Audition Information for Bye Bye Birdie Please prepare 16 bars of music from a Broadway show. Bring sheet music in your correct key. An accompanist will be provided. No recorded tracks or pop music please. Some students may be asked to sing a small piece from the show in order to test range. This will be taught at the audition. Please choose one audition side and prepare it. You may be asked to read an additional side. Sides do not need to be memorized, but you should make some choices about character-see character descriptions for guidance. A short dance combination will be taught at the audition. Please dress in clothing that will allow you to move easily. Please note: Bye Bye Birdie is a show with big vocal ranges and over-the top characters. The more familiar you are with the show coming into the audition, the better prepared you will be. There are many resources available for you to prepare for this audition-so please use them!

Audition Information for Bye Bye Birdie Bye Birdie Character Descriptions:

Albert-President of the Almaelou Music Corporation, and Conrad Birdie’s agent. He is a nervous, excitable man who spends most of his time trying to control the uncontrollable, with quite comic results. Great singer, great comic timing. Rosie-Albert’s girlfriend and secretary at Almaelou Music Corporation. She is frustrated with Albert’s inability to commit to her, and is willing to do anything it takes to get Albert to give up the music business and settle down. Headstrong and confident, strong actress and great singer, alto. Mrs. Mae Peterson-Albert’s controlling mother. She loves her son, despite her disapproval of the way he runs the family business. She does not approve of Rosie. She is always parenting Albert and provides much comic relief during the show. Non-signing role, strong actress with great comic timing. Conrad Birdie-teen heartthrob who has been drafted into the army. Think Elvis Presley. He says little, but conveys much with his body language, swagger, and music. He knows that good looks and a killer smile will get him more than his personality. Must be a great singer/dancer with an over-the-top character. Kim MacAfee-A self-confident young member of Conrad’s fan club who is chosen to receive a kiss from Conrad before he leaves for the army. She sees herlef as more mature than the average teenager. Great singer, soprano. Hugo Peabody-Kim’s devoted steady boyfriend who is jealous that Conrad s getting so much attention from Kim. Non-singing, comic role, a bit nerdy. Mr. Harry MacAfee-Kim’s father, thinks he is in control of his family (but isn’t). Great actor, good singer, must be able to find the comedy in his character’s frustration and irritability. Mrs. Doris MacAfee-Kim’s loving mother who knows just how to handle her husband and her household. Good actor/singer. Ursula Merkle-Kim’s best friend and the hyper-enthusiastic teenager who leads the girls in screaming for Conrad. A unique character with a one of a kind voice. Randolph MacAfee-Kim’s younger brother, fun young character. The Mayor-head figure of Sweet Apple, Ohio who welcomes Conrad Birdie to town. A bit naïve to the effect Conrad has on the girls of the town. Comic actor. The Mayor’s Wife, Edna-one of the adults of the show who cannot resist the charms of Conrad Birdie. Gloria Rasputin-dreamy, ambitious knockout who Mrs. Peterson chooses to replace Rosie. She is looking for her big break in show business and hopes Albert can help her. A ditzy chorus girl, larger than life character. Great dancer. Mrs. Merkle-Ursula’s overbearing mother who also gets a tough of Conrad Birdie fever. Harvey Johnson-a typical nerdy teenager. Mr. Johnson-Harvey’s father and one of the many parents in Sweet Apple desperate to keep control of their children as Conrad Birdie comes to town.

SCENE FIVESWEET APPLE RAILROAD STATION

'" Conrad Birdie, welcome to Sweet Apple! Now before I escort' ou to the TownHall where the Mayor himself is waiting, I would like to intra ce to you the girlupon whom you have chosen to bestow your [mal kiss upo ... and who will now leadus in reciting the Conrad Birdie Pledge! Kim MacAfee!

TEEN GIRLS scamper into position below DR A, clapping their hands overtheir hearts.

KIM & TEEN GIRLS. , im MacAfee (each GIRL gives h own name) ... being of sound mind andbody do he by promise to be loyal, cou eous, steadfast and true, to Conrad Birdieand the Unite tates of America - b indivisible, with liberty and justice for all!

