New Birdie Buzz- Page 3

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 5/1/08 at 10:41pm

Well, ray, I think the point is that Lola puts on the role of a Spanish temptress to grab Joe. Other times, she's other women....but I have a feeling you knew that, and I just didn't read carefully enough.

And, A Director, often they change the name from Alvarez to Grant if they can't get a Latina actress.

I think pairing Andrea Burns with DHP could be cute. They could play up the whole "unknown and STAR" thing.

[Amneris]

Posted: 5/1/08 at 10:52pm

they have been trying to revive this FOREVER and I just do not see it working. It's incredibly dated, has a weak book. Great songs but weak book. The City Center production was a horrible production. They should just leave this show to high schools and community theaters.

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 5/1/08 at 11:06pm

For me, the strength of Bye Bye Birdie lies with the performers, not with the score or book. While I adore Bebe Neuwirth and I'm sure she'd do a great job (I'd happily go see her), they need someone fresh. Same goes for DHP.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/1/08 at 11:18pm

I don't understand the argument that a show is dated. It was written at a certain place in time and was a great success, it is a fun story with a terrific score and a chance for actors to do what they can with the roles and the director too.
I know I reiterate but how many times have we heard SOUTH PACIFIC is so dated it could never work today?
With imagination and theatre skill it can work.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 5/2/08 at 12:36am

Daphne Rubin Vega and Anthony Rapp!!!
SO KIDDING!!!!!!!!!

[TIGGOSAURUS]

Posted: 5/2/08 at 6:06am

How about Roger Bart and Sutton Foster for the leads?
Also kidding!! (But then again....)

[Smaxie]

Posted: 5/2/08 at 6:27am

>It's incredibly dated, has a weak book. Great songs but weak book. The City Center production was a horrible production.<

If you are making this judgment based on the Encores production, don't. That show still works and works well. I've seen very good productions of it over the years and know that it still can charm an audience. When Encores goes awry, they have managed to make some very good shows look terrible.

[Flaunt It]

Posted: 5/2/08 at 8:38am

I can not wait to see Bianca Marroquin as Rose this summer at North Shore. Now THERE is a Rose!

[PUGILIST]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 5:15pm

I disagree that the show is dated. Yes it has a time period attached to it, but most shows do.

I just played the role of Conrad and found amazing relevance of the character in today's celebrity driven society. It's bigger than it was back then, which was pretty huge (i.e. Elvis, Beatlemania). As far as character development went I constantly watched E! and the tabloids to put into perspective just how much a person doesn't own "celebrity," but "celebrity" owns the person. It gave me a ton of motivation for "A Lot of Livin' To Do." But I digress.

As far as the "Spanish Rose" thing goes I thought I'd add my two cents on that. Part of the main theme in BBB is the generation gap. Rock 'n Roll was a new (and scary) phenomena back then. Strouse was poking fun at it's simple structures and the reactions from the younger population. With that theme in mind it ties to the generation gap between kids and their parents (i.e. "Kids") and then it ties into Rosie where Mae peterson is from an even older generation where she probably can't understand integration or immigration that was relevent to the time frame of late 50s, early 60s. Therefore, her calling Rose a "lady of Spain" is her interpolating what she THINKS Rose should be, when in reality Rose is just an American citizen who happens to have Spanish ancestry. "Spanish Rose," is Rosie's resonse and RE-Appropriation of the term. Basically, "if you think that's what I AM, then I will BE that but on my own terms."
It's taking back the identity that others create for you.

Anyway, end of my academic essay. Just thought I'd shed some light on the socio-political aspects of Birdie and why I think it's brilliant.

And for those who say Albert is 33; he is. In the play he's written as 33. In the Made-for-TV movie they changed it to 38 for Jason Alexander. It's literally one line in the script, so I'm sure it can be altered to whomever is playing the role.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 10:33pm

Any new buzz???

[thatgirl712]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 10:51pm

Bye Bye Birdy is a really fun show.

[goober1632]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 11:08pm

Last I heard was that Stephanie J. Block was working on the workshops in getting it back on Broadway, I guess since she's in 9 to 5, she pulled out??

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 11:10pm

Block did the workshop last summer. Bebe Neuwirth is rumored for the role now.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 11:31pm

I just saw a production of this on Wednesday night, and my school did it last year. I agree with everything PUGILIST said. I'm not a fan of the show, but it certainly relates to today's society, and Rosie doesn't have to be Latina - the whole point is because her name is Rosie Alvarez, the Albert's mother thinks she must be this immigrant from Spain.

[IssaMe]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 10:23am

No, the Roundabout is NOT going ahead with this. Period. They are NOT going to do it. There is no legitimate buzz...it is dead. Everyone has moved on after the workshop - including the Roundabout.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 10:55am

If it does happen, I would love to see pierce.

I'm also all for Andrea Burns as Rosie, but I'm hoping she gets Maria in the upcoming WSS revival.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 12:56pm

While Birdie is hardly set in 2008, I don't consider it dated. It has a wonderful book, one of the best in the Golden Age, and an amazing score. I

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 1:20pm

It's not that it's bad, it's just that it's really the performers that give life to the show (one could argue that for any show, but you know what I mean). What ever happened to Bebe Neuwirth's role in 9 to 5?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 2:32pm

Eric McCormack and Jennifer Lopez.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 3:08pm

Going back to Rosie being from Allentown PA, many people from Allentown are of Hispanic descent, having relatives who came there from larger cities like NYC and Philadelphia.

BYE BYE BIRDIE has a wonderful book, with the comic parts for Mae Peterson, Harry McAfee, and Hugo Peabody especially appealing. I played McAfee in a good college production with a professional orchestra. The book is so funny that it kept the cast in stitches throughout our 6 week rehearsal period. I had seen the OBC of BIRDIE in 1960 and played McAfee like Paul Lynde, who was hysterical in the part. (I got the accolade of being the show's sleeper from the college newspaper review.LOL)
I am not up on who should be cast in it, but agree with many on this thread that it should be someone of Hispanic descent. Chita Rivera was so very wonderful as Rosie. I saw the Tommy Tune/Ann Reinking production of BIRDIE at Philadelphia's gorgeous Forrest Theatre in the early 1990's and enjoyed it very much. Marilyn Cooper was absolutely hysterical as Mae Peterson--would she be too old to play the part today? Also, I could see David Hyde Pierce as Albert.

I would travel to NYC to see BYE BYE BIRDIE, providing it is cast well, and has good choreography and direction, which of course any musical should have.

[Hiram]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 3:21pm

Love the idea of Gavin Lee as Albert.

I know she's busy but Sara Ramirez as Rosie. Would she be able to dance the role?

[Jon]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 3:40pm

Neil Patrick Harris as Albert.

Debra Monk as Mae.

Denis O'Hare as Harry Macafee.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 3:44pm

Damn! Debra Monk IS a really good idea for Mae. Even better if they add "A Mother Doesn't Matter Anymore."

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 3:57pm

I feel like the reason no one likes Bye Bye Birdie is because...at least for me...almost every production I've seen of it is awful. It's just so plain, with plain choreography and plain actors. I'm sure the original with Dick and Chita was great. If they get a great cast and hire a great choreographer I'm all for it. It really is a cute show. I'd see J Lo in it...I'm not even joking. She can definitely dance it. She could probably sing it...and she is a decent actress...so yeah

[Amneris]

Posted: 5/25/08 at 8:57pm

I believe Windwood productions is going to tour it first in the spring as a pre tryout non equity production.