This morning, I was able to catch most of Regis and Kelly (the ONLY celebrity focused morning show I enjoy watching). As I made mention of earlier, John Stamos is now in previews for Bye, Bye Birdie for its return to the Broadway stage since the debut 50 years ago (WOW!). Mr. Stamos will be playing the lead part of Albert Peterson. Dick Van Dyke originated the role of Conrad Birdie’s manager in the original production as well as the original movie. The cinematic experience does not do the stage version justice at all. Not sure why but like many musicals it is much better to have that live, theatrical experience. I honestly cannot think of many musicals that have translated better or at least as enjoyably on the screen. I guess I would say The Sound of Music only because it has been so ingrained into pop culture as a movie that many forget or don’t realize that is was Rodgers and Hammerstein’s theatrical swan song. That reason and the puppet show version of “The Lonely Goatherd” is my favorite part of the movie and IS NOT in the stage version.
Ok… back to my original topic. During the interview, Reege made mention of the fact that Ann-Margrock (err.. Margret) played the young girl, Kim MacAfee in the movie. Shortly after the movie was filmed, Ms. Margret would be Presley’s leading lady in my mother’s favorite Elvis movie, Viva Las Vegas. However, Mom was not aware that she was in the cast of Birdie.
Here’s a few more tidbits: one of our fellow tangenteers has played the role of pop singing idol/draftee Conrad Birdie. I assisted in the directing of my high school alma mater’s production a few years ago. AND there was a veery short lived sequel (4 performances) entitled Bring Back Birdie which was set twenty years following the events of the original. Twenty years is quite a LONG time to wait to attempt a comeback.
I’ve seen a stage play of Birdie (not the one Hubby was in, unfortunately), but never the movie. I really like the movie Wizard of Oz much better than any of the stage productions I’ve seen, including the 3 in which I performed. But it was a movie first, so I don’t know that it counts… Stage productions of this movie just can’t beat the awesome special effects achievements they accomplished for the 30’s. And I don’t know of any Dorothy that could ever compete with Judy Garland…
Right… not including movie to stage. I do know there were stage versions of Oz before the ’39 classic bit nothing even close to it.
I remember trying out for this show once with C (I’m pretty sure he didn’t play Birdie but I can’t put my finger on what role he did play). I didn’t get the role I tried out for, but they did ask if I was willing to do another which I turned down. The primary reason? I was 25 and it was youth theater with a max age of 21. I’m not sure what I would have done if they had offered me Mr. MacAfee, but I suppose I would have taken it, age issue and all…
In my last show, I played a grandfather and the actor playing my son-in-law was older than I.
If it was Elgin D then, yes, I was Conrad. We also tried out for it in Palatine I don’t remember who we were cast as but neither of us were in the end production.
Ed Sullivan, maybe?
Yes, I remember the reason why I dropped out of that one too… 😮
Bye, Bye Birdie was on Broadway? I saw it once or twice and I didn’t think much of it. I’m not sure I would ever see it again, unless someone I know is in it.