No. 11

ALBERT.

ROSIE.

ALBERT.

HUGo.

KIM.

HUGO.

A great cCROWD.

!LA leads CONRAD off, followed by some of the

et Apple Band"(Orchestra)

I've got 0 make Conrad's speech for him! u get the bags, stack' em, and bring 'emouse. If I see a taxi I'll send it back ...

As HE starts off:

For he's a fine upstanding ...

And ROSIE sighs. EVERYONE ELSE starts to exit as HUG steps forward .

. .. Kim, before you go, could I talk to you for a minute?

Right now? I mean, couldn't it wait? I'm in an awful hurry!

I don't think so, Kim. It's important.

DEBORAH SUE. Hugo Peabody, what's so important that you have to talk to her right now?

HUGO. (burstingforth) What's so important? I'll tell you what's so important! The day after Igive her my pin she goes around kissing someone else, that's what's so important! Iwant you to know I'm quite upset about this. I've already had several headaches and anosebleed!

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ALICE. Why Hugo, I believe you're actually jealous of Conrad Birdie!

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~That's just it, Hugo, I'm your steady! Oh I may admire Conrad Birdie as one admires •a far-distant and unattainable ideal. But I'm pinned to you, Hugo, and I don't care how :common and ordinary you are, that's how I'm going to stay! ~

~(as music continues) Oh Kim, I feel so much better now! All thoughts of a nosebleedhave utterly vanished!

HUGO. Me jealous? I'm the opposite of jealous. I'm very jealous! And I have every right tobe. Kim's my steady!

KIM.

HUGO.

You were silly to worry, Hugo. Conrad Birdie may be a great public figure but hedoesn't make me feel all dizzy and faint when I think of him. Only my steady doesthat. Why even when I say his name I don't feel a thing. Listen. Conrad Birdie!Conrad Birdie. (And it hits her. Huskily:) Conrad Birdie ...

As :K.Thr wavers, the OTHERS step down on eitherROSIE, in her own world, joins the song.

One ,One stea boy,One boy to bForeverAnd ever,One bo .Th ' the way it should be,

at's the way it should be,That's the way it should be.

KIM, ALICE, and DEBOR.lli SUE leave.

HUGO. (still dazed) The boy she loves is the boy who makes her dizzy and almost faint ... (toROSIE) And you heard her, lady! That boy is me!

I naI S me way II snoUio 0A--------------

SCENE SEVENThe lights come up the next morning in the MACAFEE HOUSE. I

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N:rM:-----fD7.aacdf(d~yy,,-iI~'yvvvftigwhl:'"')~TQ~lil'~dUbbJlllJlrry:qz..L! 1-1 ..l;lJ.l~laHH:H;t4teo-fhtflatVv'ee,arlllt1lthrtissLmme~s~s""1cjle:ea:nl:-ee:dd~(af\;w;v:act"yybb:e-eDftOJIl"ee"ii~=o~f]ffiH"raadco;mcs d(')wfl: !,

MR. MAcAFEE. This mess, as you call it, Kim, happens to be my breakfast. And I intend to enjoyit!

KIM begins to clean things up around MR. MAcAFEE, eventually even takinghis food.

Last night I gave up my room to a guest who repeatedly referred to me as "Fats."Telephone calls were made on my phone to New York, Chicago, Fairbanks, Alaska,and Hong Kong. I slept in a camp cot with my feet in the fireplace and my head inan ashtray. Outside my window three harpies shrieked 'We love you Conrad' fourthousand seven hundred and twenty-three times!!! And now I have lost my two friedeggs.

Oh, Mr. MacAfee! I hope you won't mind keeping off the phon~r a few minutes.We're expecting a long-distance call from New York.

MR. MACAFEE lowers his head and exits.

KIM. , what's wrong with Daddy?

, dear. Your father's just excite about Conrad's being here, that's all.

RANDOLPH.

KIM.

MRS. MACAFEE.

peek through the window. MRS. MERKLE is there

MRS. MERKLE. oris, but I just had to corn too! !

