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{{Short description|1960 stage musical}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox Musical
|name= Bye Bye Birdie
|image= ByeByeBirdie1.jpg
|caption= Original Broadway cast album
|music= [[Charles Strouse]]
|lyrics= [[Lee Adams]]
|book= [[Michael Stewart (playwright)|Michael Stewart]]
|basis=
|productions= {{Plain list|
* 1960 [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]
* 1961 [[West End theatre|West End]]
* 1990 U.S. tour
* 2004 Encores! NYC Center
* 2008 Washington DC
* 2009 Broadway revival
}}
<!-- Please do not include production-specific (acting, directing, etc.) awards -->
|awards= [[Tony Award for Best Musical]]
}}

'''''Bye Bye Birdie''''' is a [[musical theatre|stage musical]] with music by [[Charles Strouse]] and lyrics by [[Lee Adams]], with a book by [[Michael Stewart (playwright)|Michael Stewart]].

Originally titled ''Let's Go Steady'', ''Bye Bye Birdie'' is set in 1958. The play's book was influenced by [[Elvis Presley]] being drafted into the [[United States Army|US Army]] in 1957. The rock star character's name, "Conrad Birdie", is [[word play]] on the name of [[Conway Twitty]].<ref>[http://conwaytwitty.com/index.htm?id=9266 Conway Twitty website biography] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630085358/http://conwaytwitty.com/index.htm?id=9266 |date=2007-06-30 }} retrieved January 11, 2012</ref> Twitty later had a 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 theatre|Broadway]] production was a [[15th Tony Awards|Tony Award]]–winning success. It spawned a [[West End theatre|London]] production and several major revivals, a sequel, a [[Bye Bye Birdie (1963 film)|1963 film]], and a [[Bye Bye Birdie (1995 film)|1995 television production]]. The show also became a popular choice for high school and college productions due to its variable cast size and large proportion of ensemble numbers.<ref>''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine reported in its May 26, 2008, issue, p. 51, that the musical tied (with ''[[Oklahoma!]]'') as the eighth most frequently produced musical by U.S. high schools in 2007.</ref>

==History==
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. [[Michael Stewart (playwright)|Michael Stewart]] then took their place. Stewart's first draft, ''Love and Kisses'', focused on a couple thinking of divorce whose children persuade them to stay together, a theme soon taken up by the [[Disney]] film ''[[The Parent Trap (1961 film)|The Parent Trap]]''.

Champion wanted "something more". "The 'something more' had been right there in the newspaper. Rock-and-roll idol [[Elvis Presley]] was [[conscription|drafted]] into the Army on 20 December 1957,<ref>https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/december-20/elvis-presley-is-drafted</ref> and in September 1958 left the US for [[Military career of Elvis Presley|eighteen months in Germany]], provoking a media circus that included Presley's 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{{'"}}.<ref>Strouse, Charles (2008). ''Put on a Happy Face: A Broadway Memoir'', Union Square Press; {{ISBN|1-4027-5889-8}}, pp. 71–72</ref>

==Synopsis==
===Act one===
New York–based songwriter Albert Peterson finds himself in trouble when his client, hip-thrusting [[rock and roll]] superstar and [[teen idol]] Conrad Birdie, is drafted into the Army, leaving his heavily indebted firm Al-Mae-Lou Music (a spoof of the real-life [[Aldon Music]]) in jeopardy. Albert's secretary, Rose "Rosie" Alvarez, comes up with a last-ditch publicity stunt to have Birdie record and perform a song before he is sent overseas. Having been stuck in a sort of romantic limbo for eight years, she longs for the Albert she once knew, an aspiring English teacher, before he wrote Birdie's first hit and abandoned those plans to pursue the seedier music industry ("An English Teacher"). Rose's plan is to have Birdie sing "One Last Kiss" (a song she assigns Albert to write on the spot) and give one lucky girl, chosen randomly from his [[fan club]], a real "last kiss" on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' before going into the Army.

In Sweet Apple, Ohio, all the teenagers are catching up on the latest gossip about 15-year-old Kim MacAfee and Hugo Peabody going steady ("The Telephone Hour"). Kim reflects on how happy she is with her maturity, believing at 15 she has fully reached adulthood ("How Lovely to Be a Woman"). She quits the Conrad Birdie fan club over the phone because of the new milestone happening in her life. Her best friend Ursula is shocked. Kim reconsiders when, after a lengthy phone conversation with Ursula, she receives the phone call telling her that she has been chosen to be Birdie's last kiss before going into the armed forces.

