‘Bye Bye Birdie’ will wing its way into your heart at Bay High School April 7-9

BAY VILLAGE, Ohio — “Bye Bye Birdie” has become a beloved musical that has stood the test of time.

The bouncy, full-of-spirit production is based on the “major” event of the late 1950s when many teen hearts were broken when rocker Elvis Presley was going off to serve in the U.S. military.

The play is now 62 years old and has the honor of being chosen as part of the celebration of Bay High School’s 100-year anniversary.

Luke Scattergood, the drama director at the school, said it is the fourth time the show has been featured at Bay High School. It is also the fourth event for the school’s 100-year anniversary, according to a press release.

Scattergood, a Brunswick High School graduate with the official title of “thespian adviser and director of the high school fall play and spring musical,” is hoping, along with the Bay Alumni Foundation, that the audience will be large and enthusiastic to support the more than 100 cast and crew associated with the show.

For those who appreciate trivia, “Bye Bye Birdie” on Broadway in 1960-1961 had 607 performances and won eight Tony Award nominations. It took home four Tonys, including Best Musical.

Scattergood, a former actor in film and theater, and his wife and their three kids (all students in Bay Village) moved to the city in 2009. He said he loves the sense of community among the students in Bay.

“We have great kids in our city.”

He also said he loves Cleveland, and praised the extensive arts community in Northeast Ohio.

However, like in almost every business, the pandemic closed down some productions at the school. He said they did some smaller productions with fewer cast members, which was difficult, but he is now glad to be “opening” again.

The show runs at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday (April 7-9), with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday (April 9). Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students.

For information on the show and tickets, visit https://bayathletics.org/event-tickets.

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