'Birdie' brings Elvis to campus
Rosie Githinji
Issue date: 6/24/09 Section: A&E
Twenty-year-old Nick Henderson of Edwardsville has been a professional actor for two years already, and is now taking a step away from his normal Shakespeare, filling the blue suede shoes of Conrad Birdie in the musical "Bye Bye Birdie."
"It's a privilege to get to play Conrad Birdie," Henderson said. "I play the clueless, pretty boy a lot."
The story of Birdie is loosely based on Elvis' draft into the army in the late 1950's. Conrad's agent, Albert Peterson, decided that the appearance of Conrad on the Ed Sullivan show would help revive his career.
Henderson is a full time actor, doing mostly Shakespeare, and spends his time traveling around the country working on the stage.
"I have done a lot of musicals," Henderson said. "That is my first love."
Henderson said he enjoys working with college students because they have so much passion, and a great amount of zeal for what they do on the stage.
"Everybody is great in this," Henderson said. "The principle (actors) are ridiculously talented, and it's good to play someone my age again."
Senior theater performance major Phil Leveling of Edwardsville plays Birdie's manager. Leveling said the music is part of the emphasis, even though it has changed a lot from the movie adaptations of the musical.
"It's a lot of fun," Leveling said. "He is a very wacky character, not what I'm used to playing."
Senior performance major Anna Skidis of Glen Carbon plays Rosie Alvarez, the secretary and girlfriend of Peterson.
"I would consider her the female lead," Skidis said. "She does cause a little bit of trouble, but most of it is justified."
Skidis said she is looking forward to the musical and hopes everyone who comes to see the performance enjoys it.
"It's not worth all the rehearsals if the audience does not enjoy it," Skidis said.
Graduate student Molly Moore of St. Louis, Mo., who is part of the chorus in the production, said practices for the musical have been going on since the middle of May.
Musical productions are done in the summer, according to director and theater and dance department chair Peter Cocuzza. About 70 people auditioned for this musical as well as the last play in SIUE's summer showbiz, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
"There is not a big social message in this play," Cocuzza said. "The music is easy on the ears and the choreography is really special."
"Bye Bye Birdie" will run at 7:30 p.m. on June 24 to June 27, with matinee shows at 2 p.m. on June 27 and June 28 in the Dunham Hall Theater. Tickets are free to students taking summer classes at SIUE with a student ID. Adult tickets are $15 and other students, seniors, faculty and staff tickets are $12.
For more information call the Fine Arts Box Office at 650-2774.
"It's a privilege to get to play Conrad Birdie," Henderson said. "I play the clueless, pretty boy a lot."
The story of Birdie is loosely based on Elvis' draft into the army in the late 1950's. Conrad's agent, Albert Peterson, decided that the appearance of Conrad on the Ed Sullivan show would help revive his career.
Henderson is a full time actor, doing mostly Shakespeare, and spends his time traveling around the country working on the stage.
"I have done a lot of musicals," Henderson said. "That is my first love."
Henderson said he enjoys working with college students because they have so much passion, and a great amount of zeal for what they do on the stage.
"Everybody is great in this," Henderson said. "The principle (actors) are ridiculously talented, and it's good to play someone my age again."
Senior theater performance major Phil Leveling of Edwardsville plays Birdie's manager. Leveling said the music is part of the emphasis, even though it has changed a lot from the movie adaptations of the musical.
"It's a lot of fun," Leveling said. "He is a very wacky character, not what I'm used to playing."
Senior performance major Anna Skidis of Glen Carbon plays Rosie Alvarez, the secretary and girlfriend of Peterson.
"I would consider her the female lead," Skidis said. "She does cause a little bit of trouble, but most of it is justified."
Skidis said she is looking forward to the musical and hopes everyone who comes to see the performance enjoys it.
"It's not worth all the rehearsals if the audience does not enjoy it," Skidis said.
Graduate student Molly Moore of St. Louis, Mo., who is part of the chorus in the production, said practices for the musical have been going on since the middle of May.
Musical productions are done in the summer, according to director and theater and dance department chair Peter Cocuzza. About 70 people auditioned for this musical as well as the last play in SIUE's summer showbiz, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
"There is not a big social message in this play," Cocuzza said. "The music is easy on the ears and the choreography is really special."
"Bye Bye Birdie" will run at 7:30 p.m. on June 24 to June 27, with matinee shows at 2 p.m. on June 27 and June 28 in the Dunham Hall Theater. Tickets are free to students taking summer classes at SIUE with a student ID. Adult tickets are $15 and other students, seniors, faculty and staff tickets are $12.
For more information call the Fine Arts Box Office at 650-2774.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Shelley
posted 6/25/09 @ 2:44 PM CST
I took a group of 30 last night for the opening and it was amazing. Lots of energy! Just plain fun. It tends to remind the older audience of their childhood, and the kids in the audience were spellbound. (Continued…)
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