Student’s star in downtown ‘Birdie’ production

COAST CITIES — The cast for Actors’ Conservatory Theatre, or ACT-San Diego’s production of “Bye Bye Birdie” will include dozens of North County actors. The play will be staged at 7 p.m. June 3 and June 4 and at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. June 5 and June 6 at the Lyceum Theatre, 324 Horton Plaza.
The classic “Bye Bye Birdie” tells the story of rock star Conrad Birdie who is about to be inducted into the Army. Albert Peterson, his agent, and Rose Alvarez, Albert’s secretary cook up one last publicity stunt where Birdie is set to kiss Kim McAfee of Sweet Apple, Ohio on the “Ed Sullivan Show.” Throw in an overbearing “Momma,” a gaggle of crazy teenagers, and their parents who just don’t understand what is wrong with kids today, and you have an evening of great musical theatre entertainment suitable for the whole family.
The show has multiple casts to give more young artists a chance to shine. Stars include Canyon Crest Academy senior Matt Maretz, of Carmel Valley, as one of the Conrad Birdies. Maretz will be attending to Syracuse University in the fall where he has been admitted into their very competitive Musical Theatre program.
Madison Simpson, of Del Mar, is playing one of the Kims. Simpson also sang the national anthem at a Phoenix Suns’ game.
Torrey Mercer, of Solana Beach, has been cast as one of the Mommas. Mercer is in the Theatre Conservatory Program at Canyon Crest Academy. She recently won a National Youth Theatre award for her portrayal of Lucy in “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.”
The other two performers to play the role of Mae Peterson are CCA sophomore Lindsay Mitgang of Del Mar and Julia Vanderwiel of Carmel Valley. Dylan Mulvaney of Carmel Valley is playing the role of Albert. Haley Doyle of Carmel Valley, a senior at Torrey Pines, has been cast as Rosie. Haley was recently admitted to the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at NYU.
Other local standouts from the North County area include Jordan Cavanaugh, Marissa Lebert, Alyson Tharp, Esme Birndorf, Gracie Condon, Eric Huckabee, Michelle Cohen, Tess Maretz, Mariangela Nava, Samantha Pollak, Amy Atun, Kaleigh Stegman, Kyra Heenan, Lily Detwiler, Mason Mercer, Mo Vanderwiel, Lily Detwiler, Jennifer Fasulo, Jake Ellis, Camille Krzyston, Emma Ford, Kelly Gitre, Joshua Guicherit and Emily Laliotis.
ACT-San Diego is a nonprofit youth theater company in San Diego whose mission is to provide educational and artistic opportunities for young artists to perform, act and learn the art of stagecraft in a highly professional environment.