Strouse: "BIRDIE" Revival at Roundabout

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 8:31am

From Liz Smith today:

"Charles Strouse says he'll bring his all-American musical "Bye Bye Birdie" back to the Roundabout!"


http://www.nypost.com/seven/11082007/gossip/liz/hizzoner_hunch_495396.htm

[folkyboy]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 9:10am

interesting! is THIS the new musical they are planning for their final show this season?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 9:26am

That'd be exciting. I think it's such a great show with a great expressionistic style.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 9:32am

Did anything come of their ALL MY SONS revival?

[mallardo]

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

I nominate Jeffrey Denman for Albert Peterson. If there was ever a successor to Dick Van Dyke it's him.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 10:24am

Can we please have a latina in the role of Rosie? Please!

[robbiej]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 10:25am

Who?

[CurtainPullDowner]

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

If it's anything like 110 (which I liked) and the APPLE TREE (which I didn't so much) expect 4 teenagers in tHE TELEPHONE number.
Why can't Rose be Italian?

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 10:35am

There are many specific jokes/lines to Rosie being latin. And an entire number.

They can't just completely change her race without affecting the plot.

Having an italian woman play her latin. that would work. But many of us want an authentic latina. Updated On: 11/8/07 at 10:35 AM

[markymatt]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 10:55am

Well, if you want to get technical, the jokes (and song) are about Mae Peterson's not liking Rosie because she thinks she's "spanish" when in reality she's from Allentown, PA (or Pittsburgh, depending on the version).

But, Mae's assumption comes from Rosie's last name (Alvarez) and darker complexion, so it's a pretty safe bet that Rosie is at least part latina.

[Tiny_Dancer]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 11:00am

Thak you for saying that Marky. Iam sorry to disagree with the majority, but she doesn't have to be authentic Latin. That's why they call it acting.

[MuslimBwayFan]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 11:02am

I would be pretty upset if they didn't cast a latina Rosie. There's no reason now, it would just be keeping a minority actress from playing a role that was written for one.

"acting" aside, it's only right.

[Doogie]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 11:03am

This show NEEDS Natascia Diaz as Rosie.

[robbiej]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 11:15am

But, of course, if she really is 'Spanish' Rose, then she's not a Latina. She's European.

What star (cause you know they're going to get a star...no way roundabout it) would be appropriate?

[MuslimBwayFan]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 11:18am

That's not true. Mae says 'Spanish' as a catch-all term to mean what we say today as Latino/a. So no, nowhere in the script should it be understood that Rosie is ever mistaken for European.

[GoSmileLaughCryClap]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 11:20am

If the WGA strike lasts...Sara Ramirez

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

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

I hear Stephanie Block is top of their lists. I thought it was an intersting choice. Love her.

[robbiej]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 11:27am

But much of the imagery in the song SPANISH ROSE is based as much in European Spanish culture as it is in, say, Mexican culture. An argument could be made, of course, that the character, specifically shaped around the talents of Chita Rivera, is Puerto Rican in descent.

There are many skin tones that can come from Puerto Rico. Which is why Anika Noni Rose could believably pull off Rose. And I think she'd be smashing.

[BrodyFosse123]

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

Um, the role of Rose Grant is a dancing role. Sara Ramirez doesn't seem to be the 'dancing' type of gal. I could be wrong, but she ain't look likes no dancer-type to me.

I hope they follow their Roundabout tradition and cast headliner-types for the leads -- no need to use the original Broadway cast as a prototype for this revival. Its the first revival the show has EVER had on Broadway. Do it right.

I'd love to see Harry Connick Jr return to Broadway as Albert Peterson and Rosie Perez as Rose and can we have Cheyenne Jackson breaking stereotype for once and have him for Conrad Birdie?

[MuslimBwayFan]

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

Robbie: Really?

"Right off the boat from the tropics, far far away"

really? Since when was Spain tropical? Last time I was there it was temperate.

[robbiej]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 11:38am

Fen: Really!

The imagery in the song is taken from Eupopean Spanish, Mexican, South America. All over.

But the role was originally played by a Puerto Rican. And then, later, the actual name of the role was changed (see Brody's post above) to the Anglican "Grant".

I, actually, would love to see a Latina in the role. But it's going to be a star name. So my question is: who?

[markymatt]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 11:38am

You are all right! The point of the Mae/Rosie relationship is that Mae is too small-minded and has her head too far up her own rear to aknowledge a difference between Puerto Rican, Spanish or any other latin or hispanic heritage. This is exaggerated by the fact that Rose considers herself to be American. There are allusions to several different ethnicities because to Mae Peterson, they're all the same.

As for casting... I would just like to see Brooks Ashmanskas as Albert. I would also completely be on board with the Cheyenne Jackson as Conrad suggestion (I assume you were kidding about the "breaking stereotype" thing).

[MuslimBwayFan]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 11:40am

Robbie: Fen?

[GoSmileLaughCryClap]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 11:40am

Well, I was thinking that Ramirez would really need to spend the next three months thinking she was on next year's Dancing With the Stars...

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 11:47am

I love Cheyenne-he'd be great as Conrad.
I think a latina should play Rosie. We've got some talented ladies who could take on the role. I think Rosie Perez might be perfect.
For the Dick Van Dyke role-I could see Ashmanksas.