This hit show debuted on Broadway in 1960 emerging from the newly spawned breed of American pop cultural craze. When pop sensation Conrad Birdie (loosely based on the ledgendary Elvis Presley) gets drafted into the Army, his manager fears for their collective careers. As a last-ditch effort, he plots a publicity stunt to choose one lucky fan to kiss Conrad on live television the night before he leaves for service. The musical follows the events surrounding the contest, as the small-town contest winner and her family collide suddenly with fame. With irresistible music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams, Bye Bye Birdie is a timely satire of American culture that resounds for generations to come.
