by Cari Lynn Pace *
Cinnabar Theater opens its 54th season with the nostalgia-filled musical Bye Bye Birdie, now running in the Warren Auditorium at Sonoma State University through Oct. 4. The Broadway musical (with book by Michael Stewart, music by Charles Strouse, and lyrics by Lee Adams) won several Tony Awards in 1961 including best musical and Lead Actor in a Musical for Dick Van Dyke.
It’s a fun-filled escapade inspired by the real-life reaction to the U. S. Army drafting rock-n-roll heartthrob Elvis Presley in 1958 and how crazed teenagers dealt with it. Many songs from the 50’s come to life, including “Put on a Happy Face” and “A Lot of Livin’ to Do.” And who can forget the adults’ lament “Kids”?
Director Zachary Hasbany creates an unusual start to this musical with an overture of actors who move wordlessly to snippets of the songs to come.
The show begins with Albert Peterson, the talent manager for teen superstar Conrad Birdie, beside himself to learn his star client is about to be drafted. Albert is long, lanky, loud, and done to perfection by Noah Evans. Evans is the anchor of this production with his fine acting, sure voice, and sensational dance moves. He does so many prat falls he deserves a soak in Epsom salts after a performance. Evans is nicely matched with the singing chops of Laura Odette Sandoval as Rosie, his long-suffering assistant and lover.
In desperation for business, Albert concocts a publicity stunt to broadcast Birdie giving a “last kiss” to a lucky teen fan randomly chosen from small-town America. Mia Katherine Wade does a terrific job as Kim MacAfee, the fan chosen for the kiss, but the timing is awkward. Kim’s just been pinned by her boyfriend, and he’s not thrilled with the impending kiss. Drifting as only teens in love can do, Kim and her gal pals harmonize in an angelic trio “One Boy.” The teenagers’ hair and costumes designed by Donnie Frank make Bye Bye Birdie a colorful and joyous show indeed.
With the media chasing after Birdie, the All-American MacAfee family and their quiet hometown are turned into a circus. A delight of this production is veteran actor David L. Yen in the role of Mr. MacAfee. He’s amazing to watch as he does his best to protect his daughter from the star-struck frenzy. Molly Larsen-Shine as Doris MacAfee is his dutiful wife.
When Birdie (Noah Vondralee-Sternhill) appears in gold lamé, the crowd goes wild. It’s a high to see the choreography of Christian Arteaga fill the large stage with swirling skirt and saddle shoe -clad teens. This terrific component of Bye Bye Birdie is worth the price of admission.
It’s an entertaining if occasionally uneven glimpse back into the early days of rock-n-roll and celebrity when phones were rotary and hairdos were ponytails.
Playing through October 4, 2026 in the Warren Theater in Ives Hall on the campus of Sonoma State University, 1601 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park.
Click HERE for more information and tickets.
Photos by Victoria Von Thal
Cari Lynn Pace is a long-time Bay Area theatre critic whose reviews were regularly featured in the Marinscope Community Newspapers and a member of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle.
