‘Bye Bye Birdie’ opens Sept. 16 at Cutting Hall
TesserAct Theatre Ensemble presents “Bye Bye Birdie,” a musical featuring the music of Charles Strauss and lyrics by Lee Adams, playing Friday, Sept. 16, through Sunday, Sept. 25, at the historic Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center, 150 E. Wood St., Palatine.#147;Bye Bye Birdie#148; is a satire set in 1958, about an Elvis Presley type rock #146;n#146; roll superstar (Conrad Birdie) who is drafted into the Army. His agent/songwriter and the agent#146;s secretary (and love interest) plan a farewell performance for Birdie on the #147;Ed Sullivan Show,#148; which they hope will help sell his new song #147;One Last Kiss#148; #8212; complete with Birdie kissing a randomly chosen girl #8212; and bring Albert#146;s company out of debt.Complications ensue as the girl chosen for Birdie#146;s kiss has a jealous boyfriend; the agent#146;s mother keeps meddling in his romance with his secretary and the famous rock star declares he#146;s tired of show business and runs away.The show has many memorable musical numbers: #147;The Telephone Hour,#148; #147;Put on a Happy Face#148; and #147;Kids,#148; among others.Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16, 17, 23 and 24 and 3 p.m. Sept. 18 and 25. Tickets are now on sale at the Cutting Hall Box Office. Tickets are $14 in advance and $16 at the door; students and seniors get a $2 discount.Call the box office at (847) 202-5222; go online, www.palatineparks.org or use the direct ticket link: www.ticketturtle.com/index.php?show=22291. The box office is open from 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and will open one hour before each show.