Sioux City Humane Society

Musical's message continues to resonate

"Bye Bye Birdie" will take the title of the show and turn it into a fundraiser for a local nonprofit agency.

Two performances of the musical -- 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday -- will benefit the Siouxland Humane Society.

Individuals who bring one of the following items -- canned cat food, paper towels, laundry soap, window cleaner, buckle collars/leashes for dogs, liquid dish soap, copy paper, and prepaid gift cards for discount stores or pet stores -- will receive $3 off a regular-priced ticket to the musical. The Siouxland Humane Society will receive all the items donated from this promotion.

Jerry Dominicak, executive director of the Humane Society, said the creative relationship appealed to him, although the organizaton doesn't say adopt out many birds.

"The name of the show and supporting a cause like ours is an unusual tie-in," he observed. "Plus, it's an opportunity to have two organizations work together that typically don't have that chance."

For a musical that was first produced in 1960, much of its message resonates with today's young people.

"Bye Bye Birdie," the next production at the Sioux City Community Theatre, was first presented on Broadway in 1960. Producer Edward Padula and writer Lee Adams chose to capitalize on the 1958 entrance into military service of rock 'n' roll icon Elvis Presley and the media circus that surrounded that event.

According to director Tracy Bennett, there continue to be celebrities who garner the same hysterical response.

"In the 1990s, Ricky Martin would be in the same category," she speculated. "Today, maybe an 'American Idol' winner or Justin Bieber for the younger set."

"Bye Bye Birdie" focuses on rock star Conrad Birdie (Josh Case) who is about to disappear in 1958 for two years after being drafted.

Agent Albert Peterson (Michael Rohlena) and Al's longtime girlfriend Rosie (Jessica Jensen) decide a publicity gimmick, one "last kiss" with a fan on "The Ed Sullivan Show," which will rake in money for all of them.

Teenager Kim MacAfee (Chrissy Callahan) gets the nod, but boyfriend Hugo Peabody (Brendan Hurlbert) is not thrilled with the idea, nor are Kim's parents, Harry (Tim Hess) and Doris (Stacey Norton-Modrell).

The 1963 movie of the same name made stars out of Dick Van Dyke as Albert and Ann-Margaret at Kim. Janet Leigh, who played Rosie, was already a celebrity with an Academy Award nomination for "Psycho.

Humane Society receives 8 neglected dogs - KTIV NewsChannel 4 ...

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -- The snow and cold we've had to start the year have made it difficult to get common daily tasks done for some, including taking care of pets.

Thursday, the Siouxland Humane Society took in 8 dogs, which were voluntarily surrendered by their owners.

The Humane Society says the owners were elderly, and a combination of the harsh winter and health problems have kept them from providing proper care for the dogs.

However, the Humane Society says there's a lot of work to be done before the dogs are put up for adoption.

"They are going to undergo some vetting, obviously some major grooming, some bathing. There is a lot of matted hair that's going to have to be removed so they will all have to be trimmed or clipped," said Siouxland Humane Society Director Jerry Dominicak.

Dominicak says getting the dogs ready will likely take a couple days, and they hope to have the dogs available for adoption starting Saturday.

No charges will be filed against the owners.

Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York

Annual report

New York Legislative Documents

The National humane review

The National cyclopædia of American biography, being the history of the United States as illustrated in the lives of the founders, builders, and defenders of the republic, and of the men and women who are doing the work and moulding the thought of the present time