Original Broadway cast album
Bye Bye Birdie
Music Charles Strouse
Lyrics Lee Adams
Book Michael Stewart
Productions
1960 Broadway
1961 West End
1963 film
1990 U.S. tour
1995 television
2004 Encores!
2008 Kennedy Center
2009 Broadway revival
Bye Bye Birdie is a stage musical with a book by Michael Stewart, lyrics by Lee Adams and music by Charles Strouse.
Originally titled Let’s Go Steady, Bye Bye Birdie is set in 1958. The story was inspired by the phenomenon of popular singer Elvis Presley and his draft notice into the Army in 1957. The rock star character’s name, “Conrad Birdie”, is word play on the name of Conway Twitty. Twitty is best remembered today for his long career as a country music star, but in the late 1950s, he was one of Presley’s rock ‘n’ roll rivals.
The original 1960–1961 Broadway production was a Tony Award–winning success. It spawned a London production and several major revivals, a sequel, a 1963 film, and a 1995 television production. The show also became a popular choice for high school and college productions.
The producer Edward Padula had the idea for a musical initially titled Let’s Go Steady, a “happy teenage musical with a difference”. Padula contracted with two writers, and Charles Strouse and Lee Adams wrote seven songs for their libretto. Padula, Strouse and Adams sought Gower Champion as director/choreographer, who until that time had choreographed only a few musicals. (Fred Astaire and Morton DaCosta had already declined). However, Champion did not like the book and the writers were fired, with Michael Stewart then hired. Stewart wrote an early version titled Love and Kisses, which focused on a couple thinking of divorce, but whose children persuade them to stay together.
Champion wanted “something more”. “The ‘something more’ had been right there in the newspaper. Rock-and-roll idol Elvis Presley was drafted into the army in September 1957 and soon left the US for eighteen months in Germany, provoking a media circus that included Elvis giving a specially selected member of the Women’s Army Corps ‘one last kiss’. After brainstorming, Stewart and Adams “came up with the idea of a rock-and-roll singer going off to the army and its effect on a group of teenagers in a small town in Ohio. The name of the singer initially was ‘Ellsworth’, which was soon changed to ‘Conway Twitty’ before we discovered there was already a Conway Twitty who was threatening to sue us, and then, finally, ‘Conrad Birdie'”
Characters
Albert Peterson: The central character of the story, a poet and former aspiring English teacher who was lured into the music business after penning a hit for Conrad Birdie. Peterson is neurotic, weak and easily manipulated by his mother.
Rose Alvarez: Albert’s secretary and long-suffering significant other, loathed by Albert’s mother.
Kim MacAfee: A precocious teenage girl from Sweet Apple, outgoing president of the Conrad Birdie Fan Club who is on the cusp of giving up her fandom when she is chosen to receive his last kiss.
Conrad Birdie: A rock and roll superstar with an implied checkered past and an unpredictable personality who is drafted into the Armed Forces.
Randolph MacAfee: Kim’s younger brother, who idolizes his father.
Harry MacAfee: Kim and Randolph’s befuddled and bad-tempered father, a World War II veteran and strong conservative utterly dismayed at the Baby Boomer generation.
Doris MacAfee: Kim and Randolph’s mother.
Mae Peterson: Albert’s racist, manipulative and melodramatic widowed mother, who is remarkably effective at the art of the guilt trip.
Hugo Peabody: Kim’s seemingly strait-laced new boyfriend.
Ursula Merkle: Kim’s hyperactive best friend and next-door neighbor, a Conrad Birdie enthusiast.
Gloria Rasputin: A curvaceous tap dancer who hopes to be Albert’s new secretary, whom Mae brings to Albert, hoping he will choose her over Rosie.
Helen, Alice, Deborah Sue, Nancy, Penelope, Suzie, Margie: Sweet Apple teenagers who are friends of Kim’s, and Conrad Birdie enthusiasts; they perform solos in “Telephone Hour”.
Harvey Johnson: A nerdy teenage boy who performs a few parts in “Telephone Hour”.
Fred and Karl: Sweet Apple teenagers.
Charles Maude: Owner of Maude’s Roadside Retreat, second tenor in male quartet, and member of the adult ensemble.