Meanwhile, Conrad, Albert and Rosie prepare to go to Sweet Apple. A crowd of teenage girls sees them off at the New York City train station, although one girl is sad because she thinks that by the time Conrad gets out of the army, she will be too old for him. Albert advises her to be optimistic ("Put On a Happy Face"). Soon, tabloid reporters arrive with questions about the seedy details of Conrad's personal life, but Rosie, Albert and the girls answer for him, hoping to protect his reputation and [[bankable star|bankability]] ("Normal American Boy").{{sfn|Gilliland|1969|loc=show 8, track 2}}

Conrad receives a hero's welcome in Sweet Apple, and Hugo worries that Kim likes Conrad more than she likes him, but Kim assures Hugo that he is the only one she loves ("One Boy"). Conrad shocks the town's parents and drives the teenage girls crazy with his performance of "Honestly Sincere", which causes all of the girls (including Edna, the mayor's wife) to faint. Conrad becomes a guest in the MacAfee house and irritates Kim's father, Harry, by being rude and selfish. Harry does not want Kim to kiss Conrad, until Albert tells him their whole family will be on ''The Ed Sullivan Show''. Kim, Harry, Kim's mother Doris, and younger brother Randolph sing Sullivan's praises ("Hymn for a Sunday Evening"<ref name="pc7">{{Gilliland|show=7|title=The All American Boy: Enter Elvis and the rock-a-billies}} Show 7, track 4.</ref>).

Albert's overbearing mother, Mae, comes to Sweet Apple to break up her son's relationship with Rosie (she objects to Rosie's [[Hispanic]] heritage). She introduces Albert to Gloria Rasputin, a curvy blonde she met on the bus who could replace Rosie as his secretary. Gloria, a tap dancer, secretly hopes that a connection with Albert could be her way into show business. Mae sings "[[Swanee River (song)|Swanee River]]" as Gloria tap-dances (usually depicted as her making a fool of herself). Albert gives Gloria a typing job. Rosie is furious, and fantasizes about violent ways to murder Albert ("One Hundred Ways Ballet"), but instead comes up with a better idea: she convinces Hugo to sabotage the last kiss.

Since both Rosie and Hugo are jealous and angry, they plot to ruin Conrad's appearance on ''The Ed Sullivan Show''. On the broadcast, Conrad sings "One Last Kiss", and as he leans in to kiss Kim, Hugo runs onstage and punches him in the face, knocking Conrad unconscious. Rosie dumps Albert who, trying to cover for the mishaps of the evening, then leads a chorus of "Normal American Boy".

===Act two===
Despite plans to re-film the broadcast, Rosie and Kim resolve to leave Albert and Hugo, lamenting their stupidity for having fallen in love ("What Did I Ever See in Him?"). Conrad, with no visible effects from being knocked out, decides he wants to go out and have a good time on his last night as a civilian, and encourages the Sweet Apple teens to party ("A Lot of Livin' to Do"). Kim sneaks out of her house and joins her friends. Conrad, Kim, and all the teenagers, except Hugo, head for the Ice House, "where people go when they want to be alone." Hugo goes to Maude's Roadside Retreat, the town bar, hoping to get drunk, but grumpy proprietor Charles F. Maude sees that he's underage and refuses to serve him.

When Harry discovers Kim has run away, he and Doris lament how disobedient kids are these days ("Kids"). Rosie ends up at Maude's Roadside Retreat and starts flirting with other men, but Albert phones her and begs her to return to him ("Baby, Talk to Me"). Rosie interrupts a [[Shriners]] meeting in Maude's private dining room. She flirts with all the Shriners, and they begin a wild dance. Hugo and Albert rescue Rosie from the crazed Shriners, and Albert finally stands up to his mother, telling her to go home. Mae leaves, but not before lamenting the sacrifices she made for him ("A Mother Doesn't Matter Anymore"). Hugo tells the MacAfees and the other parents that the teenagers have gone to the Ice House, and they all declare that they do not know what's wrong with their kids ("Kids Reprise"). Randolph joins in, stating that his older sister and the other teens are "so ridiculous and so immature".

