By Archer D’Angelo

A few weeks ago, Brooklyn Independent put on production of the beloved 1960 Musical, Bye Bye Birdie. While we all went to watch the production, many of us did not get to hear what went on behind the scenes. I then took it upon myself to interview many cast members both from our Terrapin Times and the whole BKI Student Body. Here are the results of my efforts and what should hopefully be some enlightening information to further understand our 2025 Spring Musical.

What Is Your Role In The Musical?

• Kaiden, “I’m the Dad, Mr. MacAfee, who is Kim’s parent, which is Scarlet, and Randolph’s parent also, which is Charlie, and whose wife is Ms. MacAfee, who is Adrienne.” 
• Liv, “My role in the Musical is Conrad Birdie, and I do a lot of singing, so much singing”
• Sarah, “Stage Crew, we set up different scenes and we manage props and costumes”
• Ben, “Harvey Johnson”

What Is Your Favorite Part Of Your Role In The Musical?

• Kaiden, “Probably yelling at everyone and being angry for no apparent reason.”
• Liv, “I think it’s just really fun to be silly and actually like a 60s cool kid”
• Sarah, “I personally really like the props because in the Bye Bye Birdie Musical we are sometimes allowed to bring in props, I brought in the slingshot”
• Ben, “Definitely being very desperate”

Do You Have A Favorite Scene In The Musical, If So Why?

• Kaiden, “Probably, you know, the ending, where we do all the bows. I had so much fun with that, I had absolutely so much fun with that.”
• Liv, “I think my favorite scene was probably the Ed Sullivan scene, It’s just my favorite because it’s super cool how we recorded it and then made it black and white for the show”
• Sarah, “My favorite scene is “Put On A Happy Face” because one, it has really good dances and also I don’t have to do huge scene changes because things are already set up”
• Ben, “Put On A Happy Face, I like the choreo [Choreography] and stuff”

What Was Your Best Experience During Production?

• Kaiden, “Backstage, everyone having a laugh, there was so much stuff going on, it was so fun”
• Liv, “I think so far the most fun thing we did was [on] the Thursday of the first performance, we got to watch the Ed Sullivan scene, and it was really just cool to see myself acting and singing”
• Sarah, “I really liked afterwards when we were able to just be happy and feel like we were really successful, it’s just really satisfying to just set up scenes and just be out there on the stage”

What Is Your Favorite Part Of Being A Cast/Crew Member Of The Production?

• Kaiden, “Having to act out on the stage, and you know, showing the world I have great acting skills”
• Liv, “I really like to act and sing and dance and also I’ve made new friends just being in the Musical”
• Sarah, “I obviously really like helping out, just setting up scenes in general, it’s really hard because the blocks are really heavy, but it is really fun afterwards”
• Ben, “It’s probably the people, the people I’m in the Musical with”

What, In Your Opinion, Is The Best Song?

• Kaiden, “Probably “Bye Bye Birdie”, it’s either “Bye Bye Birdie” or “Kids”, but i’m gonna say Bye Bye Birdie, that was my favorite, I’m jamming to it, it’s stuck in my head.”
• Liv, “Bye Bye Birdie”
• Sarah, “I can’t really choose, there are so many good ones”
• Ben, “I’d say Telephone Hour”