NO musical has played the Grand Opera House in York more often than Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. It was the first and is still the best of the jukebox musicals, the template for Jersey Boys and such like.

You will note, however, that the latest Buddy to bud in York is at a different theatre and not presented by the usual bells-and-whistles touring entourage. It is still the same musical, mind you, but this time Robert Readman, the stealthy Milk Tray Man of York musical theatre, has got his hands on Alan Janes and Rob Bettinson's show for his latest Pick Me Up Theatre production.

You will note, too, the unusual midweek closing date, on account of Readman bringing together two American musicals: one set in 1957 to 1959; the lesser-known other one, Dogfight, taking place in 1963. In its York premiere, Dogfight, another show with vibrant youth at its core, will run for three days from Thursday with plenty of cast members having taken part in Buddy too.

Buddy tells the back story of "the day the music died" – as Don McLean called it in American Pie – when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper all perished in a plane crash in the snows of Clear Lake, Iowa, on February 3 1959.

Buddy's rock'n'roll, a remarkable 18-month stellar burst of creativity, lives on, indeed raves on, thanks in part to this musical, and while the show is framed in dark clouds, the silver lining of those songs permeates everything.

Buddy's short, rebellious, sad yet joyful story is packed with so many hits that the only way to accommodate them all is to turn the second half into his final concert with Valens (hip-swivelling Sam Hird) and The Big Bopper (big-voiced George Wissen).

Simon Radford has the singing chops, the guitar playing, the Lubbock, Texas accent and the combination of cheek, balls and uncompromising bullishness for the role of Buddy, his energy levels going up and up the more the show progresses. His scenes with Steph Bolsher's Maria Elena, the Hispanic record company office girl he charms, woos and proposes to within five hours, are a particular delight.

York stalwarts Martyn Hunter as Lubbock country DJ and Craig Kirby in multiple roles bring bags of vital experience to the show; Bryan Bounds has just the right demeanour for stoic record producer Norman Petty; while Jess Gardham has an amusing scene-stealing cameo as Harlem club singer and compere Marlena Madison, with a stonking version of Shout to boot. Grace Winpenny excels as the seen-it-all-before Vi Petty, forever making coffee but turning her hand to the piano too.

Buddy Holly wouldn't be Buddy Holly without his Crickets, and Chris Mortimer's Joe and James Wood's Jerry capture the rise and eventual resentment of the boys caught up in the Holly whirlwind and cast out of it too.

Readman's set design evokes the era with posters and adverts; Claire Pulpher and The Girls' choreography has period panache; and Barbara Chan's band relishes Buddy's wonderful songs as the Heartbeat pounds again and the music is re-born anew.

Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Pick Me Up Theatre, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, until Wednesday, 7.30pm, including Sunday, plus 2.30pm today. Box office: 01904 623568 or thelittleboxoffice.com/pickmeuptheatre/