Join us on Saturday, April 18, for an evening of food, fun, and classic musical theatre! The night begins with a Smokehouse BBQ dinner at 5:30 p.m. in the Alumni Board Room, featuring pulled pork and chicken breast, mac and cheese, elote corn, potato salad, maple bacon baked beans, cornbread muffins, and a house salad. Dessert will be a white chocolate berry cheesecake, with coffee, tea, and water included. A plant-based and gluten-free option will be available. Choice your meal choice when you register.

At 7:30 p.m., enjoy a lively performance in the Gezon Auditorium of Bye Bye Birdie, presented by the Calvin Theatre Company.

Set in the golden age of rock and roll, Bye Bye Birdie follows teen rock-and-roll idol Conrad Birdie, who has been drafted into the army, leaving his manager scrambling to save his career. A last-minute publicity stunt—a farewell kiss on The Ed Sullivan Show—turns the small town of Sweet Apple, Ohio, upside down with teenage excitement, parental panic, and plenty of laughter along the way.

With its catchy tunes, clever humor, and big-hearted nostalgia, Bye Bye Birdie is a joyous celebration of music, youth, and mid-century Americana. This production from the Calvin Theatre Company marks the return of musical theatre after a 12-year hiatus, fittingly staged in celebration of Calvin’s 150th Anniversary.

Approximate run time: 2 hours, with one intermission.