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S E R V I N G TAY L OR , OL D F OR G E , MOOSIC & SURROUNDING AREAS TRIBOROBANNER.COM | APRIL 25, 2019
The Old Forge Lions Club held its annual chicken dinner | PAGE 7
Riverside and Holy Cross high schools recently faced off in a track and field meet | PAGE 8
Reviving a classic Old Forge presents ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ BY JOSH MCAULIFFE SPECIAL TO THE TRIBORO BANNER
longtime head of Diva Productions, a community theater group based at The Old Forge Junior-Senior High North Scranton’s Olde Brick Theatre. School Drama Club is taking on one First staged on Broadway in 1960, of the great works in the Broadway “Bye Bye Birdie” was inspired by canon for its spring musical. rock music icon Elvis Presley’s Next weekend, the student thespiArmy draft notice in 1957. The play ans will present the classic musical, is centered around rock star Conrad “Bye Bye Birdie,” at the high school. Birdie, songwriter Albert Peterson, Performances are scheduled for FriPeterson’s secretary, Rose Alvarez, day and Saturday, May and Peterson’s mother, 3 and 4, at 7 p.m., and Mae. In 1963, the show Sunday, May 5, at 2 was made into a popuIf you go p.m. lar film starring Dick What: “Bye Bye Birdie” Tickets are $7 for Van Dyke (who creadults and $5 for stuated the Peterson role Where: Old Forge High dents. on Broadway), Janet School Drama Club advisor Leigh, Ann-Margret, When: Friday, May 3, and Paige Balitski is diMaureen Stapleton, Saturday, May 4, 7 p.m., recting the show, while Bobby Rydell and Jesse and Sunday, May 5, 2 p.m. Sandi Graham is proPearson as Conrad SUBMITTED PHOTO viding choreography, Birdie. Details: Tickets are $7 for Abigail Garcia, who will play Rose Alvarez, rehearses with Nick Rasmus, who was Marty Ort and Hannah Featuring a book by adults and $5 for students. cast as Albert Peterson. Fornes are taking care Michael Stewart, lyrof the music, Jack Rasics by Lee Adams and mus and Jack Davis are Play That Goes Wrong” and “My Fair music by Charles Strouse, in the show. And then you’ve got all that dancing, and these kids don’t re- Lady.” The trips are great fun, but handling set design, and Balitski’s the show includes such classic songs ally know how to dance to rock and husband, Bob is overseeing lighting Balitski also uses them to instruct as “An English Teacher,” “The Teleand sound. students about different aspects of phone Hour” and “How Lovely to Be a roll. So, it’s been a learning curve, Meanwhile, more than 50 students but they’re doing great.” the theater world. Woman.” overall are involved in the producThis is Balitski’s seventh year “Everything is a teachable moStepping into the lead roles for tion, whether performing or assisting the Old Forge production are Nick overseeing the theater program at ment,” she said. in behind-the-scenes tasks. Old Forge. Over time, she’s grown Balitski said she’s thrilled to be Rasmus as Albert, Abigail Garcia as “They’re really a dedicated group. the drama club to include not only working in a such a supportive enviRose, Madeline Hopkins as Mae, and It’s a lot of work, and they want to the spring musical, but also the anronment for the arts. Patrick McCool as Birdie. do a good job,” said Balitski, the nual Covered Dish Cabaret fundraiser “The district has really embraced “This year, I wanted to do a classic what we’re doing,” she said. “And musical, which is exactly why I chose where students get the chance to the kids are just great — they really ‘Bye Bye Birdie,’” Balitski said. “The show off a variety of talents. And, there’s the yearly trip to New make you feel good. They keep you kids are having a blast. And let me York City to see Broadway musicals young, they keep you on your toes tell you something, the music is not like “The Book of Mormon,” “The and they keep you honest.” easy. There are 41 musical numbers TS_CNG/TRIBORO/PAGES [T01] | 04/24/19
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