Mrs. Merkle: Ursula’s mother.
Mr. Johnson: Harvey’s father.
The Mayor: The mayor of Sweet Apple.
The Mayor’s Wife (Edna): The repressed wife of the mayor; she comedically faints multiple times during Conrad Birdie’s performance of “Honestly Sincere”.
Dishwasher/Bar Patrons: Three members of the quartet, with Maude; they perform solos in “Baby, Talk to Me”.
Reporters
Policemen
Ed Sullivan: The host of the Ed Sullivan Show (unseen character onstage; appears in film).
Characters and original cast
Character Broadway
(1960) West End
(1961) U.S. Tour
(1990) Encores!
(2004) Kennedy Center
(2008) Broadway
(2009)
Albert Peterson Dick Van Dyke Peter Marshall Tommy Tune Daniel Jenkins Brooks Ashmanskas John Stamos
Rose Alvarez Chita Rivera Ann Reinking Karen Ziemba Leslie Kritzer Gina Gershon
Kim MacAfee Susan Watson Sylvia Tysick Susan Egan Jessica Grové Laura Osnes Allie Trimm
Conrad Birdie Dick Gautier Marty Wilde Marc Kudisch William Robert Gaynor James Snyder Nolan Gerard Funk
Randolph MacAfee Johnny Borden Kenneth Nash Joey Hannon William Ulrich Jake Evan Schwencke
Harry MacAfee Paul Lynde Robert Nichols Dale O’Brien Walter Bobbie Ned Eisenberg Bill Irwin
Doris MacAfee Marijane Maricle Mary Laura Wood Belle Calaway Victoria Clark Lisa Brescia Dee Hoty
Mae Peterson Kay Medford Angela Baddeley Marilyn Cooper Doris Roberts Randy Graff Jayne Houdyshell
Hugo Peabody Michael J. Pollard Clive Endersby Steve Zahn Keith Nobbs Bobby Steggert Matt Doyle
Ursula Merkle Barbara Doherty Elaine Millar Jessica Stone Brynn Williams
Gloria Rasputin Norma Richardson Christine Child Belle Calaway Paula Leggett Chase
Harvey Johnson Dean Stolber Nicholas Norman Paul Castree
Song list
(Note: Based on Original Broadway Production, 1960)
Act I
Overture – Orchestra
“An English Teacher” – Rosie
“The Telephone Hour” – Teenagers
“How Lovely to Be a Woman” – Kim
“Penn Station Transition”/”We Love You, Conrad!” – Orchestra/Teen Trio
“Put on a Happy Face” – Albert
“A Normal, American Boy” – Albert, Rosie, Reporters, Ensemble
“One Boy” – Kim, Deborah Sue, Alice
“One Boy” (Reprise) – Rosie
“Honestly Sincere” – Conrad and Company
“Wounded” – Ursula, Deborah Sue, and Margie
“Hymn for a Sunday Evening” – The MacAfee Family & Company
“How to Kill a Man” (Ballet) – Rosie, Albert, Company
“One Last Kiss” – Conrad & Company
“A Normal, American Boy” (Reprise, Act One Finale) – Albert and The Company
Act II
Entr’acte
“What Did I Ever See in Him?” – Rosie & Kim
“What Did I Ever See in Him?” (Reprise) – Rosie
“A Lot of Livin’ to Do” – Conrad, Kim and Teenagers
“Kids” – Mr. and Mrs. MacAfee
“Baby, Talk to Me” – Albert and Bar Patrons
“Shriner’s Ballet” (dance) – Rosie & Shriners
“A Mother Doesn’t Matter Anymore.”- Mrs. Mae Peterson
“Kids” (Reprise) – Randolph, Mr. Macafee, Mrs. Macafee, and Company
“Lot of Livin'” (Reprise) – Teenagers
“Spanish Rose” – Rosie
“Rosie” – Albert & Rosie
Productions
Original productions
In New York, the Broadway production opened on April 14, 1960, at the Martin Beck Theatre, transferring to the 54th Street Theatre and then the Shubert Theatre, closing on October 7, 1961, after 607 performances. The show was produced by Edward Padula and directed and choreographed by Gower Champion, with orchestrations by Robert Ginzler, scenic design by Robert Randolph, costumes by Miles White and lighting by Peggy Clark.