The adults and the police arrive at the Ice House and arrest Conrad for attempted [[statutory rape]]. Kim, who unconvincingly claimed to be in her late 20s to Conrad, claims she was intimidated and gladly returns to Hugo. After a reconciliation with Albert, Rosie tells Mae that she will marry Albert despite Mae's racist objections, and despite being a [[natural born citizen|natural-born American citizen]] from [[Allentown, Pennsylvania]], she will deliberately play up her Hispanic heritage if it annoys Mae that much ("Spanish Rose"). Albert bails Conrad out of jail and arranges for him to sneak out of town dressed as a middle-aged woman, presumably so he can report for Army induction as scheduled; in turn, Conrad offers Albert a lifetime contract for bailing him out. Albert gets Mae to leave Sweet Apple on the same train, getting his mother and Conrad out of his life for good. Albert tells Rosie they're not going back to New York; they're going to Pumpkin Falls, [[Iowa]], a small town in need of a (married) English teacher. Albert professes that everything is rosy with Rosie ("Rosie"), and they go off together happily engaged.

==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 "Rosie" 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 her kiss from Conrad Birdie.
* 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 [[American conservatism|conservative]] utterly dismayed at the [[Baby Boomer]] generation.
* Doris MacAfee: Kim and Randolph's mother.
* Mae Peterson: Albert's manipulative, racist widowed mother.
* Hugo Peabody: Kim's strait-laced 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 teenage girls 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/Freddie, Carl/Karl and Roger: Sweet Apple teenage boys. Featured in “Telephone Hour”.
* 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 1963 film).

==Characters and original cast==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:1000;"
|-
! Character
! [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]<br /><small>(1960)</small>
! [[West End theatre|West End]]<br /><small>(1961)</small>
! U.S. Tour<br /><small>(1990)</small>
! [[Encores!]]<br /><small>(2004)</small>
! [[Kennedy Center]] Concert<br /><small>(2008)</small>
! Broadway<br /><small>(2009)</small>
! Kennedy Center<br /><small>(2024)</small>
|-
! Albert Peterson
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Dick Van Dyke]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Peter Marshall (entertainer)|Peter Marshall]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Tommy Tune]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Daniel Jenkins]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Brooks Ashmanskas]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[John Stamos]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Christian Borle]]
|-
! Rose Alvarez
|colspan='2' align=center| [[Chita Rivera]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Ann Reinking]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Karen Ziemba]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Leslie Kritzer]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Gina Gershon]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Krysta Rodriguez]]
|-
! Kim MacAfee
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Susan Watson]]
|colspan='1' align=center| Sylvia Tysick
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Susan Egan]]
|colspan='1' align=center| Jessica Grové
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Laura Osnes]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Allie Trimm]]
|colspan='1' align=center| Ashlyn Maddox
|-
! Conrad Birdie
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Dick Gautier]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Marty Wilde]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Marc Kudisch]]
|colspan='1' align=center| William Robert Gaynor
|colspan='1' align=center| [[James Snyder (actor)|James Snyder]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Nolan Gerard Funk]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Ephraim Sykes]]
|-
! Randolph MacAfee
|colspan='1' align=center| Johnny Borden
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Kenneth Nash]]
|colspan='1' align=center| Joey Hannon
|colspan='1' align=center| William Ullrich
|colspan='1' align=center| N/A
|colspan='1' align=center| Jake Evan Schwencke
|colspan='1' align=center| Henry Kirk
|-
! Harry MacAfee
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Paul Lynde]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Robert Nichols (actor)|Robert Nichols]]
|colspan='1' align=center| Dale O'Brien
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Walter Bobbie]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Ned Eisenberg]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Bill Irwin]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Richard Kind]]
|-
! Doris MacAfee
|colspan='1' align=center| Marijane Maricle
|colspan='1' align=center| Mary Laura Wood
|colspan='1' align=center| Belle Calaway
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Victoria Clark]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Lisa Brescia]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Dee Hoty]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Jennifer Laura Thompson]]
|-
! Mae Peterson
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Kay Medford]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Angela Baddeley]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Marilyn Cooper]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Doris Roberts]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Randy Graff]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Jayne Houdyshell]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Caroline Aaron]]
|-
! Hugo Peabody
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Michael J. Pollard]]
|colspan='1' align=center| Clive Endersby
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Steve Zahn]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Keith Nobbs]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Bobby Steggert]]
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Matt Doyle (actor)|Matt Doyle]]
|colspan='1' align=center| Miguel Gil
|-
! Ursula Merkle
|colspan='1' align=center| Barbara Doherty
|colspan='1' align=center| Elaine Millar
|colspan='1' align=center| Jessica Stone
|colspan='1' align=center| Emma Zaks
|colspan='1' align=center| N/A
|colspan='1' align=center| Brynn Williams
|colspan='1' align=center| Jackera Davis
|-
! Gloria Rasputin
|colspan='1' align=center| Norma Richardson
|colspan='1' align=center| Christine Child
|colspan='1' align=center| Belle Calaway
|colspan='1' align=center| Rachelle Rak
|colspan='1' align=center| N/A
|colspan='1' align=center| Paula Leggett Chase
|colspan='1' align=center| [[Megan Sikora]]
|-
|}

