The Marquis Players will present this year’s musical fundraiser, Bye Bye Birdie, 8 p.m. Friday, March 30, and Saturday, March 31, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 1, at the WilliamsCenter for the Arts.
The student-organized acting troupe donates all proceeds from its yearly musical to charity. Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased from any cast member (see list below), at the door, or by contacting club business manager Nicole Huff ’07 (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) at huffn or (908) 377-9959.
Based on the book by Michael Stewart, Bye Bye Birdie features music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams. Rebellious rock and roll superstar Conrad Birdie is the centerpiece of the musical set in 1958. When the U.S. Army drafts Birdie, his agent and girlfriend devise a publicity stunt to have him premiere one final hit song before going off to war. After singing the song on live television, one lucky girl from Sweet Apple, Ohio will win a kiss with the star. Bye Bye Birdie debuted on Broadway in 1960 and received a Tony Award for Best Musical.
“The Marquis Players theater group allows for students to raise money for local charities just by getting involved in theater,” says Huff, who is pursuing a B.S. neuroscience and A.B. with a major in economics and business. “Although the group receives valuable advice from advisers on many aspects of theater, all decisions on the production of the show – from directing to set design to fundraising – are done by students. This not only gives the members of the Marquis Players an opportunity to learn about the many components involved with putting on a theatrical production, but also the chance to help those in need within the local community.”
Last year, the Marquis Players raised over $7,700 for charities including Third StreetAlliance for Women and Children, SafeHarbor, Habitat for Humanity, Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley, Lehigh Valley Food Bank, and Lafayette’s Meals for the Homeless program.
Production Staff:
- Director – Jackie Macri ’09 (Malvern, Pa.); psychology
- Director’s Assistant – Jessica Solloway ’09 (West Windsor, N.J.); English
- Set Designer – Micah Fuller ’10 (Concord, N.H.)
- Lighting Designer – Jesse Calkins ’10 (Bloomsburg, Pa.)
- Sound Designer – Chris Jacoby ’07 (Madison, N.J.); electrical and computer engineering
- Musical Director – Caitlin Ward ’08 (Wallingford, Pa.); English
- Co-Musical Director – Paul Sommers ’09 (Wenonah, N.J.); history
- Stage Manager – Jacci Greenlee ’10 (Mystic, Conn.)
- Choreographer – Gina Brewer ’07 (Ann Arbor, Mich.); religion and politics
- Assistant Choreographer – Christine Fitzherbert ’08 (Ringwood, N.J.); biology
- Executive Producer – John Colatch, director of religious life and College chaplain
Cast:
- Rose Alvarez – Caitlin Ward ’08 (Wallingford, Pa.); English
- Conrad Birdie – Paul Sommers ’09 (Wenonah, N.J.); history
- Kim MacAfee – Elena Dones ’07 (Morristown, N.J.); English
- Mr. MacAfee – Jeff Lininger ’07 (Malvern, Pa.); economics and business & philosophy
- Mrs. MacAfee – Ashley Mahler ’07 (Jackson, N.J.); neuroscience
- Ursula Merkle and “Alice” – Emily Lloyd ’10 (Goshen, N.Y.)
- Mrs. Merkle – Jill Carey ’09 (Sparta, N.J.); mathematics-economics
- Hugo Peabody – Adam Pie ’09 (Doylestown, Pa.); history
- Albert Peterson – Matt Roy ’07 (Long Valley, N.J.); international commerce
- Mae Peterson – Naomi Itescu ’10 (Havertown, Pa.)
- Gloria Rasputin – Jennifer Romano ’10 (Medford, N.Y.)
- Helen – Hannah Fink ’09 (Whitehall, Pa.); biochemistry
- Penelope – Maire Newton ’10 (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Margie – Hanna Pingry ’10 (Huntingdon, Pa.)
- Suzie – Melissa Larsen ’09 (Swarthmore, Pa.); geology
- Deborah Sue and Nancy – Jayne Miller ’10 (Bethel, Pa.)
- Randolph and Karl – Jessica Solloway ’09 (West Windsor, N.J.); English
- Harvey Johnson, Mayor, and Voice of Ed Sullivan – Geoff Weyl ’09 (Greenwich, Conn.); government and foreign language
- Reporter #1 – Sara Riddle ’08 (Gaylordsville, Conn.); mechanical engineering
- Reporter #3, Maude, and Fred – Zach Ilch ’08 (Ridgefield, N.J.); English
- Sad Girl #1 – Sarah Christy ’10 (Levittown, Pa.)
- Sad Girl #2 – Jess Donovan ’09 (Bridgewater, Mass.); history and government and law
- One Boy Trio – Emily Lloyd ’10 (Goshen, N.Y.) and Jayne Miller ’10 (Bethel, Pa.)
- Teen Trio – Hannah Fink ’09 (Whitehall, Pa.); biochemistry, Maire Newton ’10 (Pittsburgh, Pa.), and Kaitlin Reiman ’10 (Belle Mead, N.J.)
- Chorus – Sarah Christy ’10 (Levittown, Pa.), Jess Donovan ’09 (Bridgewater, Mass.); history and government and law, Hannah Fink ’09 (Whitehall, Pa.); biochemistry, Zach Ilch ’08 (Ridgefield, N.J.); English, Melissa Larsen ’09 (Swarthmore, Pa.); geology, Maire Newton ’10 (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Hanna Pingry ’10 (Huntingdon, Pa.), Kaitlin Reiman ’10 (Belle Mead, N.J.), Sara Riddle ’08 (Gaylordsville, Conn.); mechanical engineering, Jennifer Romano ’10 (Medford, N.Y.), and Jessica Solloway ’09 (West Windsor, N.J.); English
Executive Council:
- President – Ashely Mahler ’07 (Jackson, N.J.); neuroscience
- Vice President – Caitlin Ward ’08 (Wallingford, Pa.); English
- Treasurer – Melissa Larsen ’09 (Swarthmore, Pa.); geology
- Secretary – Jill Carey ’09 (Sparta, N.J.); mathematics-economics
- Business Manager – Nicole Huff ’07 (Berkeley Heights, N.J.); B.S. neuroscience and A.B. economics and business