Starlight Community Theater presents “Bye Bye Birdie”

Starlight Community Theater presenting its big season finale, “Bye Bye Birdie,”

at Boulder Creek High School’s main theater in Anthem from June 9 - 12, 2011.

Bye Bye Birdie is a musical satire on American society that was inspired by the phenomenon of popular singer Elvis Presley and his draft notice into the Army in 1958. A rock singer, Conrad Birdie, travels to Sweet Apple, Ohio to make his farewell television performance and kiss his biggest fan, Kim MacAfee, before he is drafted. Bye Bye Birdie has huge appeal to all ages who love the music of the late 50’s, so “Put on a Happy Face!”

Cast members come from throughout the Valley, including Scottsdale, Glendale, Peoria, and Anthem. Highlights will include great dance numbers choreographed by Broadway veteran and ariZoni-Award winner (for Starlight’s “Once on This Island, 2007-2008), Sherry Henderson. In addition, Bye Bye Birdie boasts ariZoni-Award-winning Set Designer, Glenda Matson, (for Spotlight Youth Theatre’s “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” 2009-2010), and ariZoni-nominated Hair and Makeup Designer, Leigh Treat, (for Starlight’s “The Frog Prince,” 2009-2010).

The performance dates and times are June 9-10, 2011 at 7:00PM, and June 11-12, 2011 at 3:00PM and 7:00PM. Performances will be held at the Boulder Creek High School Performing Arts Center.

For more information please contact

www.StarlightCommunityTheater.org or the message line at 623.566.7991. Tickets will be available online starting May 2, 2011. For discounted tickets, please purchase in advance online.

Starlight Community Theater is also announcing its upcoming season, which includes “Willy Wonka,” “Miracle on 34th Street – The Musical,” “FAME!,” “Arsenic and Old Lace,” “Rapunzel,” and “Once Upon a Mattress.”

There is definitely something for everyone next season with several “all-ages” productions as well as one each for adults, teens, and kids. While the exact dates have yet to be determined, the auditions for “Willy Wonka” are being planned for August.

“Willy Wonka,”an all-age’s production, is Starlight’s Season Opener. Roald Dahl’s timeless story of the world-famous Candy Man, and his quest to find an heir, comes to life in this stage adaptation of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Augustus Gloop, Mike Teavee, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, and, of course, Charlie Bucket, all find their Golden Tickets, and embark upon the adventure of a lifetime! The show features songs including “Pure Imagination,” “The Candyman,” “Cheer Up Charlie,” and “Oompa Loompa.” It’s everybody’s non-pollutionary, anti-institutionary, pro-confectionery factory of fun!

“Miracle on 34th Street – The Musical” will also be an all-ages production. Kris Kringle takes on the cynics among us, in this musical adaptation of the popular holiday favorite! Claiming to be the real Santa Claus, he brings about a genuine Miracle on 34th Street, spreading a wave of love throughout New York City, fostering camaraderie between Macy’s and Gimbel’s, and convincing a divorced, cynical single mother, her somber daughter, and the entire state of New York, that Santa Claus is no myth. “Miracle on 34th Street – The Musical” is the perfect holiday treat.

“Fame!” is a teen production planned for early 2012. Set during the last years of New York City’s celebrated High School for the Performing Arts on 46th Street (1980-1984), “Fame – The Musical” is a bittersweet, but ultimately inspiring story, of a diverse group of students as they commit to four years of grueling artistic and academic work. With candor, humor and insight, the show explores the issues that confront many young people today.

“Arsenic and Old Lace,” an adult production, is planned for early 2012. This slapstick play is a frenzied, hilarious, madcap dark comedy. Starlight presents the story of two elderly women, the Brewster sisters, who have convinced themselves that it is a perfectly moral thing to kill the less fortunate. Everything goes well until their beloved nephew Mortimer, discovers their secret!

“Rapunzel” will be a kid’s production, and is planned for the spring of 2012. Starlight Community Theater is welcoming back Jim Gradillas. Jim has been teaching and directing youth theatre for twenty years. He has been a professional actor, teacher, director, and writer all over Arizona and has won nine ariZoni Awards for Theatre Excellence and several Child Empowerment Awards. Next spring, Jim will write and direct a very special adaptation of the classic children’s story, “Rapunzel,” which will be hysterical, full of surprises, and Sold Out!

“Once Upon a Mattress” is the Season Finale, an all-ages production, planned for early summer. If you thought you knew the story of “The Princess and the Pea,” you may be in for a walloping surprise! Carried on a wave of wonderful songs, this rollicking spin on the familiar classic of royal courtship provides for some side-splitting shenanigans. Chances are you’ll never look at fairy tales quite the same way again!

Starlight Community Theater is a 501(c)3, non-profit Community Theater dedicated to providing live theater to entertain and enrich our community and to encourage youth and adult participation in the Arts by providing growth and educational opportunities through a variety of theatrical experiences.

623.566.7991

www.StarlightCommunityTheater.org