==Musical numbers==

=== Original Broadway Production ===
{{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
; 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 (song)|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 {{col-break}}

; 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
* "Kids" (Reprise) – Randolph, Mr. MacAfee, Mrs. MacAfee, and Company
* "Lot of Livin'" (Reprise) - Teenagers
* "Spanish Rose" - Rosie
* "Rosie" – Albert & Rosie
{{col-end}}

=== 2009 Broadway Revival ===

{{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
; Act I
* “Overture: We Love You Conrad” – The Fan Club Girls & Orchestra
* "An English Teacher" – Rosie
* "The Telephone Hour" – Teenagers
* "How Lovely to Be a Woman" – Kim
* "[[Put On a Happy Face (song)|Put On a Happy Face]]" – Albert & The Fan Club Girls
* "A Normal, American Boy" – Albert, Rosie, Reporters, The Fan Club Girls
* "One Boy" – Kim, Hugo, Helen, Alice, Rosie
* "Honestly Sincere" – Conrad
* "Hymn for a Sunday Evening" – The MacAfee Family
* "One Last Kiss" – Conrad, The MacAfee Family, TV Quartet, Company {{col-break}}

; Act II
* Entr'acte
* "What Did I Ever See in Him?" – Rosie & Kim
* "Kids” - Mr. MacAfee, Mrs. MacAfee, Randolph MacAfee
* "A Lot of Livin’ To Do" – Conrad, Kim, Teenagers
* "Baby, Talk to Me" – Albert and Men’s Quartet
* "Spanish Rose" - Rosie
* "Rosie" – Albert & Rosie
* “Finale: Bye Bye Birdie” - Company
{{col-end}}

<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bye Bye Birdie |url=https://playbill.com/production/bye-bye-birdie-henry-millers-theatre-vault-0000013042 |website=playbill.com}}</ref>

==Productions==
===Original productions===
In New York, the Broadway production opened on April 14, 1960, at the [[Martin Beck Theatre]], transferring to the [[Adelphi Theatre (New York City)|54th Street Theatre]] and then the [[Shubert Theatre (Broadway)|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]].<ref name="IBDB">{{cite web |title=Bye Bye Birdie – Broadway Musical – Original |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/bye-bye-birdie-2199 |website=Internet Broadway Database |access-date=July 4, 2022}}</ref> Reilly [[Understudy|understudied]] as Albert Peterson for Van Dyke,<ref name="IBDB"/> 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 Gormé]] turned it down, and the character's last name was changed from "Grant" to "Alvarez".<ref>Gilvey, John. ''Before the Parade Passes by: Gower Champion and the Glorious American Musical'' (2005), Macmillan; {{ISBN|0-312-33776-0}}, p. 81</ref> Replacements during the run included [[Gene Rayburn]] as Albert and [[Gretchen Wyler]] as Rosie, both of whom joined the cast on April 9, 1961.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bye Bye Birdie – Broadway Musical – Original {{!}} Replacements |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/bye-bye-birdie-2199#Replacements |website=Internet Broadway Database |access-date=July 4, 2022}}</ref>

The musical played in July 1961 at the [[Hazard's Pavilion|Los Angeles Philharmonic Auditorium]] as part of the 1961 season of the [[Los Angeles Civic Light Opera]].<ref>Pasadena Independent newspaper, 10 July 1961 Pg. 13</ref> After a two-and-a-half-week pre-run tryout at the [[Manchester Opera House]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ovrtur.com/production/2882672|title=Bye Bye Birdie (London Production, 1961)|publisher=ovrtur.com|access-date=January 19, 2017}}</ref> the show opened in London's [[West End theatre|West End]] at [[Her Majesty's Theatre]] in June 1961, with [[Peter Marshall (U.S. entertainer)|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.<ref>[[Stanley Green (historian)|Green, Stanley]]. ''Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre'' (1980), Da Capo Press; {{ISBN|0-306-80113-2}}, p. 52</ref>