R. MACAFEE re-enters. CONRAD ent in a leopard-skin bathrobe. Hecrosses to the table, looks at the food, a then keeps walking to therefrigerator. He opens the refrigerator, ta s out a bottle of milk, drinksdirectly from it, puts it back into the refriger or. He starts to exit.

Call me for lunch.

M . MACAFEE. Now look here, Doris. About that boy ...

----a----- I

Have you told her about dissolving Almaelou?

I couldn't Rosie. Yesterday was the anniversary of Lou being hit by181st Street and Broadway.

MRS. PETERSON enters.

ilk truck on

MRS. PETER ON. YOOOOHOOOO!!!! YOOHOO! Sonny!

MRs. PETERSON. on't worry about me, Sonny. I'm just a li

ALBERT.

ALBERT.

faint, from the subway ...

MRS. PETERSON. Taxi' at do I need with taxis? I' leave the taxis for my successful son. Amother can ri crowded in a dirty S way full of people who wouldn't give you aseat if your life epended on it, bu what's the difference; nowadays a mother is lowerthan dirt anyway. looks at ROSIE ho's she?

ALBERT.

MRS. PETERSON. This is Rose Alva? Pretty little Rose Alvarez? I can't believe it. Rose, whathappened? You had su en shock or something?

ROSIE. 0 see if Conrad is here.

B ore ROSIE can exit, . PETERSONputs her arm around ROSIE'shoulder.

MRs. PETERSON. ook at her, Sonny. How nice she ooks. It's a wonder to me some older mand sn't snatch her up. A personable mat on like that with brains and a few dollars.

oodbye, Rose.

Goodbye, Mae.

Call me Mrs. Peterson.

ALBERT.

ROSIE exits.

Mama, what I wanted to discuss with you is sort of about Rose. Maybe you'd bettersit down.

MRS. PETERSON. Why? I know my Sonny. He loves his Mama. He isn't going to say anything thatwould break her heart. Go ahead, dear ... What about Rose?

ALBERT. Well, it's about Lou, too.

----A---

MRS. PETERSON. (calls to heaven) Lou. Where are you, Lou? (to ALBERT)What about Lou?

ALBERT. Well, Mama, Rose thinks, and I agree, that I should give up Almaelou.

MRS. PETERSON staggers.

What's the matter, Mama?

MRs. PETERSON.Nothing's the matter. You killed me, that's all. (looks up) Lou, I'm coming. I'mon my way up.

ALBERT. Look Mama, here's some money. Take a cab home. The subways are too crowded. ,•

MRs. PETERSON.Nothing is too crowded for a mother. Wait a minute, how many blocks is it afterall? Only a hundred and seven. I'll walk. (SHE starts to leave) Enjoy yourself, son. Takecare. Wear a heavy coat. And eat a hot lunch ...

POLICEMAN.He's coming!

FIRST REPORTER.Hey, Com d! How do you feel about g ing into the Army?

ROSIE.

ALBERT.

ROSIE.

ALBERT.

No.9

ALBERT.(spoken)

MRS. PETERSON exits as ROSIE enters from e opposite side of the stage.

ert, I thought you were going to break it t her gently.

a matter of fact, Rosie, I didn't t her at all. I mean, she was so upset ...

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irdie is coming!

Later, Rosie! Coma's coming a. d we can't let him talk to those reporters alone.

Screams and c ies fill the air. CONRAD BIRDIE and his GUARDSMEN entersurrounded by S PORTERS, etc. A REpORTER starts to take his picture,but CONRAD stops . . All action is suspended as CONRAD takes a combfrom his pocket, om his pompadour and then signals he is ready to pose.Flash bulbs po .

"A Rea hy, Norm ,American Boy"( bert, Rosie, Reporter Adults & Teens)

ERT and ROSIE push their way to the onto

ow does he feel?You ask how he feels?He's much too shy to tell youSo I'll tell you how he feels,

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5 l~~ l\ (\~D'\Y\uA~~'\-K\0(\--~------------------~~~~~~~~~--------------------------------inued)

You're what they're whistling at!

's wonderful to feelTlt way a woman feels,It gi s you such a glowJust to nowYou're wring lipstic and heels.

you want him to beoman like me!

