The CSU Summer Conducting Seminar continues its fun tradition of presenting a delightful concert version of a popular operetta or Broadway musical. The project serves as the master’s thesis for working music educators from around the world who participate in the seminar for three consecutive summers.

Bye Bye Birdie music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams, based upon a book by Michael Stewart.

When the draft selects rock star Conrad Birdie, his fans are devastated, but none more than struggling songwriter Albert Peterson (Dick Van Dyke), whose song Birdie was just about to record. Albert’s longtime girlfriend, Rosie (Janet Leigh), pushes Albert to write a new tune that Birdie will perform on television to a fan selected in a contest. The scheme works, with young Ohio teenager Kim McAfee (Ann-Margret) declared the winner, but no one has counted on the jealous wrath of her boyfriend.

Student Conductors:
Hannah Anderson
Robert Botwinski
Jeffery Collier
Jenna Kendall
Kaia Monson
Ryan Plakorus
Stephen Ryan
Jeron Stephens

Stage Director: Tiffany Blake
Music Advisor: Wes Kenney
Stage Manager: Nicole Ceciliani
Chorusmaster: Nicole Ceciliani/Adam Torres