===1990 US tour===
A U.S. tour from mid-1990 through June 1991 starred [[Tommy Tune]] as Albert, [[Ann Reinking]] as Rosie, [[Marc Kudisch]] as Conrad, [[Marcia Lewis]] as Mrs. Peterson, [[Steve Zahn]] as Hugo, and [[Susan Egan]] as Kim.<ref>Pollack, Joe. "Happy Days Here Again With 'Birdie'", ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'', July 11, 1990, pg. 6E</ref><ref>Berson, Misha. "Bye Bye Birdie - Hello, Fun", ''The Seattle Times'', May 29, 1991, pg. C1</ref>

===2004 Encores! concert===
The [[New York City Center]] [[Encores!]] staged concert production ran in May 2004, with [[Karen Ziemba]] as Rosie, Daniel Jenkins as Albert, Jessica Grové as Kim, and Bob Gaynor as Conrad.<ref name="brantley">{{cite web |last=Brantley |first=Ben |title=Theater Review; Rock 'n' Roll Just Right for the Milk and Cookies Set |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/08/arts/theater-review-rock-n-roll-just-right-for-the-milk-and-cookies-set.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=July 4, 2022 |date=May 8, 2004}}</ref>

===Kennedy Center productions===
An abridged version of ''Bye Bye Birdie'' was presented at the [[John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts#Eisenhower Theater|Kennedy Center]] in Washington, DC, October 2–5, 2008, as part of its ''[[Broadway: Three Generations]]'' production. [[Laura Osnes]] played Kim and [[Leslie Kritzer]] played Rosie.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |title=Graff, Ashmanskas, Brescia, Osnes, von Essen Explore ''Broadway: Three Generations'' Oct. 2-5 |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/graff-ashmanskas-brescia-osnes-von-essen-explore-broadway-three-generations-oct-2-5-com-153838 |website=Playbill |access-date=July 4, 2022 |date=October 2, 2008}}</ref>

From June 7–15, 2024, a new production was produced at the Kennedy Center, directed by Marc Bruni, and starring [[Christian Borle]] as Albert, [[Krysta Rodriguez]] as Rosie, [[Ephraim Sykes]] as Conrad, and [[Richard Kind]] as Harry MacAfee.<ref>[https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/theater/2023-2024/bcs-bye-bye-birdie/ Kennedy Center Bye Bye Birdie]</ref>

===2009 Broadway revival===
The [[Roundabout Theatre Company]]'s limited-run Broadway revival began previews at [[Henry Miller's Theatre]] on September 10, 2009, opened to unanimously negative reviews on October 15,<ref>{{Cite web|title=John Stamos - Bye Bye Birdie Loses Its Wings|website=contactmusic.com|date=October 16, 2009|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/bye-bye-birdie-loses-its-wings_1119293|access-date=August 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019060314/http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/bye-bye-birdie-loses-its-wings_1119293|archive-date=October 19, 2009}}</ref> and was scheduled to close January 10, 2010 before it was extended until April 25.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Jessica |title=BYE BYE BIRDIE Releases New Ticket Block Thru April 25, 2010 |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BYE-BYE-BIRDIE-Releases-New-Ticket-Block-Thru-April-25-2010-20091016 |website=BroadwayWorld |date=October 16, 2009}}</ref> Due to poor advance sales after the departures of [[John Stamos]] and [[Gina Gershon]]'s contracts, the closing date was moved up by three months to January 24.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Kenneth |title=Broadway's ''Birdie'' Says 'Bye Bye' Jan. 24 |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/broadways-birdie-says-bye-bye-jan-24-com-165203 |website=Playbill |access-date=July 4, 2022 |date=January 24, 2010}}</ref> [[Robert Longbottom]] was the director-choreographer, with Stamos and Gershon starring as Albert and Rosie, [[Bill Irwin]] as Harry MacAfee, [[Jayne Houdyshell]] as Mrs. Mae Peterson, [[Nolan Gerard Funk]] as Conrad, [[Allie Trimm]] as Kim MacAfee and [[Matt Doyle (actor)|Matt Doyle]] as Hugo Peabody.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Kenneth |title=''Bye Bye Birdie'', With Stamos, Gershon, Irwin, Houdyshell and Trimm, Returns to Broadway |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/bye-bye-birdie-with-stamos-gershon-irwin-houdyshell-and-trimm-returns-to-broadway-com-164260 |website=Playbill |access-date=July 4, 2022 |date=September 10, 2009}}</ref>