The original Broadway cast included Dick Van Dyke, Chita Rivera, Paul Lynde, Dick Gautier, Susan Watson, Kay Medford, Charles Nelson Reilly, and Michael J. Pollard. Reilly understudied as Albert Peterson for Van Dyke, who periodically took time off (including a two-week hiatus to film the pilot episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show) and returned to the leading role. During pre-production, Chita Rivera took the role of Rosie after both Carol Haney and Eydie Gorme turned it down, and the character’s last name was changed from “Grant” to “Alvarez”. Replacements during the run included Gene Rayburn as Albert and Gretchen Wyler as Rosie, both of whom joined the cast on April 9, 1961.
The musical played in July 1961 at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Auditorium as part of the 1961 season of the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera.After a two-and-a-half-week pre-run tryout at the Opera House, Manchester the show opened in London’s West End. In London, the musical opened in the West End at Her Majesty’s Theatre in June 1961, with Peter Marshall as Albert, Rivera reprising her role as Rosie, Angela Baddeley as Mae and Marty Wilde as Conrad Birdie. That production ran for 268 performances.
Film adaptations
1963 film
Main article: Bye Bye Birdie (film)
Bye Bye Birdie was first adapted for film in 1963. It starred Dick Van Dyke reprising his stage role as a slightly rewritten Albert Peterson, Maureen Stapleton as Mama Mae Peterson, Janet Leigh as Rosie, Paul Lynde reprising his stage role as Mr. MacAfee, Bobby Rydell as Hugo Peabody, and Ann-Margret as Kim MacAfee. Jesse Pearson played Conrad Birdie. Ed Sullivan makes a guest appearance as himself. The film is credited with making Ann-Margret a superstar during the mid-1960s, leading to her appearing with the real Elvis Presley in Viva Las Vegas (1964). The film ranked number 38 on Entertainment Weekly’s list of the 50 Best High School Movies.
Several significant changes were made in the plot and character relationships in the film version. Albert is not Birdie’s agent but a talented research chemist who is struggling as a songwriter only to please his overbearing mother. He contributed to Birdie’s initial success, and therefore Birdie “owes” him a favor. The film version includes an additional character, a suave English teacher who flirts with Rosie. She plays up to him in several scenes after Albert has made her angry by caving in to his mother. The positioning and context of several songs were changed as well. “An English Teacher”, “Normal American Boy”, “One Hundred Ways”, “What Did I Ever See In Him?”, “Baby, Talk To Me”, and “Spanish Rose”, were omitted from the film. “Kids” was performed in the MacAfee kitchen by Mr. MacAfee, Mama Mae Peterson, Albert, and Randolph. “Put On A Happy Face” is performed by Albert and Rosie in the MacAfees’ back yard; “A Lot of Livin’ To Do” was performed by Conrad, Kim, and Hugo at a teen dance; and “Rosie” is sung at the end of show by Albert, Rosie, Hugo, and Kim. Kim also opens and closes the film version singing the title song, “Bye Bye, Birdie”, a song written for the film. The film version ends on a brighter and lighter note than the stage musical. When Hugo punches Conrad, knocking him out with a single punch “live” on The Ed Sullivan Show, he wins Kim’s heart, and the young couple is reunited. Albert’s mother shows up after the broadcast with Charles F. Maude (the bartender), informs Albert and Rosie that she has married him, and gives Albert and Rosie her blessing for their long-postponed wedding.
Van Dyke was unhappy with the film adaptation due to the focus shift to Kim (Ann-Margret). He has stated that Birdie was “a romp'” on Broadway, but they “Hollywood-ized” the movie. “They made it a vehicle for Ann-Margret. Paul Lynde, who played Mr. MacAfee on stage and in the film, later quipped “They should have retitled it ‘Hello, Ann-Margret!’ They cut several of my and the other actors’ best scenes and shot new ones for her so she could do her teenage-sex-bombshell act.”[26] Susan Watson, who created the role of Kim on Broadway, later said, “Anyone who likes the film didn’t see the show.” In January 2009, Adam Shankman signed on to develop and produce a remake.
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