5\u.-c+MRS. MACAFEE. (entering) Kim, there's a call for you. The operator said she's been trying to get

through for nearly three-quarters of an hour!

As the song ends, we hear MRS. MAcAFEE'S voice.

KIM. Thank you Doris. I'll take it down here.

MRs. MACAFEE. What did you say?

KIM. I said, thank you Doris. There is no need to look so upset. It's modem to call yourmother by her first name.

MRs. MACAFEE. And your father?

KIM. I'll call him Harry, naturally. By the way, I think Harry took the news about Hugo andI awfully well, don't you, Doris?

KIM picks up the phone as MRS. MAcAFEE leaves.

This is she ... Conrad Birdie is coming here ... to kiss me? (KIM looks around for hermother) Doris? (a bit louder) Mother? (a shout) Mommy!

MRS. MAcAFEE comes running back in.

MRS. MAcAFEE. Baby, what is it?! What's wrong?!

KIM. It's Conrad Birdie, Mommy. He's coming to Sweet Apple to kiss me goodbye!!

MRS. MAcAFEE. That's nice dear. Now just put your head on Mommy's shoulder.

MRS. MAcAFEE comforts KIM, then looks up to the sky.

God bless you, Conrad Birdie.

'GrJU •• ,.---- _

PROLOGUE

GIRLS.

No.2

ALBERT.

ROSIE.

ALBERT.

ROSIE.

ALBERT.

I"Overture"(Girls)

Through a window, we see CONRAD BIRDIE, in shade J dancing and singing.A group of TEENS are staring into the window me erized.

you, Conrad,Oh, yes e do.We love y ,Conrad,And we'll be ue.When you're n t near us,We're blue.Oh, Conrad,We love ...

ONE"Opening rtaln'

(Orchestra)

Action changes to the OFFICE OF AL ELOU MUSIC CORP. ALBERT istalking on the phone.

n the phone) ... I know that, sir, but think of the disa ous effect this might have onthe morale of the American teenager! ... No, Iam not su esting the boy doesn't wantto go into the Army! ... Two weeks from today? ... He'll b here.

ALBERT hangs up as ROSIE briskly enters.

Rosie, thank goodness you've come! This is the end of Almaelou Music Corporation!Conrad Birdie is going into the Army!

And your faithful secretary is hereby submitting her resignation.

ROSIE slaps a letter down on his desk.

Hah?

I just dropped in to say goodbye, Albert.

Rosie, you can't! Not today of all days!

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ALBERT.

ROISE.

ALBERT.

ROSIE.

ALBERT.

ROSIE.

ALBERT.

ROSIE.

ALBERT.

ROSIE.

ALBERT.

6NDNo.3

ROSIE.

ALBERT frantically looks through his desk drawers.

My pills, where are my pills ... the little white ones I take when I'm overwrought.

Here.

Not so much. Break it in half.

You're thirty-three years old, Albert. You can take a whole aspirin. I

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Rosie, I'm up to my ears in debt! Conrad's got a fifty-thousand dollar guarantee which ~1can't pay. And I've just taken a severe overdose of aspirin ... ~

"An English I

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ALBERT takes the aspirin as ROSIE starts pouring him a glass of water.

My mind is made up. I've been with Almaelou eight years now and for what? A five-dollar raise in 1954. I want something more than that.

Rosie, if you're referring to anything of a more permanent nature between you andme, I'm not ready for it. And if it's part of the company you're after, the answer is noto that too. Almaelou is me, Mama, and Lou ... And any change in it would kill thatwonderful woman.

Nothing could kill your mother, Albert. Except maybe a silver bullet!

And I won't drop poor old Lou either. He loved you, Rose!

I loved Lou, too, but he died six years ago and, besides, he was a wire-hairedterrier. Anyhow, I don't want a part of the company. This is something much moreimportant ...

Rosie, if you're going to discuss what I think you're going to discuss, I'm in no moodto discuss it.

There's nothing to discuss, Albert. Conrad Birdie's going in the Army; I've quit.There's nothing you can do but give up the business and go back to college and getyour ...

(sung)

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