Broadway composer visits North Jersey school’s musical

TEANECK (AP) — It was a surprise of a lifetime for New Jersey students performing in a school musical.

The man who wrote the music for "Bye Bye Birdie" stopped by Teaneck Community Charter School on Thursday to see how the students were doing with his Broadway hit.

Charles Strouse tells The Record he "just loved it." The 86-year-old says the performance was infectious and had so much energy.

Strouse was put in touch with the school by a friend.

Strouse answered questions and performed "Tomorrow" from another of his Tony-award-winning musicals, "Annie."

Music teacher Jaime Valente says it was "a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed)