Ann Reinking as Rosie In 91 Birdie tour..?

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 12:40am

Did anyone happen too see Ann Reinking opposite Tommy Tune in the 91 tour of Bye Bye Birdie?

Im dying to know how her Rosie was? Ann dosen't really give me a Spanish vibe, so I'm curious to know how she was. I bet her dancing was amazing especially her "Spanish Rose". And I'm very curious too know how her singing was.

So did anyone see the tour with Ann?? If so, how was she?

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 12:46am

I may be really off-base here, but was Steve Zahn (That thing you do, Joy Ride, Saving Silverman, Out of Sight) in that tour too? And Susan Egan? Or am I thinking of a totally different tour? I didn't see it, but Im curious to know how Reinking's Rosie was as well. That's some interesting casting.:)

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 12:48am

Yep! That's the tour. Marc Kudisch was Birdie.

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 12:52am

Really? He's a great Conrad Birdie (this, of course, based off the TV version.) I would love to have seen that!

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 1:01am

Yep, I loved the TV Movie! I Thought Alexander, Williams and Kudisch were fabolous in their roles! Ann choreographed the movie, some of the ensemble numbers choreoraphy lacked, but I loved what Ann did with "Put On A Happy Face", "Spanish Rose", Rosie's dance with Shriners, and a few others. Updated On: 10/31/04 at 01:01 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 1:01am

woops double post. Updated On: 10/31/04 at 01:01 AM

[Broadwayballerina]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 1:27am

Actually, I saw it...but I was 6. It was the longest 3 hours of my 1st grade attention span. I do have the program book at home. When I get back for winter break I would be happy to scan some pics. PM me

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 2:01am

Having been involved with it..I'll say:

Ann was fine..couldn't really sing the role as well as Chita. But the Shriner's Ballet was great. Tommmy was good but no real "love" chemistry. His added song "One Big Step" (?) was nothing great or needed. It was one of Marc's first jobs and he was lucky to get it as Jerry Zach's passed on him after his first audition. But Marilyn Cooper was hysterical as Mable, the mom. And Emily Hus (who went on to work in Hair, Miss Siagon and others) was in the chorus. And yes..it was Susan's first real job coming out of UCLA. She was great.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 10:44am

Wow, Ballerina I would love if you could scan some pics when you go home for winter break, that is so nice of you!!

And Mr. Turtle! It's nice to hear what you had to say, since you saw the tour. Was Ann's singing extremely raspy (Like Chicago) or was it different? Because, some reason I would love to hear Ann sing Rosie's songs. Damn, would've loved too have seen that tour.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 3:56pm

Having seen the tour 8 times a week...all I can say is that Ann is a great dancer. And a nice person.

[Mamie]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 5:34pm

I've got to agree with Mr. Tuttle. I was very impressed with Ann's dancing. That show just doesn't require major acting chops and that's probably why I can't remember a thing about ANYBODY's performance. I was happy to be seeing Tommy again but his performance didn't really register much with me.

I took my niece (then 10) to see it with me and she was totally entranced with the whole thing. So I'm just assuming that this was a show made to appeal to the younger set.

[AReinkingfan]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 6:46pm

My partner saw this tour with Ann and Tommy in '91 when it came to Philadelphia.

She remembers Ann doing a very good job all around, but not coming across as very "Latin". She says that Ann's singing might not have been as raspy as it was in CHICAGO, but Ann's voice was, well...Ann's voice, as we know it (and as some of us love it). (:

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 7:48pm

Thanx for all the replies!

Yeah, I couldn't imagine her comming across very "latin". But I would've loved to hear her singing, I would imagine it like her Grace in Annie movie. And AReinkingFan, I'm one of those who enjoys her voice!!

[Marquise]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 7:51pm

This is the poster used for the 1991 revival of "Bye Bye Birdie" starring Tommy Tune, Ann Reinking, Susan Egan and Marc Kudisch.

[AReinkingfan]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 10:36pm

Yay, ljay! Nice to meet someone else who actually LIKES Ann's voice!

And that poster...I've seen that drawing before. Ann looks more like Janet Leigh in that picture than herself!

[Marquise]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 10:47pm

she did do a nice job with her songs in "Annie".. i loved her "we got annie" number.

[alterego]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 11:34pm

I remember at the time hearing that some of the critics at various dates complained about Ann's singing but said she should be fine after her laryngitus clears up!(true).

[alterego]

Posted: 10/31/04 at 11:34pm

I remember at the time hearing that some of the critics at various dates complained about Ann's singing but said she should be fine after her laryngitus clears up!(true).

[AReinkingfan]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 7:14am

Ouch! (lol)

[Brodybaby03]

Posted: 11/1/04 at 9:56am

I just about shat myself when I saw this post!
OMG BYE BYE BIRDIE was my LIFE when I was little, Ann-Margret and that gold dress and wind machine were my reason for living (oddly enough I was doing my impersonation of her at a gay piano bar JUST last night) so my Mom and Aunt took me to see the tour when I was 6....Susan Egan DEVISTATED(sp) me! I was like "MOM why isn't her hair red?....Mom where's the gold dress....Mom, why isn't she wearing pink spandex" I was so MAD! I remember thinking Ann-Reinking was the most gorgeous thing I'd ever seen...and Tommy Tune was the most handsome man on earth(Like I said I was 6 and not yet able to realize the full magnitude of "The Kudisch" at this time...had I known what was to come I would've taken advantage of him despite my age ) The One thing I very clearly remember, was that every single scene , Tommy had a different colored zoot suit with sadle shoes that matched, it was heavenly. Now I think Susan Egan's wonderful...but even at six I knew she wasn't the best person for the role...I still don't think anyone's done it justice since Ann-Margret....accept for me in High School ahhhh those canan days!
It was also during this tour that I had my first taste of Broadway Star Stalking....
We waited for Tommy Tune and when he came out everyone swarmed him...I got knocked to the floor....Tommy Tune bent down and lifted me up in his arms! So I was basically 8 feet in the air because he is a giant. He made sure I was ok and then my Mom did the whole "Hunni tell Mr Tune how much you love the movie and how good he was" and I was a loud and rediculous child so Tommy Tune and I had a detailed conversation outside the theater....I was in his arms! And he took the time to spell my name perfectly on my playbill..in blue highlighter! It was de-lovely. I remember Marc coming out and I got VERY nervous because even at that young age I was very angsty and Conrad Birdie made me weak in the knees. SO I couldn't get an autograph, I was a MESS! I cried because he just overwhelmed me. I remember he was in a long sleeved white t shirt....GOD he was young. If only I'd just pounced on him then...