RIALTO CHATTER: Is Nolan Gerard Funk 'BIRDIE' Bound for Roundabout?

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I'd have to think that anyone who "starred" on anything on Nickelodeon is probably going to read as too young for Birdie.

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The rumor on ATC last week was that Chris Carmack (best known for The O.C. on television) was cast as Birdie.

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And yes... whoever plays Conrad Birdie will be sporting a black wig. Birdie is satirically based on Elvis Presley, so the visual and physical comparisons are fully intentional.

Chris Carmack:


Nolan Gerard Funk:

I'll have to go back and we watch the episode of Smallville he was on. IMDB lists him as being born in 1986 so he is 23 or will be turning 23 at some point this year. Elvis was 24 when he was inducted into the Army. And they were all "we're going to cast people who are the actual ages. So, they could have cast him as Birdie. But I absolutely feel he's more of a Hugo. But, would they cast him in a non-singing role? Or have they added the "One Boy" duet from the film?

He could easily pass for a teenager. Unless they cast someone who looks about 12 to play Kim I think Nolan looks WAY too young to play Birdie. But that's just my opinion.

I kinda feel for all the kids who went to the open call only to have them "stunt cast" with this kid. I don't know who he is though I have to imagine a lot of tweens do.

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The very first EPA notice listed the roles of Albert, Mae, and Hugo as cast.

Matt Doyle (who did the workshop as Hugo) has been telling people he had to turn down 'bare' in San Francisco this fall because he had a New York project that conflicted with it, which leads me to believe he's doing BYE BYE BIRDIE.

At the auditions, however, people were apparently being called back for that role, and since most of the kids actually seem to be being cast age appropriately, I'm starting to think Doyle would be too old to stay involved.

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Are there any sources on Funk outside of Perez Hilton? Was it something he overheard at Fidel Castro's funeral?

I really hope Roundabout does not mess this revival up.