Juneau-Douglas High School Yadaa.at Kalé’s latest musical is a throwback.<\/p>\n
In February, “Bye Bye Birdie,” a musical from 1960 set in the late ’50s, will take the stage in the JDHS auditorium.<\/p>\n
“It is a blast from the past,” said senior Adele Hagevig, who plays Margie, the Mayor’s Wife and Gloria Rasputin in the show. “But it’s still fun to see, and the music is timeless.”<\/p>\n
Hagevig has a lifelong love for “Bye Bye Birdie.”<\/p>\n
“I’ve listened to the music ever since I was a child,” she said.<\/p>\n
It even runs in the family.<\/p>\n
Hagevig said when her mother was a student at JDHS, she too acted in a production of “Bye Bye Birdie.”<\/p>\n
“We actually played the same part,” Hagevig said.<\/p>\n
[Pilot production of “Matilda” readies for takeoff<\/a>]<\/ins><\/p>\n She’s not the only longtime “Birdie” head in the cast.<\/p>\n Sophomore Clara Smith, who plays Rose Alvarez in the musical, has also been a fan since childhood.<\/p>\n “I love ‘Bye Bye Birdie,’” Smith said. “We’re doing it justice. We’re having fun. I love all the music and dancing that we get to do.”<\/p>\n Even students with limited previous exposure to “Bye Bye Birdie” have been won over.<\/p>\n “Musicals are always a whole lot of fun.” “said senior Dakota Morgan, who plays Albert Peterson. “When we all come together for one of the big numbers, it’s just remarkable.”<\/p>\n Looking on the bright side<\/strong><\/p>\n High hopes for fun were exactly why the musical was selected.<\/p>\n “For our musical this year, I really wanted the JDHS students to have a lot of fun,” said Michaela Moore, English and theater teacher and the show’s director. “Life is crazy and hard, and I wanted us all to laugh a lot and celebrate what is fun about life. And ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ was just the ticket.”<\/p>\n The musical takes inspiration from Elvis Presley’s stint in the Army and tells the story of a rock star that is conscripted and subsequently visits a tiny town.<\/p>\n Senior Quinn Gentilli, who plays title character Conrad Birdie, is aware of the background, and it’s informed his performance.<\/p>\n “I’m kind of basing it on Elvis,” Gentili said. “That’s what I’m trying mostly.”<\/p>\n