By Lamont E. Clegg

Special to the News-Gazette

Looking for something fun to do in Osceola County this August? Then you should stop by the Osceola Center for the Arts for its upcoming production of “Bye Bye Birdie.” Director Jeremiah Krivinchuk promises “fun for the whole family” with this classic musical comedy.

Set in 1958, “Bye Bye Birdie” tells the story of what happens when an Elvis Presley-like character gets drafted into the Army. That character, Conrad Birdie, with the assistance of his agent, Albert Peterson, and Peterson’s girlfriend, Rose Alvarez, heads to Sweet Apple, Ohio, to give one lucky fan a goodbye kiss before taking enlisting in the Army.

The show also examines cultural issues as Albert’s mother tries to thwart the romance between her son and Rose, who is of Latin American heritage.

But despite dealing with being drafted and cultural prejudice, Krivenchuk stresses that this production is all about fun. Calling it “the feel-good show of the summer,” he says his goal and vision of the show is to have the audience have a good time.

That sentiment is shared by Brandon Lopez, the actor playing Conrad Birdie. “This is most fun show I’ve been in,” Lopez said.

And he’s been in a lot of shows. He says “Bye Bye Birdie” is his fourth production in row at the Center for the Arts, and that he has acted in too many shows to count over the past few years.

However, this is Lopez’s first musical. He said he chose this show as his musical debut because he is big Elvis Presley fan, and he loves the music of the rock n roll era. He also says he has another reason for making this musical his first.

“It was my grandmother’s favorite musical,” he says.

Lopez says he is enjoying being a part of this production. “It’s been an awesome experience,” he says.

That seems to be the general consensus from the cast as a whole.

Aimee Weyrauch, who plays Gloria Rasputin in the production, said she is having a great time, too. She said much of the reason for that is working with the cast.

“The rehearsal process is so much fun. Everybody is working so hard,” she said. “The cast has really clicked.”

There are a lot of cast members to click in this production. Krivinchuk said there are 40 actors, singers, and dancers who will bring this show to life on the center’s stage. Among them is an ensemble of about 20 teenagers. “The teenagers in this show are working their behinds off,” Weyrauch adds.

Although Krivinchuk stresses the importance of fun in this production, he also wants to emphasize how challenging the show is. He is striving to keep everything about this production at the highest level, from the costumes, to the vocals, to the dancing.

“The costumes are true to period, and we are remaining true to all of the vocal harmonies,” he says.

“There are no weak links anywhere,” Lopez says.

When the show originally ran on Broadway in 1960, it won the Tony Award for Best Choreography. Perhaps that inspired Krivinchuk because he is particularly proud of the dancing in the center’s production.

“The show has challenging and difficult dancing,” he said.

But it’s not just the dancing. It’s the work the performers are putting into that dancing that has Krivinchuk praising his cast. He talks particularly about “The Shriner’s Ballet” dance number. He says it involves many actors who don’t have a great deal of dance experience, but they are working to make it something special.

“One of my biggest joys of this show is watching actors accomplish things they didn’t think they could accomplish,” he says, “to see the pride in the work that they do.”

Krivinchuk and the cast say they are ready to bring this musical to audiences in Osceola County. It features a number of songs that are probably familiar to audiences, including “Put On A Happy Face,” “A Lot Of Livin’ To Do,” and “The Telephone Hour.”

They also reiterate just how much fun it will be.

Dylan Barnes, who plays Albert, said, “This show will make the audience laugh.” Weyrauch adds, “Everybody can find something they’re going to like in this show.”

“Bye Bye Birdie” opens this weekend and runs through August 22. Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 general admission.

For more information, call the Osceola Center for the Arts at 407-846-6257.