'Up-tempo, high energy': Local nonprofit presents 'Bye Bye Birdie' | Things to do in Polk
LAKELAND – If you’re old enough to have been a teenager in the 1950s, the play will bring back lots of memories. If you missed that era, it’s your chance to venture back to small-town America, teenagers and early rock and roll music.
With Love Productions Inc. will present “Bye Bye Birdie” at Harrison School for the Arts, 750 Hollingsworth Road, Lakeland. Shows are Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m.
“Bye Bye Birdie” is a stage musical-comedy based on the 1960 book by Michael Stewart. With music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams, it’s about a teen heartthrob, Conrad Birdie, who has been drafted. He chooses an “all American girl” named Kim MacAfee for a very public farewell kiss. The musical features a vibrant, high-energy score and comedic script.
WLP is a 13-year-old Lakeland-based, nonprofit with a mission to create “a vibrant and inclusive theatre community that exhibits diversity in all its forms,” according to its website. “Bye Bye Birdie” will be its 25th full-length production and third mainstage licensed musical.
Alessandra Stillinger, WLP founder and creative director, said WLP chose to produce and perform “Bye Bye Birdie” because of the 1950s era it’s set in, because it has good teen and adult ensembles and “it’s funny.”
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“This (play) kind of checked all the boxes,” said Stillinger, who attended Harrison School for the Arts. “It’s a funny show, the music is catchy. Again, it checked all the boxes that we needed for a fun, mainstage show.”
She said the two-plus-hour play has a cast of 34 from across Polk County, and its storyline will leave audiences feeling upbeat.
“There’s a lot of up-tempo, high-energy musical numbers. There’s a lot of funny moments in the show, and it’s just a good time,” she said.
Directed by Jeff Luty and under the music direction of Tony Mercer and choreography by Freddie DeJesus, the lead of “Bye Bye Birdie” is Jonathan Sierra of Lakeland.
Sierra, 38, who plays New York-based songwriter “Albert Peterson” in the production, lives in Lakeland and is a Southeastern University graduate. He said he auditioned for “Bye Bye Birdie” in April and it’s the second play for which he auditioned, “West Side Story” in 2023 his first.
Sierra said he wanted to get involved with “Bye Bye Birdie” partly because his daughter, Laylah, was also auditioning. He said he thinks audiences will find the similarities of 1950s-era culture in the musical has a lot of the cultural similarities of 2024.
Sierra works as the creative director for the Lakelander magazine.
“When it comes to pop culture and how relevant it is to the economy and relationships and the love of idols, it’s very much the same,” said Sierra, who’s been an actor and dancer for about two years. “There’s a very true love story that’s involved that will remind them of the good-old days.”
WLP’s “Bye Bye Birdie” is sponsored by Ultimate Dance Center, Epic North Technology, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, Lakeland OB/GYN, Phoenix Tax Service and Booking, Dave Pappas Creative Studio and Sherwin-Williams.
Tickets are $20 at the door with $2.53 processing fee for online orders. For information, see www.withloveproductionsinc.com, email withloveproinfo@gmail.com or call 863-944-8298.
Punchlines & Parodies
Laugh Out Lounge, 19 3rd St. N.W., Winter Haven, presents a night of comedy and music with “Punchlines & Parodies.” Starting at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 26 and 27, it’s an all-musical comedy show that also showcases the musical talents of some of the best comedians on the comedy circuit – a rock-n-roll comedy show. The show is for ages 21 and over. Tickets are $15 and the door, $20 advance, two-item minimum. See www.winterhavenlol.com or Instagram or Facebook: Laugh Out Lounge or call 863-662-4936.
World Passport Wine & Food Festival
Guests will have 100 wines from 20 countries paired with food catered by Agape Agora at the festival in Winter Haven’s Ritz Theatre, 263 W. Central Ave. From 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 27, the festival will include live music by Hunter Smith. Guests must be 21 or over. Four VIP eight-person tables are available with food and tastings of rare wines. For information or tickets, see www.obscurewine.com or call 863-937-1414.
Fancy Flea Vintage Home and Garden “For the Love of Vintage”
The RP Funding Center, 701 W. Lime St., Lakeland, will host the indoor shopping event in Exhibit Hall from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 26 and 27. Admission is $7, free parking. For information, see 863-712-3278.
At the Polk Theatre
Movies rule the next several days at the Polk Theatre, 121 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland. www.polktheatre.org or call 863-682-7553.
- Movie: “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” 7:30 p.m., July 26. Rated PG-13. $5.
- Movie: “The Goonies.” 4 p.m. July 27. Rated PG. $5.
- Movie: “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” 7:30 p.m. July 27. Rated PG. $5.
- Movie: “Murder by Numbers.” 4 p.m. July 28. Rated R. $5.
- Movie: "Sneakers." 6:30 p.m. July 29. Rated PG-13. $5