MORAVIA - The last time Cory Langtry was in a school musical, he was a munchkin in the fourth-grade production of “The Wizard of Oz.”

The now 16-year-old Moravia High School student wouldn't have been able to partake in any other school plays, even if he wanted to.

For the last seven years, the junior-senior high school had no musicals to speak of, but that is all changing this year.

In a week about 35 students will present to the high school and community “ Bye Bye Birdie,” ending the theatrical drought and rejuvenating an annual tradition that disappeared from recent memory.

“I know the whole town is starting to sizzle about it,” director Joanna Brehaut said. “This show brings our whole community together.”

Brehaut, a first-year music and vocals teacher at the high school, has made it a point to start a musical theater program since her first job interview, she said. A graduate of the Jordan-Elbridge Central School District, Brehaut has been immersed in musical theater and wanted to give the same opportunity to her students.

“It's great for the kids,” she said. “I see friendships being built here.”

The musical theater program at Moravia ended after longtime music teacher and director Jeffrey Allen retired, Brehaut said. Once he left nobody was there to take over.

At the beginning of the year, Brehaut began hyping up the possibility of a theatrical production, she said. After receiving a warm reception from students, she began planning the performance that will make its debut at 7:30 p.m. April 4 and 5.

Adding to the already positive reaction from administrators, staff and the community was a $2,000 donation from the music boosters club, Brehaut said, ensuring that a musical theater performance will once again become an annual tradition.

That would be just fine for Shauna Burke, 17, of Moravia, who has loved theater since she was little. A transfer student from Jordan-Elbridge High School, she is portraying secretary Rosie Alvarez for next week's production.

“I decided to take part because that's what I've been doing for the past six years,” she said, also saying that “Bye Bye Birdie” is one of her favorite plays.

Everyone has been working very hard to put the show together, and Langtry, who portrays Comrade Birdie, hopes the audiences see that in the performance.

“I'm just hoping that we'll be able to put on a show in Moravia that everyone can see and enjoy it,” he said, “because we haven't had one like this in the longest time.

Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net