Say hello to ‘Bye Bye Birdie’

A cast of 42 Wantagh Middle School students will bring the late 1950s to the high school auditorium stage this weekend with three performances of the popular Broadway musical “Bye Bye Birdie.”

Eighth-grader Bella Ninivaggi stars as Rosie, who has an on-and-off relationship with Albert Peterson, played by Carlo Topia.

“It’s just so much fun playing her,” Ninivaggi said. “You can take Rosie, when you read her lines, completely different ways.”

Topia, who has been in past middle school plays, said this is his first time portraying a funny character. Albert, a business owner, is also a momma’s boy, Topia explained. “I love to make the audience laugh,” he said.

The understudies for the two lead roles are Bella Santeramo and John Sileo, who each get to play the respective parts for one show. They are members of the ensemble for the other two performances.

David Burt, who is in his first year teaching music at the middle school, is the director. He said it is not uncommon to have understudies for lead roles, but less common to give them a show. “If they put in the effort,” he said, “they deserve to have their time in the spotlight.”

He said his understudies have risen to the challenge of learning multiple parts. All of the actors, he said, have been putting in hard work since November. He said the strength of the cast is its enthusiasm and collective spirit.

Bridget LaCova, a senior at Wantagh High School who is serving as a production assistant, is expecting all three performances to go well. “They’re very, very good,” she said of the cast. “When there’s a song, they kill it. Their musical talent is beyond what I’ve seen in the past from a middle school show.”

Melissa LoPiccolo, a seventh-grader, plays Kim, whom she described as a typical 15-year-old. After starring in last year’s production of “Camp Rock,” which is set in modern times, LoPiccolo said it is nice to do a play from a different era.

Olivia Swanson, an eighth-grader, is LoPiccolo’s understudy and said she is glad to be a part of “Bye Bye Birdie.” She noted that they are funny moments in every scene. “I’m just looking forward to hearing the audience laugh,” she said.

Performances are Friday and Saturday nights, along with a matinee on Saturday.
Burt said he chose “Bye Bye Birdie” as this year’s production because it would work with either a large or a small cast. “I think it’s a classic,” he said. “It’s going to be a great show.”

‘Bye Bye Birdie’

When: Friday, March 13 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, March 14 at 1 and 7 p.m.
Where: Wantagh High School auditorium, 3297 Beltagh Ave.
Tickets: $12 at the door, or online through Drama Club’s website at www.wantaghschools.org.