Stamos, Gershon, Houdyshell, Irwin Will Put on a Happy Face in Broadway Birdie- Page 4

[mallardo]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 12:54pm

When Encores did Birdie a few years ago Rose was played by Karen Ziemba and no one had a problem with that. Gershon will be okay.

I'm much more concerned about John Stamos. My only experience with him on stage was in Nine where he was AWFUL! He had no charisma whatsoever and a feeble singing voice. Can he dance? The thought of him doing Put on a Happy Face is making me cringe.

[madbrian]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 1:31pm

Yeah, we have a 45 year-old Greek playing Albert Peterson, and folks are worried about Gina Gershon? To me, she's much more believable as Rose than he is as Albert.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 2:09pm

ljay889, I'm not sure anyone auditioned for Rose.

I know for a fact that they took submissions (Andrea Burns being amongst them,) but agents who expressed interest for their clients were informed that the role was "likely" cast.

Gina Gershon has been their first choice all along.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 2:17pm

Someone mentioned Marroquin getting "Across the board raves" at NSMT last summer. I don't know what board is being referred to. She was a lousy Rose. She lacked the fire and passion that the character is supposed to have. She was a good dancer, and looked good in the costumes, but that's it. Roundabout passing over her was the correct choice.

[changinandhow]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:40pm

"across the board" is an expression. I was referring to the critical response and reviews.

Different strokes! Updated On: 4/3/09 at 03:40 PM

[misto625]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 6:13pm

John Stamos as Albert worries me a lot as well, he just doesn't fit the character for me at all. When I first heard he was attached to the project, I thought that he was being considered for Conrad! I don't see him as Albert as all.

Gina Gershon as Rose I can live with, but Andrea Burns would have been spectacular. Didn't Stephanie Block play the role at Sacramento Music Circus as well? I'd be interested to see her portrayal.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 6:20pm

Block also played the role in the Workshop that starred Gavin Lee (Whou should have been cast over Stamos).

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 6:22pm

I am worried they are going to reduce a lot of the dancing for Gershon. I will be SO pissed if they replace the ONE BOY dance/reprise with LET'S SETTLE DOWN, like the 95 movie did.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 6:26pm

Am I the only one who's disappointed that Eric McCormack (sigh!) wasn't cast as Albert?

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 7:21pm

The site is up!

http://www.byebyebirdieonbroadway.com/

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 7:31pm

Eric McCormack would have actually been a better fit for the role. I wonder if he was considered.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 8:09am

I agree that McCormack would have been outstanding, he was in "The Music Man" a few seasons back. I do however think we're underestimating Stamos. I think he'll surprise people, and hey, talk about a sexy Rose and Albert!

[desiree armfeldt]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 2:56pm

Is Jon Groff too young for Conrad?

[gypsy4]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 3:37pm

Stamos is not right for the part.

[Just_John]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 7:09pm

Someone I spoke to at the audition this morning said that they had heard Matt Doyle was going to be Hugo and Tony Yazbeck was going to be Conrad.

[esparza 333]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 7:16pm

i was wondering did John Stamos ever play opposite Gershon in Cabaret. I know he was one of the many Emcee replacements.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 7:26pm

No. Stamos was there a year after Gershon.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 7:35pm

If you click on "THE FUTURE MRS. CONRAD BIRDIE" button there's two video features.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 10:03pm

Are we to assume they will still to the Broadway format and not try and place somethings in from the 1962 version? If they are indeed using Matt Doyle as Hugo, I wish they would include something for him to use that wonderful voice of his!

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 10:17pm

They've only mentioned adding the title song from both movies. That will most likely be added.

and I am sure Mae's song is a strong possibility.

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 10:21pm

Apparently Hugo has not been cast yet. My friend just got a callback for it.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 10:37pm

Ah. Thank you for clearing that up for me.

That's awesome for you're friend, bwayguy22089! According to people around here, it seemed like Matt had pretty much been confirmed, but we shall see. :]

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 10:45pm

Yeah. Maybe they're looking for an understudy or something? Idk. The whole non-eq call might just have been a publicity stunt. You know the whole "Oh! I tried out for that show! Let's go see it!". But you never know. I'm wondering about how many people got callbacks.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 10:47pm

They listed the role of Hugo as cast in the initial EPA notice.

Matt Doyle has also publicly stated that he has "a New York project this fall" that has prevented him from being part of the upcoming San Francisco production of bare: a pop opera that he was asked to do, so one could only assume Bye Bye Birdie is the endeavor he's been referring to (considering he did the workshop.)

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 11:05pm

That would all make sense, somethingwicked.

I'd love to see him in this because, he's so talented, but it will be a shame since Hugo isn't a singing role. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.

Updated On: 4/4/09 at 11:05 PM