NewburyportNews.com, Newburyport, MA

News

Local girls land roles in 'Bye Bye Birdie'

By Liz King
Correspondent
Published: July 21, 2008

During auditions for "Bye Bye Birdie," hundreds of local youths had to perform two dance combos, tap and jazz, as well as sing and scream at the top of their lungs to emulate star-struck teenagers seeing a pop star for the first time.

After each stage, they were whittled down until there were 13 left.

Two local teens, Victoria Brandano of Rowley and Samantha Manson of Salisbury, made the final cut, and are now performing in the North Shore Music Theatre's production of the Tony Award-winning musical, which opened Tuesday and runs through Aug. 3.

"I wasn't expecting to make it," Brandano said. But she found out two weeks after auditions that she was cast as a Sweet Apple girl, along with Manson, who found out during rehearsals for "Fiddler on the Roof."

Because "Bye Bye Birdie" is primarily about a group of teenagers, the theater decided to recruit locally for roles with the ensemble. The seven local youths perform alongside a cast of experienced Broadway actors, who have been in productions including "Rent," "Phantom of the Opera" and "Chicago."

"We learn a lot from (the experienced actors), but they say that we inspire them," Brandano said. "The people in the cast are definitely worthy of being role models."

Brandano's first show was "A Chorus Line" in London. She has also performed in four other productions, including "Footloose," with Centerstage Productions in Topsfield.

Manson has been in seven productions, including "Annie," "Guys and Dolls," "Beauty and the Beast," "Fiddler on the Roof," "The Nutcracker" and "High School Musical."

Both girls agree that this has been their favorite production.

"It's a totally different experience," Manson said. "You have to go in, write on a board, go backstage, get miked. I've never been miked."

Both also agree that this is the biggest crowd they've performed for. Preview performances on July 15 and 16 were the biggest-ever at North Shore Music Theatre, almost filling all 1,500 seats.

"My school's theater seats like 400," Brandano said.

The rehearsals are usually eight hours long, some even going from noon until midnight.

"They expect a lot from us," said Brandano, who said she's had to make sacrifices, like missing a friend's birthday party at a John Mayer concert.

Manson said, "I haven't seen my friends much this summer, but it's worth it because I want to do this when I get older. It's a good learning experience."

Some of the stars of "Bye Bye Birdie" attend the University of Michigan and the Boston Conservatory, something that interests Brandano, a junior at the Pingree School in South Hamilton. She is also considering veterinary studies and last year became interested in the Peace Corps.

"Musical theater is a hard business," Brandano said. But she adds: "Dance is a very big passion of mine. I'd love to get paid for something I love to do."

Manson has no doubt that she wants to pursue performing as a career. She plans to major in dance and minor in musical theater, and has looked into Point Park University in Pennsylvania. Her goal is to be a Radio City Rockette when she gets older.

Manson just finished spending her second summer working with the Radio City Rockettes as a part of their summer intensive program. Rehearsals for "Bye Bye Birdie" began three days after she came back.

"I want to be a part of their legacy," Manson said.

Brandano and Manson are no strangers to such a grueling schedule.

Brandano has been dancing since she was 2 years old. Her older sister Christine got her into musical theater.

Manson has been dancing her whole life. Her mother is the owner of Kathy's Tumbleweeds, where Manson took lessons and eventually began teaching classes. She also took lessons at Jeannette Neill's Dance Studio in Boston and was the youngest performer accepted as a company member of the Boston Youth Moves Dance Company.

Both plan on auditioning for "42nd Street," a tap show at North Shore Music Theatre, which also happens to be the first show Brandano ever saw on Broadway.

"I want to audition for any future shows at North Shore," Brandano said. "Everyone's so nice there and willing to help you. They want to see you get better."

If You Go

What: Bye Bye Birdie

Where: North Shore Music Theatre, 62 Dunham Road, Beverly

When: Through Aug. 3 — Tuesdays through Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with matinees on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Tickets: $30 to $77

Info: 978-232-7200, www.nsmt.org

Photos