THEATER | Fun farewell

Theatre in the Park at Kelso Hollow in Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site presents the comedic musical Bye, Bye Birdie. Sean VanAusdall-Rose directs this classic that opened on Broadway in 1960 featuring a story based loosely on the media circus of Elvis Presley’s 1958 Germany departure that had him giving one last kiss to a selected member of the Women’s Army Corps. In Bye, Bye Birdie, a soon to depart for the Army rock and roll singer visits the small town of one lucky Ohio girl selected to be sung a farewell song on the Ed Sullivan Show. Free pre-shows begin at 7 p.m. at the indoor theater. Make show reservations by phone between the hours of 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Also, if you’re in downtown Springfield June 26, the TIP Bye, Bye Birdie cast performs from noon to 1 p.m. as part of Springfield Area Arts Council’s Artist on the Plaza series.