Although Longbottom spoke extensively about how the show was being revised and refined for the revival,<ref>Fick, David.[http://musicalcyberspace.wordpress.com/2009/09/05/bye-bye-birdie-changes-in-the-revival/ "''Bye Bye Birdie'': Changes in the Revival"]. Musical Cyberspace, September 5, 2009</ref> there were no interpolations from the film or TV adaptations of the show barring the title tune written for the film, which was used as a finale.<ref>Fick, David.[http://musicalcyberspace.wordpress.com/2009/09/11/interpolations-for-the-bye-bye-birdie-revival "Interpolations for the ''Bye Bye Birdie'' Revival"], musicalcyberspace.wordpress.com, February 6, 2010.</ref>

==Film and television adaptations==
===1963 film===
{{Main|Bye Bye Birdie (1963 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 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 (actor)|Jesse Pearson]] played Conrad Birdie.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0669294/ Jesse Pearson profile]; IMDb; accessed August 22, 2011</ref> [[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]]''<noinclude>'</noinclude>s list of the 50 Best High School Movies.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,1532588_1_0_,00.html|title=Countdown: The 50 best high school movies|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=2008-11-29|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905083021/http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0%2C6115%2C1532588_1_0_%2C00.html|archive-date=September 5, 2008}}</ref>

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 mother, who is overbearing and insensitive, but not racist as in the musical. 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" was 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" was 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. Conrad is not arrested, but Hugo knocks him out with a single punch "live" on ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' and wins Kim's heart. Thus, there is no necessity for Albert to bail Conrad out of jail and arrange for him to sneak out of town dressed as a middle-aged woman, presumably so he can report for Army induction as scheduled. There is also no need for Conrad to offer Albert a lifetime contract for bailing him out. 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 and other members of the Broadway production were unhappy with the film adaptation due to the focus shift to Kim. Van Dyke stated that Birdie was "a romp'" on Broadway, but they "Hollywood-ized" the movie. "They made it a vehicle for Ann-Margret."<ref>Bill Keveney, [https://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2011-04-28-VanDyke28_CV_N.htm "Dick Van Dyke Dances Through Life"], USAToday.com, April 28, 2011; retrieved January 11, 2012.</ref> 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."<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001489/bio#quotes IMDb quotes], IMDb; retrieved July 11, 2013.</ref>{{Better source needed|date=July 2022}} [[Susan Watson]], who created the role of Kim on Broadway, later said, "Anyone who likes the film didn't see the show."<ref>{{cite web |last=Buckley |first=Michael |title=Michael Buckley Interviews...Susan Watson |url=http://broadwaybeat.com/michael/mbswatsn.htm |website=Broadway Beat |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206191500/http://broadwaybeat.com/michael/mbswatsn.htm |archive-date=February 6, 2009 |date=March 7, 2000}}</ref> In January 2009, [[Adam Shankman]] signed on to develop and produce a remake.<ref>{{cite web|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=''Hairspray'' Director to Develop ''Bye Bye Birdie'' Remake|url=http://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/Hairspray-Director-Develop-Bye-Bye-Birdie-Remake-2666897|website=Popsugar|date=6 January 2009|access-date=January 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201235249/http://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/Hairspray-Director-Develop-Bye-Bye-Birdie-Remake-2666897|archive-date=1 February 2017}}</ref>

