The cast of Bye-Bye Birdie began their dedication to the show months ago. The process, which went until 9:30 at night towards the later stages, was both exhausting and exciting. The rehearsals themselves were chaotic. The dressing rooms were covered from floor to ceiling in clothing, and the counters were covered in cotton balls and makeup.

The actresses paid round-the-clock attention to the constant directions and changes throughout the show. At school, the girls did not stop working; one could often find them holding their scripts in the hallway between periods, memorizing their lines and humming tunes. When the day would come to a close and rehearsals ended, the girls headed home and did school work — an act that takes immense organizational skills.

When interviewing girls from the musical, many said they found it difficult to both be in the musical and perform well in school. Cali B. ‘19 said, “It’s chaotic right now. I don’t feel as though I have enough time for school, but at the same time, it’s great doing the show. I get to become friends with people from all different grades.”

At rehearsals, you could sense the community and trust the girls have with one another. They all wanted to produce the best show possible and did this by supporting and encouraging their classmates. The only way to create a successful show is to have a strong social dynamic. Camryn L. ‘19 said, “Every member that was on stage and off stage for Bye Bye Birdie was extremely kind and compassionate, and by the end of the show, our friendships grew as one big family.”

Source: Paul Kessler, Hewitt Photographer

 

 

 

 

 

Participating in the musical was hard enough, but being the lead was a job that required extensive, non-stop work. Olivia T ‘19, Rosie, said, “Rehearsal is exciting, but tiring. It’s nice to be part of a cast of so many talented individuals. I feel at home on the stage, and I feel as though the rehearsal process for Bye Bye Birdie has been overall enjoyable and efficient. I can’t wait to do the show for real.” Dedicating so much time towards an incredibly hard process only proves the talent and passion these girls have for singing and acting. All these aspects combined produced a show that impressed the audience and brought a loud applause.

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Source: Paul Kessler

 

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