Bye Bye Birdie

If you think you've spotted Elvis down at the Annapolis City Dock this summer, don't bother calling the National Enquirer.Chances are the '50s rocker will turn out to be the great Conrad Birdie, which isn't surprising, because the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre's junior production of "Bye Bye Birdie" is playing Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings through July 26."Birdie," you'll recall, is Broadway's spoof of the Elvis phenomenon and of teen-age life in the '50s. As the rock star is about to be drafted into the Army, his manager, Albert Peterson, and Albert's loving secretary, Rose Alvarez, plot to extract one last payday from their meal ticket with the gyrating hips.

By no stretch is Bye Bye Birdie a classic Broadway musical. But the dated nature of the 1960 show delivers multigenerational appeal in the current Children's Theatre of Annapolis production, where youthful energy and innocence combine fun with nostalgia. Parents in the audience will remember rotary phones and may be aware of the identity of publisher Henry Luce. Only the grandparents likely willpick up the references to "The Shadow" (a 1930s radio detective) or Sammy Kaye (a swing-and-sway '40s bandleader)

After decades of largely ignoring pop music, the Broadway musical is finally beginning to sing a new song.Two of this season's megamusicals boast pop scores: Disney's "The Lion King," with songs written, in part, by Elton John and Tim Rice, and Paul Simon's forthcoming "The Capeman." In addition, Randy Newman, Barry Manilow and Jimmy Buffett have all had musicals produced around the country lately.In the Golden Age of Broadway musicals, from the Gershwins and Cole Porter through Rodgers and Hammerstein and Lerner and Loewe, Broadway show music and pop music were the same.

THE CROFTON Spring Craft Fair has been scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Village Green.The Village Green will be filled with more than 130 vendors presenting a variety of wares.Several new artisans have been added to the list of exhibitors, including a woman who makes clocks from recycled computer parts and a mother and daughter who make jewelry out of china shards.Of course, the lollipop man and the funnel cake ladies will be on hand.The craft fair is a true community event.

"It's a boy. It's a boy," she repeated softly. "I can't believe I'm going to have a son."It's the '90s, so naturally my friend knows weeks ahead of her actual delivery that she will have a boy. She came to me with this joyous news because I was her friend and the mother of sons.The reverie of the moment was shattered by the thunderous sound of approaching Nikes."Did you go to the store? Can Billy and T.J. spend the night? Can I see 'Pulp Fiction'? Ross saw it, and it didn't turn him into a sociopath.

"Bye Bye Birdie," Oakland Mills High School's spring musical, will be performed by students of the performing arts department at 8 p.m. May 5 and 6 in the school's auditorium, 9410 Kilimanjaro Road, Oakland Mills village.The role of Albert will be shared by Keith Murphy and Shawn Crauch. Rachel Rogers is Rosie. Mandy Lamb and Denny Cole play Kim MacAfee and Conrad. Mr. and Mrs. MacAfee are Daryl Burch and Dana Stetson, and Danielle Reed is Mae Peterson.Director Holly Pasciullo invites family, friends and neighbors to support the cast of "Birdie" and enjoy an evening of happy entertainment at nominal cost: $5.99 for adults and $2 for children under 12. Cynthia Stephens is musical director, and Eric Hildenbrand is stage manager.

Shower singers, come out in public: Verdi's 'Requiem' needs 0) youAll those who have sung Verdi in the shower will now get their chance to take their acts out into the open. This Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the First English Lutheran Church (Charles Street at 39th Street), the Handel Choir of Baltimore is sponsoring an audience sing-along performance of one of Verdi's greatest works, the masterful "Requiem," which will be conducted by the choir's music director, T. Herbert Dimmock. Admission is $5, and, if you don't own a score, you can rent one for $1. To make matters even more inviting, the church is air-conditioned and refreshments will be served.

Dudley Moore was a "10" last Sunday evening. His performance with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra was sensational.And the chemistry was evident between Moore and the BSO's talented maestro, David Zinman, who asked Moore: "What was Bo Derek really like?" "Well, (a pause) very dedicated to her husband. While we were rolling around in the surf, all she did was laugh!"Moore was in town as the guest artist with the 1992 Martell Cordon Bleu Concert Series. Baltimore was the first of four Martell concerts that Moore will do this year.

GIANT TINKERTOYS are the chief design motif in the production of "Bye Bye Birdie" that opened at the Lyric Opera House last night. And no doubt about it, this is Tinkertoy level material.That is to say, it's downright silly -- a relic that harks back to the good old days when musicals were still called "musical comedies." What makes this touring production fun is that it glorifies in its own silliness. From the Tinkertoy sets to the crayon-colored costumes, it doesn't pretend to be anything other than a teeny-bopping hop down memory lane.

Giant Tinkertoys are the chief design motif in the production of "Bye Bye Birdie" that opened at the Lyric Opera House last night. And no doubt about it, this is Tinkertoy level material.That is to say, it's downright silly -- a relic that harks back to the good old days when musicals were still called "musical comedies." What makes this touring production fun is that it glorifies in its own silliness. From the Tinkertoy sets to the crayon-colored costumes, it doesn't pretend to be anything other than a teeny-bopping hop down memory lane.