===1995 TV movie===
{{Main|Bye Bye Birdie (1995 film)}}
A [[Bye Bye Birdie (1995 film)|TV-movie adaptation]] was produced for [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] in 1995 by [[RHI Entertainment]]. It starred [[Jason Alexander]] in the role of Albert and [[Vanessa Williams]] as Rosie. [[Tyne Daly]] played Mae Peterson. [[Marc Kudisch]], who played Conrad Birdie on tour opposite [[Tommy Tune]], reprised the role. [[Chynna Phillips]] played Kim MacAfee, [[Sally Mayes]] played Mrs. MacAfee and [[George Wendt]] played Harry MacAfee. While this version remained mostly faithful to the original musical (Michael Stewart remains the only credited author of this version), several songs were added and re-arranged, and dialogue was slightly rewritten to smoothly facilitate the musical changes. The title song "Bye Bye, Birdie", written for the 1963 film and sung by Ann-Margret, was re-arranged and rewritten as a quintet for Ursula and the Sweet Apple Birdie fan club girls at the soda shop. The verse of "One Boy" that Rosie sings was replaced with "Let's Settle Down". The reference to [[Sammy Kaye]] in "Kids" was cut.  The "How to Kill a Man" ballet was cut. "What Did I Ever See in Him?" was given a reprise sung by Albert, called "What Did I Ever See in Her?". The song "Baby, Talk to Me" returned to the show. "Spanish Rose" was moved to earlier in the story. "A Mother Doesn't Matter Anymore", sung by Mae Peterson was written for this version using some of the monologue it replaces.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXl9oHrs7OA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/oXl9oHrs7OA| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Tyne Daly discusses the TV movie Bye Bye Birdie|date=August 22, 2011|publisher=TVLEGENDS|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Albert tells Rosie how he has finally broken free of his overbearing mother in "A Giant Step". This song was written for the 1990 US tour.<ref>{{cite news|last=Klein|first=Alvin|date=March 8, 1992|title=Tommy Tune Stars in 'Bye Bye Birdie'|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/08/nyregion/theater-tommy-tune-stars-in-bye-bye-birdie.html|access-date=August 27, 2016}}</ref>

===''Bye Bye Birdie Live!''===
On October 27, 2016 it was announced that [[Jennifer Lopez]] would star in NBC's ''Bye Bye Birdie Live'' as Rose "Rosie" Alvarez<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/29/arts/television/nbc-bye-bye-birdie-jennifer-lopez.html|title=Jennifer Lopez Will Star in a Live TV Adaptation of 'Bye Bye Birdie'|last=Coscarelli|first=Joe|date=October 28, 2016|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=November 2, 2016}}</ref> and executive produce with her producing partners Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina alongside film, TV, and live musical executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Goldberg|first1=Lesley|last2=Sandberg|first2=Bryn|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/bye-bye-birdie-starring-jennifer-lopez-set-as-nbcs-2017-live-holiday-musical-941868|title='Bye Bye Birdie,' Starring Jennifer Lopez, Set as NBC's 2017 Live Holiday Musical|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 27, 2016|access-date=March 19, 2017}}</ref> The live television musical was initially announced to premiere in December 2017,<ref>{{cite web|last=Diamond|first=Robert|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-News-Robert-Greenblatt-Reveals-2017-Craig-Zadan-Neil-Meron-Helmed-Live-NBC-TV-Musical-20161027|title=Robert Greenblatt Reveals 2017 Craig Zadan, Neil Meron Helmed Live NBC TV Musical|work=BroadwayWorld|date=October 27, 2016}}</ref> but on May 25, 2017, it was announced that it would be pushed to sometime in 2018 to accommodate Lopez's busy schedule.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/nbc-pushes-jennifer-lopezs-bye-bye-birdie-live-2018-1007704|title=NBC Pushes Jennifer Lopez's 'Bye Bye Birdie Live' to 2018|first=Kate|last=Stanhope|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 25, 2017|access-date=May 25, 2017}}</ref> On March 2, 2018, it was announced that the production had been pushed back once again, this time to 2019 at the earliest due to Lopez's busy schedule and the producers focusing on ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/bye-bye-birdie-jennifer-lopez-live-staging-nbc-1202714761/|title=NBC's 'Bye Bye Birdie Live' with Jennifer Lopez Pushed Again|first=Cynthia|last=Littleton|work=Variety|date=March 2, 2018|access-date=March 2, 2018}}</ref>

NBC had in May 2018 announced plans to broadcast a live production of ''[[Hair (musical)|Hair]]'' but canceled those plans in the wake of the failure of [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]'s ''[[Rent: Live]]'' in early 2019, as well as being up against the series finale of ''[[Game of Thrones]]'' and the season finale of ''[[American Idol]]''.  NBC said it intends to replace it with a more family-friendly musical and noted that if Lopez's cooperation could be secured, ''Bye Bye Birdie'' could replace ''Hair''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hair-scrapped-as-nbcs-next-live-musical-1182690|title='Hair' Scrapped as NBC's Next Live Musical|first=Lesley|last=Goldberg|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 4, 2019|access-date=February 4, 2019}}</ref>

