The curtain has closed, but the impact of this year’s production of Bye Bye Birdie is still taking center stage at Lehigh Valley Academy.
This wasn’t just another performance—it was a milestone moment for LVA Dramatics, showcasing what’s possible when creativity, collaboration, and community come together.
A Production That Hit New High Notes
In just four days of tech week, students and musicians accomplished something truly remarkable—bringing the show to life with a live orchestra. This marked a major step forward for the program, elevating both the musical experience and the overall production quality.
From the first note to the final bow, the energy in the room was electric—felt by both performers and the nearly 1,000 audience members who filled the seats across the weekend.
That momentum didn’t stop when the curtain closed.
LVA Senior, Mya Angel Heard, has officially been nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Ensemble Member for her role as Doris MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie at the 2026 Freddy Awards.
In addition, LVA’s production of Bye Bye Birdie was recognized with a nomination for Outstanding Use of Costumes—an incredible reflection of the creativity, talent, and hard work poured into every detail of this year’s show.
The Freddy Awards will take place on Thursday, May 21st, and our entire Jaguar community is cheering on the cast, crew, and creative team as they represent LVA on one of the region’s biggest performing arts stages.
A Community Effort Like Never Before
This production featured the largest level of community involvement in LVA Dramatics history, highlighting the power of collaboration both on and off the stage.
Behind the scenes, the creative team helped shape the magic:
- Ruthann Ciszak (Choreography) brought movement and storytelling together seamlessly
- Mike Sanders (Set Design & Construction) helped transform the stage into a vibrant, immersive world
Students also stepped into leadership roles, continuing to grow the program from within:
- Lynette Rivera, Student Choreographer & Dance Captain, worked alongside Ms. Pascale to help guide and inspire fellow performers
Looking Ahead: A New Stage Takes Shape
While this production lit up the stage, something even bigger is already in the works.
Over the past few months, many in our community may have noticed construction taking place across from the K–5 lobby and gymnasium. That space is beginning to transform into LVA’s new theater building—a future home for all K–12 performing arts productions.
A dedicated theater space will also open the door for LVA’s performing arts program to flourish in new ways. Instead of leasing another school’s auditorium and working within limited rehearsal windows, students will have more consistent access to the stage, technical equipment, and performance space right here on campus.
That kind of access matters. Tech weeks, dress rehearsals, set builds, lighting design, sound checks, choreography, and blocking all require time, space, and repetition. With a theater of our own, students will have more opportunities to grow not only as actors, singers, and performers, but also as designers, technicians, stage managers, builders, and creative leaders.
As LVA Dramatics continues to expand, this new space will help strengthen the quality and depth of future productions. With more time to rehearse, refine technical elements, and fully bring each show to life, our students will be even better positioned to share their talents on stage—and continue building toward future Freddy Award recognition.
And while the final bow has just wrapped on Bye Bye Birdie, excitement for the future is already beginning to build. It was recently announced that next year’s high school musical will take place during the first week of March, and anticipation is already growing. Although the 2027 production has not yet been selected, one thing is certain—our students are ready to continue raising the bar both on and off the stage.
Stay tuned for updates later this school year and into next as we continue to watch this vision take shape!
Lehigh Valley Academy RCS 