If you had the chance to see the fall production of Play On! you may remember that the show was described as a “safety net”. I chose that show to give audiences a chance to experience the production process. With Bye Bye Birdie, that safety net is crumpled up and thrown out the window!
Producing a musical for the first time is a much higher mountain to climb, with more elements, more spectacle, and ultimately a larger-than-life performance. Bye Bye Birdie is a classic musical that is iconic and filled with all the bells and whistles that audiences come to expect with a musical. This was exciting as it offered the Masquers an opportunity to go all out and create an idyllic musical experience for the audience.
As a production team, we wanted to create a foundation for future Masquers productions to build off. What high school theater desperately needs is a foundation so that it can continue to flourish for years to come. Along the way, we learned that it doesn’t happen overnight, and it requires the dedication and commitment of an entire production team. We hope that this production can signal that foundational shift.
Thank you once again to all the incredible people that allow us to bring a production of this quality to life. We are grateful for every one of you. From the students to the parents to the community members that are willing to support this group of young artists.
And with that, please enjoy our production of Bye Bye Birdie. Welcome to Sweet Apple, Ohio.
Michael Galioto “Mr. G”
