‘Bye Bye Birdie’ puts on a happy face

A local sixth-grader is getting a big debut in a well-known musical.

Madison Rysavy of Austin will perform in the Broadway show “Bye Bye Birdie” at the Rochesterfest celebration in June with the Honors Choirs of Southeast Minnesota.

The show follows a rock and roll star, Conrad Birdie, who is drafted into the army and a plot is hatched by his agent to sell his new song, “One Last Kiss.” Birdie lands a farewell performance on the Ed Sullivan Show, where he will kiss a lucky fan (Miss Kim MacAfee) on live television as a symbolic goodbye to his fan club. The good citizens and local teenagers in Sweet Apple, Ohio, take center stage as Birdie arrives in town and the plan begins to unravel.

“Bye Bye Birdie” is a four-time Tony Award winner, including Best Musical in 1961, featuring tunes like “Put On a Happy Face” and “A Lot of Livin’ To Do,” plus comedic action, dancing and a good musical score. The show is the third musical Madison has done with Honors Choirs (2013 – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; 2014 – The Music Man). She has also sung with Honors Choirs during our regular season for the past three years.

The cast includes over 75 singers, actors, dancers and musicians of all ages. The fully-staged production includes a full-pit orchestra. Director Luke Davidson will lead his first Honors Choirs summer musical and will be joined by Pat Anderson as musical director and Katie Cook as choreographer. This is Honors Choirs’ eighth musical production.

Four performances will take place: June 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m., June 27 at 8 p.m. and June 28 at 2:30 p.m. – all at Autumn Ridge Church in Rochester (3611 Salem Road SW).

Seat prices range $10 to $25, and there are group discounts for 15 or more — all seats are assigned. Tickets for the shows are available from Honors Choirs: www.HonorsChoirs.org or 507-252-0505.

SportsPlus

Mower County

Photos: Holiday revelers face the cold for Hometown Christmas

Albert Lea

Albert Lea theater to present ‘White Christmas’

Mower County

Nativity display open for another year

Mower County

In Your Community: Duplicate Bridge

Mower County

In Your Community: Mower County Senior Center

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Convictions: Nov. 18-25

Mower County

MnDOT hosts public meetings in December to help guide Minnesota State Rail Plan

News

Female racing pioneer ‘Motorcycle Mary’ McGee dies a day before documentary on her is released

Business

Local stores have a lot to offer during the holiday season

News

Dementia research and support to continue in Minnesota after Congress passes legislation

Mower County

Cold snap continues into this weekend

Mower County

County submits first project to FEMA for reimbursement related to June flooding

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

APD investigating crash into house, possible stolen vehicle

Business

86th annual profit sharing held at Hormel plant

Mower County

Celebrating Miracles: Display documenting Eucharistic miracles coming to Austin

News

Tim Walz accepts turkey presentation as he eases back into his duties as Minnesota’s governor

Business

Joseph Company receives construction industry award

Mower County

Zonta begins annual anti-violence campaign

News

Judge halts cannabis license lottery that is precursor to Minnesota marijuana retail launch

News

Lawsuit challenges Minnesota abortion access in federal court

News

Netanyahu says he supports proposed ceasefire with Lebanon’s Hezbollah

News

Biden proposes Medicare and Medicaid cover costly weight-loss drugs for millions of obese Americans

News

Repealing no-fault divorce has so far stalled across the US. Some worry that’ll change under Trump

News

Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of ‘Love Connection’ and ‘Scrabble,’ dies at 83