Submitted photo The Cast of New Ulm High School’s “Bye Bye Birdie” sing a show stopping tune.

NEW ULM — This weekend the public is invited to say farewell to New Ulm High School’s fall musical, “Bye Bye Birdie.”

The musical will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12 and 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13 at the high school auditorium.

“Bye Bye Birdie” is a musical comedy set in 1958. A popular rock and roll star named Conrad Birdie, played by Marcarious Amoah, has received his draft notice.

Across the nation, teenagers are devastated. Songwriter Albert Peterson (Joey Kotten) and his long-suffering girlfriend/secretary Rosie Alvarez (Alex Vigil) scheme to use this to their advantage.

Albert will write a new song for Birdie to sing on his final television performance. As part of the promotion, a random fan is selected to appear with Birdie on stage. The young fan chosen is Kim McAfree (Sarah Todesco), much to the chagrin of her boyfriend Hugo Peabody (Nick Vigil).

Director Carissa Cowles said the student has been rehearsing the play since the middle of September. Even though the play is set 63 years in the past, Cowles said her young cast responded well to the story.

“There have been times when we have had to coach them on how life was back then,” Cowles said. “For instance, how to use some of the phones or how to respond to seeing someone famous for the first time up close.”

A reoccurring gag in the musical features character screaming in excitement or fainting at the sight of Birdie. Fortunately, the cast caught on to the styles of the time.

Cowles said there were COVID-related obstacles with the production, but the students pulled through though and were amazing to work with.

“They were definitely go-getters and team players in playing different roles and lots of costume changes,” she said. “The best part of putting on this production has been working with amazing people and students. It reminds me that I became a teacher for the relationships with students, as this has led to some fantastic relationships.”

For Cowles, the other amazing part was seeing the kids go out of their comfort zones and be rewarded.

“This has led them to be super excited for One Acts in the winter and the Spring Play later this year,” she said.

Cowles said the cast has worked really hard to bring the musical to life and would love to see a big audience.

The show is appropriate for all audiences. For those who remember the 1950s, the musical is sure to be a blast from the past.