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Scene

Friday, Jul. 24, 2009

A Little 'Birdie'

YES Company tells the whole story of a guy, a girl and a whole lotta shakin' going on

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The 1960 Broadway musical "Bye Bye Birdie" spoofs Elvis and the hubbub that ensued when he was inducted into the army.

In the light-hearted show, a sexy rock singer named Conrad Birdie flies to a small town in Ohio so a fan can give him one last kiss before he goes into the military. The 1963 movie version starred Ann-Margret as Kim, the fan who kisses Birdie, and Dick Van Dyke as Albert, who writes Birdie's hits.

"It is something the whole family can enjoy together," said Melanee Wyatt who is directing the Youth Entertain-

ment Stage Company's upcoming show at the Gallo Center for the Arts.

YES Company's production is the group's 18th annual summer show and will feature a cast of 90 students. The performers come from throughout Stanislaus County and are all entering seventh through 12th grades.

As those who have seen YES Company's previous shows know, these are not low-budget, thrown together affairs. Wyatt demands excellence from her students and insists that they rehearse long hours over six weeks, study about the time period of the show and journal about what they want to get out of the experience. She has contracted with professional designer Noble Dinse, who has worked with Sacramento Music Circus and Sonora's Sierra Repertory Theatre, to design the sets.

"YES Company shows are so good," said Amelia Varni, 17, who plays Rosie. "I've done professional theater. This is very professional, especially for us all being teenagers."

The incoming senior at Central Catholic High School played the title role in Sierra Rep's "Annie" and has appeared in the DVD series "Adina's Deck."

Nick McClellan, 16, an incoming junior at Downey High who will play singer Conrad, said he had to do a lot of studying on Elvis to prepare for the role. While he knew who Elvis was, he had never seen one of his movies. Now he's seen 10, including "Jailhouse Rock" and "Love Me Tender."

"I practiced walking like him for a half hour with Melanee," McClellan said.

He said the hardest part about playing the role is showing so much confidence. He said the part he loves the best is having all the girls scream for him when he sings his songs.

Emily Shrader, who starred as Dorothy in last summer's YES production of "Wizard of Oz," said she is enjoying playing Kim.

"She's the innocent character who wants to rebel against her parents because she's been stuck under their rule so long," said Shrader, 17, an incoming senior at Enochs High School.

Wyatt said she has had fun sharing her own experiences of living in the 1960s with the cast. She had them watch DVDs of "The Ed Sullivan Show" and brought in guest speakers to talk about the era.

She said people of all ages should enjoy the happy, upbeat tone of the show.

"It will take you back to the days of Donna Reed and 'Father Knows Best,' " she said "It's a wonderful era."