Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

#1

Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 8:49am

I've heard that this is going on at the Roundabout and a bit about who's in it, but I was wondering if anyone knew how it was going or any other details about it? It's happening this week, right?

#2

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 9:10am

I think the guy fron "ED".
I could be wrong.

#3

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 9:55am

Don't know anything about it except what you two just said. This coming week, and with Tom Cavanagh (and Stephanie, of course).

#4

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 12:47pm

I'm assuming Stephanie will be Rosie in the workshop. Does she have a background in dance? Rosie is ALWAYS played by a strong triple threat. I can't imagine the role being played by a non-dancer. Look at the women who played her in the past - Chita Rivera, Ann Reinking, Vanessa Williams, etc.

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We serve their food, We carve their meat, We tend to their house, We polish their Silverware.

#5

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 12:54pm

Tom Cavanagh is perfect casting, but why the hell do we need a revival of Bye Bye Birdie?

#6

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 12:57pm

From what I understand, Stephanie's not a bad dancer. I have a feeling Popular may know for sure.

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The Overture is part of the show, people. Please shut your pie hole.

#7

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 12:59pm

BYE BYE BIRDIE has never been revived. Did THE PAJAMA GAME need a revival? No way. But it was GREAT. Birdie deserves this.

But regarding Rosie - I was really hoping for an authentic latina for Rosie this time.

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We serve their food, We carve their meat, We tend to their house, We polish their Silverware.

#8

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 1:47pm

Eos - I have yet to see her in a dance heavy role but from what I understand she has had some dance training.

She's played Rosie before so I'm sure she can handle it. I just did a google search and a review from when she did it in Sacramento says she was "nothing short of fantastic".

#9

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 2:04pm

Has Steve Carell been contacted to play Harry McAfee yet?

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gayer than laughter, am I. And who wouldn't be, after seeing Cheyenne in those tight black shorts?

#10

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 2:24pm

Who is Stephanie?

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"I saw Pavarotti play Rodolfo on stage and with his girth I thought he was about to eat the whole table at the Cafe Momus." - Dollypop

#11

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 3:16pm

Stephanie J. Block
she was in "The Boy From Oz" and "The Pirate Queen"

now go and hide before the Blockheads read your post and go on a rampage.

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"You know just because you put a smiley face after it doesn't change the fact that it was an a-hole comment." ~ Sumofallthings

#12

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 3:22pm

See, here I was thinking Stephanie D'Abruzzo. Who would be much better.

#13

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 4:01pm

But regarding Rosie - I was really hoping for an authentic latina for Rosie this time.

Couldn't agree more, Franz. I actually think Block is completely wrong for the role, nothing against her talents, just not for this role.

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"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"

#14

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 4:08pm

My friend talked to Matt Doyle at the Sping Awakening stage door, and he's playing Hugo Peabody. He said It's Gavin Lee now instead of Tom Cavanaugh. Bill Irwin is in it too as Mr. Macafee!! I don't know anyone else.

#15

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 4:27pm

Thanks for the update, playbilled!

#16

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 4:31pm

Doesn't anyone else think this show is a little dated? I mean, I listen to Sirius satelite radio and have to laugh when "Kids These Days" comes on. It's so old-fashioned. And I usually appreciate the older musicals that I never get to see but Bye Bye Birdie wouldn't be on my list. Stephanie deserves a better show than this. (I do appreciate her work. I think she's got serious talent. But she needs a better vehicle.)

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"A birdcage I plan to hang. I'll get to that someday. A birdcage for a bird who flew away...Around the world." "Life is a cabaret old chum, only a cabaret old chum, and I love a cabaret!"-RIP Natasha Richardson-I was honored to have witnessed her performance as Sally Bowles.

#17

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 4:57pm

I'll admit that bye bye isn't the best material ever...but I think if they throw an incredible cast together it could be great. It's one of those musicals that you need to see too (a good production..that is) because it just doesn't read well in recordings. For instance...Telephone hour is hell to listen to!...but if it's performed well with a bunch of crazed piping teenagers...it's HYSterical!

#18

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 5:01pm

I just think the story itself is silly and dated, too. And I've seen it staged albeit an amateur production. And it'd have to be updated big time.

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"A birdcage I plan to hang. I'll get to that someday. A birdcage for a bird who flew away...Around the world." "Life is a cabaret old chum, only a cabaret old chum, and I love a cabaret!"-RIP Natasha Richardson-I was honored to have witnessed her performance as Sally Bowles.

#19

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 5:17pm

It's not dated. It's, at this point, a period piece. Like THE PAJAMA GAME and GREASE.

There is so much good in BYE, BYE BIRDIE that I believe it deserves a first-class production.

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"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."

#20

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 5:23pm

That's exactly what they are doing here, bwaygal. They are testing it out to see if there is anything new and exciting they can do to update it for a revival. If they can't, they probably wont.

There are lots of potential projects that the Roundabout consider and only a few actually get the green light. No need to jump ahead of ourselves. This is a test, it's ONLY a test :)

#21

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 7:35pm

Harrison Chad (yes, he is a teenager now) is Harvey Johnson.
I liked Steph's dancing as LIZA.
And remember she is from Allentown PA.
(Rose, that is)

#22

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 7:38pm

Just maybe we'll see Loretta Swit as Mae Peterson. Just maybe.

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"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

#23

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 10:12pm

"Did THE PAJAMA GAME need a revival? No way."

NO WAY???? What are you missing here? Yes, THE PAJAMA GAME needed and deserved a revival. Great characters. Great score. A book that captures an era. I can go on and on.

#24

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 10:35pm

Gavin Lee is a great choice, what they need is a young inspired choreographer.
I think the BIRDIE score is terrific and you just have to accept the book in the period it was written.
And Lee and Brock have enough wattage to work those roles.
And I know it's a joke but Struthers in not too far off as the Mother.
Who's gonna be Conrad?
Someone young and sexy I hope.

Updated On: 8/10/07 at 10:35 PM

#25

re: Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...

Posted: 8/10/07 at 11:09pm

Matt Doyle (Hugo) said that a guy named Ben Walker is playing Conrad...Never heard of him. Could be another cool up and coming guy.

By the way I love that Gavin Lee is completely following Dick Van Dykes career! haha. Amazing.

Updated On: 8/10/07 at 11:09 PM