Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Morning Jolt: ISIS threatens Twitter co-founder Kerry tries to dampen fuss over Israeli PM's speech 30,000 marchers in Moscow mourn slain Putin foe Morning Jolt: What color dress do you see? Morning Jolt: Reports say ‘Jihadi John’ has been ID’d Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Politics and Elections Education Environment State News Nation - World Joe Biden in Guatemala to talk Central America funding Justices seem skeptical of independent electoral map boards China's space plans threaten U.S. military ability, report says Florida's Rubio close to decision about presidential run Netanyahu: Iran nuclear deal threatens Israel's security Obituaries Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable What took so long for this to be invented: Ikea launches furniture with built-in wireless chargers NHL player Jordan Leopold's daughter writes team to trade for her dad and they acquire him Two bright spots on dwarf planet Ceres shot by Dawn spacecraft has NASA baffled Pop culture is still trying to figure out Hillary Clinton Bill Gates headlines the top 5 riches people in the world; MJ joins the Billionaire Club Sports Latest Stories Major league baseball's 1st black Latino star Minoso dies Knicks say former player Anthony Mason has died Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose suffers another knee injury Joey Logano gives Roger Penske another Daytona 500 win Kyle Busch injured in Xfinity Series race at Daytona Varsity 541 College Sports Pro Sports Community Sports Business Latest Stories Real Estate News People In Business Transportation Agriculture Opinion Latest Editorials Letters to the Editor Columns Guest Opinions Lifestyle Latest stories College is not for everyone Worldwide ticket sales shake up Hollywood box office figures Directors announce topic, give sneak peek of new 'Frozen' short to air before Disney's 'Cinderella' Food Home and Garden Health Hiking Biking Faith College is not for everyone Worldwide ticket sales shake up Hollywood box office figures Directors announce topic, give sneak peek of new 'Frozen' short to air before Disney's 'Cinderella' Milestones and Achievements Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Theater Music Community Events Dining Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Ninth Street crash in Grants Pass claims life of 19-year-old woman ... Ashland cell tower hearing postponed ... Rowers put their backs into cleanup at Emigrant Lake ... Ninth Street crash in Grants Pass claims life of 19-year-old woman ... Ashland cell tower hearing postponed ... Rowers put their backs into cleanup at Emigrant Lake ... THEATER TMTO presents 'Bye Bye Birdie' Teen Musical Theater of Oregon has danced its way through the 1920s with “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” survived the Great Depression with “Annie,” and provided an uplifting tale with the 1940s “Miracle on 34th Street.” Now TMTO takes on the '50s with a production of the award-winning Broadway musical about a teen singing idol and the girls who love him, “Bye Bye Birdie.” By Roberta Kent for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Roberta Kent for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 2, 2015 @ 9:00 am By Roberta Kent for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 2, 2015 @ 9:00 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Teen Musical Theater of Oregon has danced its way through the 1920s with “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” survived the Great Depression with “Annie,” and provided an uplifting tale with the 1940s “Miracle on 34th Street.” Now TMTO takes on the '50s with a production of the award-winning Broadway musical about a teen singing idol and the girls who love him, “Bye Bye Birdie.” It’s 1958 and the controversial rock ’n’ roll star, Conrad Birdie, has been drafted into the U.S. Army. His agent plots one last, big publicity stunt. Birdie will sing “One Last Kiss” to an adoring fan on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and plant a smooch on her. When Birdie and his entourage arrive in Sweet Apple, Ohio, to bestow that kiss on lucky Kim McAfee, they find themselves caught up in the agonies of teenage love, the throes of parental disapproval and the chaos that ensues when generations clash. “Bye Bye Birdie” plays at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, March 5-6, and 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Craterian Theater, 23 S. Central Ave., Medford. Tickets cost $20, $10 for ages 18 and younger, and can be purchased at the Craterian box office, 16 S. Bartlett St., online at craterian.org or by calling 541-779-3000. The story for “Bye Bye Birdie” was inspired by the national hullabaloo that ensued when Elvis Presley was sent a draft notice. The show, with book by Michael Stewart, lyrics by Lee Adams and music by Charles Strouse, won a Tony Award in 1961 for Best Musical and a Tony Award for its star, Dick Van Dyke. Doug Warner, artistic director of Craterian’s Next Stage Repertory Company, directs “Bye Bye Birdie.” “When I started describing the 1950s and the phenomenon of Elvis Presley to the kids, they had nothing to compare it to,” Warner says. “They started doing research, learning about the social mores, the values of the time. Collin Goldman, who plays Birdie, watched YouTube videos to see Elvis’ moves, the reaction of the girls in the audience, how everything was programmed.” Warner notes that the kids had no trouble identifying with hours of exchanged telephone gossip, equating it with today’s texting. What amused them was how telephone cords kept the speaker tied to one place. The TMTO production of “Bye Bye Birdie” also stars Madeline Schwartz, Matthew McConnell, Rachel Bennion, Hannah Schneider and Evan Sheets. There are 21 actors with principal roles and an additional ensemble that swells the onstage presence to 55 performers — cast from open auditions held in January. “We rehearse for seven weeks before we open,” Warner says. “What you will see on stage is professional theater.” Choreography is by Cailey McCandless with Maria Martin, vocal direction by Josh Killingsworth, costumes by Sue Quackenbush and sets by Gabriel Ash. Warner says he is struck by how many of the cast are repeat performers with TMTO, coming back production after production. “We are constantly reaching out to local high schools for new talent,” Warner says. “It's a very professional audition to begin with, and it's a real pleasure to watch the kids’ skill levels improve, show after show.” Roberta Kent is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Reach her at [email protected].           By Roberta Kent for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Roberta Kent for the Mail Tribune Posted Mar. 2, 2015 @ 9:00 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501