NEWTOWN – Newtown Stage Co. is marking its fourth summer of bringing theatrical productions to the area with its highly anticipated summer production of Bye Bye Birdie Youth Edition.
This year’s production showcases a talented cast of young actors and crew in grades three through eight. The performers hail from Newtown as well as numerous neighboring towns, including Southbury, Woodbury, Danbury, Bethel, Brookfield, Monroe, Trumbull, Redding, Bridgewater, and beyond.
The energy-packed musical, with a runtime of one hour and ten minutes, is an adaptation of the classic Broadway smash hit.
Set in the nostalgic 1950s, the story follows Elvis-inspired rock-and-roll superstar Conrad Birdie (Devin Macey, of Danbury) as he is drafted into the U.S. Army.
To give him one final, epic send-off, his stressed agent, Albert Peterson (Noah Napolitano, of Newtown), and Albert’s brilliant secretary, Rosie Alvarez (Lydia Field, of Newtown), concoct a publicity stunt: Conrad will travel to Sweet Apple, Ohio, to give “One Last Kiss” to a lucky teenage fan club member, Kim MacAfee (Carolina Romano, of Bridgewater), on The Ed Sullivan Show, much to the chagrin of her parents, Harry and Doris MacAfee (Dylan Loucks, of Newtown, and Alyzandra Pustola, of Woodbury). All the while, Albert’s controlling mother, Mae Peterson (Leah Carias, of Newtown), keeps Rosie on her toes and the audience laughing.
Complete with timeless, beloved songs like “Put on a Happy Face,” “Kids,” “The Telephone Hour,” and “A Lot of Livin’ to Do,” this production captures the humor, charm, and pure fun of the 1950s.
The production is directed by Katie Bloom (Monroe), music directed by Kelly Burger (Newtown), choreographed by Erin Loucks (Newtown), and stage managed by Cassidy Bloom (Monroe), with costume design by Gwendolyn Niles (Easton). Assistant Director Dawn Field (Newtown) and Assistant Music Director Ryan Loucks (Newtown) are supported by dozens of staff and volunteers from Newtown and surrounding communities.
Performance Schedule & Details:
Edmond Town Hall Theater, 45 Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
- Fri., Jul. 17, 2026, 7:00 p.m.
- Sat., Jul. 18, 2026, 1:00 p.m.
- Sat., Jul. 18, 2026, 7:00 p.m.
- Sun., Jul. 19, 2026, 1:00 p.m.
Tickets available at: https://newtownstageco.com/.
(Top photo)
Noah Napolitano as Albert Peterson
Lydia Field as Rosie Alvarez
(Middle photo)
Devin Macey as Conrad Birdie
Carolina Romano as Kim MacAfee
The Southbury Record 