories. “The most difficult scene to rehearse was ‘One Boy’ with Ava because we couldn’t take it seriously and kept laughing,” she said. Even though it slowed things down, she added, “the memories we made during it wouldn’t change.” Lynn also shared how we prepared before going on stage by using “deep breathing and shaking my body out” to calm her nerves. Beyond just performing, many students said the experience changed how they see teamwork and responsibility. “It has definitely changed how I see teamwork because if one person isn’t there then it brings the whole show down,” Lynn explained. She also said she learned patience, realizing that “everything has to be done a certain way for it to look good and it’s okay to change things”
Overall, Bye Bye Birdie was more than just a school play, it was a meaningful experience for everyone involved. While the cast built friendships, they also learned valuable lessons that will stick with them in the future. Their hard work paid off in a successful performance that not only entertained the audience but also showed the dedication and passion of EHHS students which everyone should be aware of.
