Education & Kids Bay Ridge

Adelphi Academy wows audiences with ‘Bye Bye Birdie’

March 23, 2016 Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Teenage fans profess their undying love for their idol, Conrad Birdie. Photos courtesy of Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn
Teenage fans profess their undying love for their idol, Conrad Birdie. Photos courtesy of Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn
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At Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn, students said “Bye Bye Birdie” and audiences said “Hi Hi Fun!”

“Bye Bye Birdie” was presented March 11-12 by members of the Adelphian Masquers Drama Society & Theater Arts Program, in association with the Adelphian Players Community Theater Organization.

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The show was presented courtesy of an arrangement made with Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc., the company that leases the rights to “Bye Bye Birdie” and other famous Broadway musicals.

Students and teachers brought characters like Conrad Birdie, Albert Peterson, Rose Alvarez, Mrs. Mae Peterson and the MacAfees — siblings Kim and Randolph and their parents, Doris and Harry — to glorious life.

“Bye Bye Birdie,” a satire on American society set in the late 1950s, was inspired by a real-life event — Elvis Presley being drafted into the U.S. Army at the height of his career.

The show follows the exploits of heartthrob Conrad Birdie (Adelphi junior Konstantin Zhuravlov), his manager Albert Peterson (senior Arthur Furman), Peterson’s girlfriend Rose Alvarez (sophomore Regina Levy) and fan Kim MacAfee (junior Nicole Fabian).

Produced by Albert C. Corhan, Adelphi’s director of operations, the show featured direction by Robert Bates, Christine Colacrai, Nikki Fregara and Sarah Hermann.

The Conrad Birdie Fan Club members were played by Zoe Denmark, Ashleigh Goodgion, Kiavana Garraway, Raneem Hammad, Diana Nunez, Jade Beltre, Faith Goodgion, Christie Fernandez, Natalie Fabian, Ania John, Lauryn Wiltshire and Nicole Karnitskaya.

Adelphi teachers were in the show, including Robert Assante, who portrayed the irritable Harry MacAfee, and Nikki Fregara, who played Albert’s overbearing mother, Mae Peterson.

Konstantin Zhuravlov, as Conrad Birdie, the Elvis-inspired music star, had the audience clapping with his rendition of “Honestly Sincere.”

The production featured a number of memorable songs, including “Put on a Happy Face,” “One Last Kiss,” “A Lot of Livin’ to Do,” “Kids” and “Spanish Rose.”

Iphigenia Romanos, Adelphi’s head of school, said students got a lot out of performing in the play. “Our students are energized and are truly enjoying a wonderful and rewarding experience that they will treasure for years to come!” she said.


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