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Netra Nalubolu

Kat Fernando performing "English Teacher"

This spring’s production of “Bye Bye Birdie” brought a burst of 1950s satirical and nostalgic charm. It came with a reminder of how much work goes into a show long before the curtain rises. 

Set during the height of rock-and-roll hysteria, “Bye Bye Birdie” follows teen idol Conrad Birdie as he prepares one last publicity stunt before heading into the army, dicing out a kiss to Kim MacAfee, chosen at random, stirring the town into a frenzy at the rockstar’s arrival.

“There are just so many moving parts,” sophomore and theater tech crew Sam Khayum said. “Because you need the actors, but we also have the pit orchestra… and you also add sound cues and light cues… one little thing can mess up an entire scene.”

Despite these challenges, the production succeeded in capturing the spirit of the 1950s, a key element of “Bye Bye Birdie’s” appeal. 

Beyond the performances, however, the show carried a deeper meaning for the theater community at Metea Valley. As the final production for the academic year, it marked a farewell to graduating seniors.

“It’s really, really sad to see all the seniors go,” Khayum said. “We definitely have a very, very close-knit community… it gets really emotional.”

Traditions like nightly senior speeches and the end-of-year theater banquet give students a chance to reflect and say goodbye, making the end of the season both celebratory and bittersweet.

In the end, “Bye Bye Birdie” was not just about a fictional rock star’s farewell, it was about the real connections formed backstage, under the lights, and through long rehearsals.

“With the support of all your classmates, just knowing they’re around you, it’s so much fun” Khayum said.