For a brief moment in time, audiences at the Des Moines Playhouse will be at Clear Lake on Feb. 2, 1959, watching Buddy Holly’s last show.

“Buddy,” a musical version of the life of Buddy Holly, will premier Sept. 5. at the Des Moines Playhouse, 831 42nd St., in Des Moines.

The musical covers the last three years of Buddy Holly’s life, says Lee Ann Bakros, public relations director for the Des Moines Playhouse.

“We usually kick off our season with a musical,” Bakros says. “But this is different than people have seen.”

“Buddy” is different in format from conventional shows. Music is carefully worked into the storyline, rather than being separated from the acting in the middle of a scene.

“It isn’t your typical musical where people randomly burst into song,” Bakros says. “The songs are integrated into the story.”

More than 20 songs will be featured in the show. Songs like ‘Peggy Sue,’ ‘That’ll Be the Day’ as well as some B-sides,” says Billy McGuigan, the actor playing Buddy.

McGuigan says he has been doing the show for about a year.

“I did the show in Omaha,” he says. “It was insanely successful. It broke all kinds of records.”

The Omaha show was held over for a couple of weeks, Bakros says. McGuigan then wrote his own show called “Rave On,” aptly titled after one of Holly’s many hits.

McGuigan was soon invited to join the Des Moines Playhouse cast of “Buddy.”

“Everybody falls in love with [McGuigan],” Bakros says. “He’s very charismatic.”

McGuigan says he’s excited about the show, especially working with a different cast.

“It’s a really nice cross-section of old and new characters,” Bakros says. “They’re a lot of fun.”

The last half of the show is a re-creation of Holly’s last concert at the Apollo, complete with Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper.

“The audience will feel like they’re a part of the Apollo crowd,” McGuigan says. “Then they’ll feel they’re part of the Clear Lake audience when he dies.”

McGuigan hopes the audience feels like they are part of the show and forgets they’re watching a musical.

“I felt like I was at a rock concert when I first saw the show in London,” he says. “I hope when they walk out, they go buy a Buddy Holly CD.”

Bakros says even people that aren’t familiar with Holly will enjoy the show.

“Even if you think you don’t know Buddy Holly, you’ll be surprised at how many songs you do know,” Bakros says. “It’s a heartwarming story — it’s about a man with a vision. There’s a love story and great music.”

This show is also very important for Iowa, Bakros says. Since Holly’s death occurred in Iowa, residents will hold this show close to their heart.

“There are still plenty of folks around here who were at that last concert,” she says.

McGuigan says he has mixed emotions about doing the show in Iowa.

“People will say ‘I was at that concert,’ or ‘I was supposed to be at that concert,'” McGuigan says. “It’s humbling. It’s an honor to be able to play Buddy.”