Howard County Summer Theatre will hold auditions for its 35th summer musical, Bye Bye Birdie, from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. to noon Saturday in the Mount Hebron High School auditorium. Come prepared to sing a song; bring sheet music or an instrumental compact disc. A CD player and an accompanist will be provided. Information: 410-465-8623 or 410-549-2370. Help with bullying The Howard County Public School System's Office of Student Service will sponsor a seminar for middle and high school students and their parents with Jodee Blanco, author of Please Stop Laughing at Me and Please Stop Laughing at Us, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Howard High School, 8700 Old Annapolis Road, Ellicott City.

Sykes gets late-night comedy show on Fox Emmy-winning actress and comedian Wanda Sykes will host a Saturday late-night talk show on Fox this fall that will include commentary on hot-button issues. The show will likely fill the 11 p.m. position occupied by MADtv, which is ending in May. Man told officer of plan to meet gymnast A man who authorities say tried to break onto the set of ABC's Dancing with the Stars was ticketed on his way to California and let go, despite telling a police officer in Alabama that his plan to meet contestant Shawn Johnson was "a little bit crazy."

By no stretch is Bye Bye Birdie a classic Broadway musical. But the dated nature of the 1960 show delivers multigenerational appeal in the current Children's Theatre of Annapolis production, where youthful energy and innocence combine fun with nostalgia. Parents in the audience will remember rotary phones and may be aware of the identity of publisher Henry Luce. Only the grandparents likely willpick up the references to "The Shadow" (a 1930s radio detective) or Sammy Kaye (a swing-and-sway '40s bandleader)

Chris Molloy, Westminster SPORT TRACK AND FIELD BOYS STATS -- Molloy is one of the county's top throwers, achieving personal bests of 46 feet, 5 inches in the shot put and 138-9 in the discus. A week ago, he won the county title in the discus. He will continue his career at Mount St. Mary's. SIDELINES -- After some friends heard him sing in the school's lobby, Molloy, a senior, decided to put his talent to the test and wound up as one of the leads in his school's recent production of Bye Bye Birdie.

A rock 'n' roll heartthrob in the suburbs? A normal American family on Ed Sullivan? An English-teacher-turned-music-agent struggling out of debt and his mother's clutches? Welcome to Sweet Apple, Ohio, circa 1950s, in the sweet musical comedy Bye Bye Birdie, performed last week at Hammond High. Birdie centers on recently drafted rock idol Conrad Birdie (Glen Newhall), his frazzled manager Albert Peterson (Jason Beall), and Albert's secretary/girlfriend Rosie Alvarez ( the lively, energetic Kelsey Girard)

`Bye Bye Birdie' opens Olney Theatre season Olney Theatre Center opens its 2001 season tomorrow with "Bye Bye Birdie," the 1961 Adams and Strouse musical about a rock and roll star and his effect on the teens in small-town America. Continuing the practice instituted two seasons ago, the season opener showcases young musical-theater performers from the Washington area. Here's the rest of the Olney main-stage season: "The Rivals," by Richard Brinsley Sheridan (April 17-May 20); "Art," by Yasmina Reza (June 5-July 8)

The Little Italy Open-Air Film Festival continues tonight with a screening of "Come September," Robert Mulligan's 1961 comedy about a businessman (Rock Hudson) who finds out his rented Italian villa has been overrun with tourists when he arrives for his yearly stay in September. Gina Lollobrigida co-stars. Bobby Darrin and Sandra Dee make their screen debut, and were married shortly after filming ended. The movie begins at 9 p.m. at the corner of High and Stiles streets. Bring your own lawn chair for maximum comfort.

THE CROFTON Spring Craft Fair has been scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Village Green.The Village Green will be filled with more than 130 vendors presenting a variety of wares.Several new artisans have been added to the list of exhibitors, including a woman who makes clocks from recycled computer parts and a mother and daughter who make jewelry out of china shards.Of course, the lollipop man and the funnel cake ladies will be on hand.The craft fair is a true community event.

After decades of largely ignoring pop music, the Broadway musical is finally beginning to sing a new song.Two of this season's megamusicals boast pop scores: Disney's "The Lion King," with songs written, in part, by Elton John and Tim Rice, and Paul Simon's forthcoming "The Capeman." In addition, Randy Newman, Barry Manilow and Jimmy Buffett have all had musicals produced around the country lately.In the Golden Age of Broadway musicals, from the Gershwins and Cole Porter through Rodgers and Hammerstein and Lerner and Loewe, Broadway show music and pop music were the same.

If you think you've spotted Elvis down at the Annapolis City Dock this summer, don't bother calling the National Enquirer.Chances are the '50s rocker will turn out to be the great Conrad Birdie, which isn't surprising, because the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre's junior production of "Bye Bye Birdie" is playing Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings through July 26."Birdie," you'll recall, is Broadway's spoof of the Elvis phenomenon and of teen-age life in the '50s. As the rock star is about to be drafted into the Army, his manager, Albert Peterson, and Albert's loving secretary, Rose Alvarez, plot to extract one last payday from their meal ticket with the gyrating hips.