Bye Bye Birdie Workshop...- Page 2

[Trish2]

Posted: 8/10/07 at 11:14pm

Absolutely ! They do need a new , fresh choroegrapher, and director for that matter, for this show. Please no more war horses like Kathleen Marshall, Randy Skinner, Jerry Mitchell, or John Carraffa. Trust some of the newer faces on the scene. Look what Casey Nicholaw did with Drowsey, and he was chosen based on his "showcase" at the SSDC's Dance Break sessions. This is also how Josh Prince (who?), exactly my point, was chosen to choreograph Shrek, the musical. Let's have more doors open this way ! Out with some of the old, and bring in the new.

[playbilled]

Posted: 8/10/07 at 11:21pm

Completely agree...Seeing as how Grease is going, Bye Bye Birdie could actually be a much fresher well played revival if they just played their cards right, made it honest and fun, and didn't play to the commercialism of it. Meaning...No Kathleen Marshal please hahah.

[Fanadu_Xtreme]

Posted: 8/10/07 at 11:32pm

Harrison Chad?!
Isn't he like ten?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/10/07 at 11:34pm

Nope
He's growed up.

[BringBackBirdie]

Posted: 8/10/07 at 11:39pm

Susan Stroman would do very well.

[BringBackBirdie]

Posted: 8/10/07 at 11:40pm

Or of course you can get John Doyle and they could all play instruments.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 8/10/07 at 11:44pm

I thought Chad was around fourteen or fifteen...
Anyways, Lee is an inspired choice, now give him a Rosie that will make for a showstopping team. Bock would've been right for Kim back in the days but Rosie she ain't.
Oh and this show is right up Sergio Trujillo's alley, I think he'd be quite good as a choreographer for BYE BYE BIRDIE.
If they get an energetic top-notch cast, keep it as a period piece, and get an original choreographer and an original director (Kathleen Marshall's and Wayne Cilento's need not apply) like Trujillo or Nicholaw with someone like Jack O'Brien , this could be a great cute revival.

[Fanadu_Xtreme]

Posted: 8/10/07 at 11:50pm

If Jack O'Brien directs you get Jerry Mitchell. If Des McAnuff directs you get Sergio Trujllo.

What you really want is Casey Nicholaw to direct AND choreograph.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/10/07 at 11:52pm

I agree about Casey.
Anyone actually know who is directing and choreographing?

[playbilled]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 1:25am

Robert Longbottom is the Director.

And yes...I think Harrison Chad is 15 now.

Rumor is Block is one hell of a Rosie. Updated On: 8/11/07 at 01:25 AM

[playbilled]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 1:28am

Oh man...I'm sorry I just love the idea of Bill Irwin as Mr. Macafee..He's probably hysterical.

[tourboi]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 5:09am

I'd actually like to see what Thomas Kail (IN THE HEIGHTS) would do with a show like this. I loved the energy in HEIGHTS' staging.

[stella985]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 9:08am

Thanks for all the new info everyone!


Is there going to be some type of final presentation of this that people will be invited to and that there will be reports on?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 9:28am

I love the idea of John Doyle directing this! All the actors could carry their own telephones! Perhaps Ursula could cart around an entire switchboard.

Great fun!!!!!

[Flaunt It]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 10:10am

I would prefer Stephanie Pope over Stephanie Block.

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 2:23pm

I'm currently in a less-than-perfect production of Bye Bye Birdie playing the bartender Maude. I'm not a fan of the show but that may be due to the fact that our production process was somewhat of a joke. With a perfect cast, this could rock. Any word on Mrs. MacAfee, Ursula, Kim, Randolph, or Mae Peterson? I'm going out on a limb here, but I see them choosing an ex-Chip for Randolph.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 6:12pm

I'll bet Block is amazing.

I'd like to see someone play Conrad Birdie who would bring in younger crowds. No random star not fitting for musical theatre, just... a slight TV or film name who could emulate Conrad's own shrieking- teen- girls- style aura of fame.

That sentence sucked, but I hope someone got what I was trying to say.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 6:19pm

Like Justin Timberlake, or Zac Efron?
(Efron was kinda Presley like in HAIRSPRAY)

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 6:38pm

That's what I mean, yes. Thanks, CurtainPullDowner.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 6:43pm

Zac Efron would be spot-on as Conrad in a film version (not that we need one) but at this point of his ascending career he doesn't need to sign on to do a Broadway show 8 times a week in a role that is relatively small. The stars of the show are Albert and Rosie.

[Dolly_Levi]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 7:07pm

Sally Struthers would be HILARIOUS as Mae Peterson.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 7:15pm

Random Question:

Who do you guys like best as Rosie? Judging from the recordings I love Chita's Latin flair and little noises she makes during "Spanish Rose." But, I have to say that on basically every other song her voice is way off, so I tend to listen to Vanessa Williams more. What are your guys’ opinions?

Updated On: 8/11/07 at 07:15 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 7:35pm

Oh I don't think Chita's Rosie has been touched. Her Latin flair truly serves the role well (which is why I'd love it if a true Latina actress played the role in a revival) and I think she is magnificent in all of the numbers, particularly hilarious in "What Did I Ever See In Him?", "Healthy Normal American Boy," and "Spanish Rose" (her rendition is definite). Her chemistry with Van Dyke on recording is great too.
She is also the reason I find the BRING BACK BIRDIE cast recording bearable.

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 8:25pm

Block doesn't strike me as the right type for Rosie, but I'm open to it. That said, ever since I saw her in FACE THE MUSIC at Encores, I've been thinking that Meredith Patterson would be wonderful in the role. Donna Murphy, Felicia Finley and Mary Stuart Masterson would also be great choices.

Albert seems like a wonderful role for Lee.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/11/07 at 8:48pm

I'd rather have Block and Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzziemba.

Block can dance. She was fierce in Boy from Oz.