Bye Bye Birdie to Broadway

[gherbert]

Posted: 3/8/04 at 8:31pm

This is from today's Ken Mandelbaum's Random Notes on This and That:
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I'm a little confused about Bye Bye Birdie. For years, I've been writing that the 1960 musical should be at the top of the list of shows ripe for a Broadway revival. Long one of the most popular musicals in the repertoire, Birdie has never had a major New York return.

Then Bye Bye Birdie gets announced for this year's Encores! season, and many, including myself, assumed that Encores! ' Birdie could, if successful with critics and audiences, become the basis for a full-scale Broadway revival.

But now a separate revival of Birdie has been announced, one that will be co-produced by Manny Kladitis and the Kennedy Center and originate at the latter venue later this year then move on to Broadway. With a stage revival of Birdie set for the coming season, why are we getting an Encores! production of it in May?

It's possible, of course, that the Encores! version, to be directed by Jerry Zaks, could become the basis for the Kennedy Center/Broadway production. But why have the show presented at Encores! and thus reviewed by New York critics if a Broadway revival is already set? What if critics are disappointed with Encores!' Birdie? Wouldn't that put a damper on the revival's chances? Or perhaps we're just to assume that Birdie will go over well at Encores!, paving the way for critics and audiences to welcome the show back to Broadway.
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I was sort of hoping that the Encores! revival would be the one to transfer to Broadway only because i think that form of a revival is much more rewarding than a big blow-out. What do other people think about this?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/8/04 at 9:41pm

gherbert,

What is your preoccupation with BYE BYE BIRDIE? I don't think you've ever posted a message that didn't have to do with this show.

Get a life!

[gherbert]

Posted: 3/8/04 at 9:46pm

Just interested. I guess it's my show of the month or something. It is one of my favorite shows, it holds a special place in my heart as one of my first forays into the world of musical theatre with the movie. And I have always hoped for a Broadway revival, and I am glad to see renewed interested in it.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/8/04 at 10:22pm

Ken Mandelbaum must be going senile. Encores announced their production of BBB months ago. They spend a lot of time balancing out their season, why should they change their plans? Had Encores known about the Kennedy Center production earlier, I'm sure they would have put off their production.