Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Department of Theatre Arts and Division of Music will present the musical Bye Bye Birdie, a satire of American society in the 1960s, April 14-17. Performances will be held in Jones Performing Arts Center on Ouachita’s campus at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, April 14-16, and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 17.

Mary Handiboe, OBU associate professor of theatre arts, serves as the show’s stage director, and Dr. Jon Secrest, OBU professor of music, serves as the show’s musical director and publicity supervisor. Grace Whitaker, a senior biology major from Hillsboro, Texas, serves as choreographer for the production. Daniel Inouye, OBU assistant professor of theatre arts, serves as costume designer for the show, and Eric Phillips, OBU professor of theatre arts, serves as technical director and scenic designer. Also assisting with light and sound design is Joey Licklider, manager of Jones Performing Arts Center.

“Bye Bye Birdie is a good show for us right now,” Handiboe said, “due to the cast size, the number of female roles, and the great featured roles it has to offer.”

The musical’s story was inspired by the phenomenon of popular singer Elvis Presley and his draft notice into the army in 1957. The original production opened on Broadway in 1960 and was a Tony Award-winning success. This success led to a film version three years later, which garned much of Birdie’s mainstream appreciation.

“A lot of people know and love the musical because of the film,” said Jacob Watson, a senior musical theatre major from Wynne, Ark., “but the stage version offers much more excitement than the movie. The extra scenes and dance numbers combine with the energy of live theatre to really make it something special.”

Watson, who will star as Albert Peterson, also believes that audiences will find Birdie to be a great follow up to OBU’s successful production of Seussical the Musical last year. Birdie appeals to a wide audience as “good old-fashioned American musical theatre,” he said.

The cast and production teams have been working diligently since returning in January, spending seven weeks on music alone. “We’re working day and night for the next few weeks to get this show ready,” said Watson. “It’s strenuous with all the different types of rehearsals, but it’s a fun show so it makes it worth it.”

Lead members of the cast include Watson, as Albert Peterson; Cortnie DeVore, a senior musical theatre major from Beebe, Ark., as Rose Alvarez; Elisabeth Hipp, a senior vocal performance major from Memphis, Tenn., as Kim Macafee; Justin Ratliff, a sophomore musical theatre major from Whitehouse, Texas, as Conrad Birdie; Bethany Swiontek, a sophomore musical theatre major from Colorado Springs, Colo., as Mrs. Mae Peterson; Lynley Vire, a senior musical theatre major from Searcy, Ark., as Mrs. Doris Macafee; Timothy Drennan, a freshman musical theatre major from Paron, Ark., as Mr. Harry Macafee; Lauren Casteel, a senior musical theatre major from Garland, Texas, as Randolf Macafee; Heather White, a sophomore musical theatre major from Houston, Texas, as Ursula Merkle; Shay Michael, a junior musical theatre major from Grapevine, Texas, as Gloria Rasputin; and Cody Myers, a freshman psychology major from Van Buren, Ark., as Hugo Peabody.

Members of the chorus include: Gabi Baltzley, a freshman musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark.; C.J. Bernard, a freshman theatre arts major from Sherwood, Ark.; Brooke Brackett, a freshman musical theatre major from Springdale, Ark.; Molly Brown, a senior musical theatre major from Rowlett, Texas; Callie Chancey, a sophomore musical theatre major from Branson, Mo.; Kayla Esmond, a freshman musical theatre major from Burleson, Texas; Gemma Guiomard, a freshman musical theatre major from DeSoto, Texas; Rachel Harris, a junior musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark.; Katelyn Helton, a sophomore musical theatre major from Grand Prairie, Texas; Hein Hillmer, a freshman mass communications major from Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Alison Johnson, a sophomore musical theatre major from Shreveport, La.; DeCarl Jones, a freshman vocal performance major from Rowlett, Texas; Kathryn Kellogg, a junior musical theatre major from Sherwood, Ark.; Michelle Lackey, a junior musical theatre major from Decatur, Texas; Xavier Lagunas, a junior musical theatre major from Arlington, Texas; Lauren Linton, a freshman musical theatre major from Millington, Tenn.; Nicole Mattson, a freshman musical theatre major from Rowlett, Texas; Amanda Murray, a sophomore musical theatre major from Racine, Wis.; Spencer Neblett, a freshman vocal performance major from Little Rock, Ark.; Joe Ochterbeck, a freshman theatre arts major from Maumelle, Ark.; Alexis Pace, a sophomore musical theatre major from Sugar Land, Texas; Ashley Partridge, a senior musical theatre major from Baton Rouge, La.; Moriah Patterson, a junior musical theatre major from Sheridan, Ark.; Ben Perry, a freshman musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.; Joel Rogier, a sophomore vocal performance major from Glen Carbon, Ill.; Caitlin Secrest, a freshman vocal performance major from Arkadelphia, Ark.; Jacob Sturgeon, a freshman music education major from Pine Bluff, Ark.; MaryLacey Thomson, a freshman musical theatre major from Plano, Texas; and Garrett Whitehead, a freshman musical theatre major from Cleburne, Texas.

In addition to acting, singing and dancing, almost every student cast in the production fills some kind of technical role. Alongside them, there is a large production crew working behind the scenes to get every main stage show on its feet.

Jordan Miller, a freshman musical theatre major from Rockwall, Texas, serves as the show’s stage manager. Samantha Spradling, a senior theatre arts major from Italy, Texas, and Cortnee Stewart, a senior theatre arts major from Ward, Ark., serve as the show’s assistant stage managers.

Lindsey Lederer, a freshman musical theatre major from Carrollton, Texas, serves as the show’s dramaturg; Angela Morgan, a freshman musical theatre major from Bryant, Ark., serves as the house manager; Bekah Hall, a freshman theatre arts major from Port Elisabeth, South Africa, is in charge of publicity; Kels Kearney, a junior mass communications major from Pine Bluff, Ark., will orchestrate the costume crew; Courtney Moore, a freshman musical theatre major from Hensley, Ark., is in charge of the cast’s makeup; Grace Johnson, a junior vocal performance major from Tyler, Texas, is in charge of the properties crew; Alyssa Eskelen, a sophomore musical theatre major from Bryan, Texas, serves as sound shifting crew head; and Tyler Herron, a freshman theatre arts major, will take a lead role with lighting and video projections.

Tickets are $10 per person and may be purchased by visiting or calling the JPAC box office weekdays from 1-5 p.m. or may be purchased online at http://obu.edu/finearts. OBU students receive one free ticket with their student ID. For more information, contact the box office at (870) 245-5563 from 1-5 p.m. weekdays.

By Rudy Jones