However due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bye Bye Birdie Live got cancelled indefinitely and was replaced by  ''[[Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Musical Live!]]'' <ref>{{cite press release|title=Hoorays in Who-ville as NBC Brings Classic Dr. Seuss Tale to the Stage with Holiday Special "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Musical!" on Dec. 9|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2020/11/10/hoorays-in-who-ville-as-nbc-brings-classic-dr-seuss-tale-to-the-stage-with-holiday-special-dr-seuss-the-grinch-musical-on-dec-9-665504/20201110nbc01/|publisher=[[NBC]]|via=[[The Futon Critic]]|date=November 10, 2020}}</ref>

==1981 Broadway sequel==
In 1981, there was a short-lived Broadway sequel, ''[[Bring Back Birdie]]'', starring [[Donald O'Connor]] and returning original cast member [[Chita Rivera]]. It closed after 31 previews and four performances.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bring Back Birdie – Broadway Musical – Original |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/bring-back-birdie-4100 |website=Internet Broadway Database |access-date=July 4, 2022}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
The original production of ''Bye Bye Birdie'' opened to mostly positive reviews, with several critics marveling at the unexpected success of a musical crafted by an inexperienced production team. John Champman of the ''[[Daily News (New York)|New York Daily News]]'' called it "the funniest, most captivating, and most expert musical comedy one could hope to see ... the show is pure, plain musical comedy, with jokes, dancing, oddball costumes ... exceptionally catching orchestrations ... and a completely enthusiastic cast." He noted that "one of the best things about it is that practically nobody is connected to it. Who ever heard of Edward Padula ... Charles Strouse and Lee Adams ... Gower Champion?"<ref name="Suskin">Suskin, Steven. ''Opening Night on Broadway: A Critical Quotebook of the Golden Era of the Musical Theatre'', pp. 113–115. Schirmer Books, New York, 1990; {{ISBN|0-02-872625-1}}</ref>

Frank Aston of the ''[[New York World-Telegram|New York World-Telegram & Sun]]'' declared ''Bye Bye Birdie'' "the peak of the season" and especially liked [[Chita Rivera]] as Rosie: "Chita Rivera ... is triumphant as dancer, comic, and warbler."<ref name="Suskin" /> In the ''[[New York Daily Mirror]]'', Robert Coleman wrote that "Edward Padula put over a sleeper in the Broadway sweepstakes, and it's going to pay off in big figures ... Rivera explodes like a bomb over West 45th Street. Michael Stewart has penned a sassy and fresh book, while Lee Adams and Charles Strouse have matched it with tongue-in-cheek lyrics and music."<ref name="Suskin" />

[[Richard Watts Jr.]] in the [[New York Post]] wrote that while he had been "skeptical about the possibilities ... I am happy to say that I was wrong in questioning the creative powers of imagination, freshness and talent." He particularly praised [[Dick Gautier]], whose portrayal of Conrad Birdie "is little short of perfection." <ref>"Fresh and Humorous Musical Show," New York Post, April 15, 1960, p. 18</ref>

''[[New York Herald Tribune]]'' critic Walter Kerr praised Gower Champion's direction but criticized the libretto and score, stating that "Mr. Champion has been very much responsible for the gayety (sic), the winsomeness, and the exuberant zing of the occasion ... he has not always been given the very best to work with ... every once in a while, Michael Stewart's book starts to break down and cry ... Lee Adams's lyrics lean rather heavily on the new "talk-out-the-plot" technique, and Charles Strouse's tunes, though jaunty, are whisper-thin."<ref name="Suskin" /> [[Brooks Atkinson]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' conceded that "the audience was beside itself with pleasure" but dryly stated that "this department was able to contain itself. ''Bye Bye Birdie'' is neither fish, fowl, nor good musical comedy. It needs work."<ref name="Suskin" />

==Awards and nominations==
===Original Broadway production===
{| class="wikitable" width="95%"
|-
! width="5%"| Year
! width="20%"| Award
! width="45%"| Category
! width="20%"| Nominee
! width="10%"| Result
|-
| rowspan="8" align="center"| 1961
| rowspan="8"| [[Tony Award]]
| colspan="2"| [[Tony Award for Best Musical|Best Musical]]
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical|Best Featured Actor in a Musical]]
| [[Dick Van Dyke]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Dick Gautier]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical|Best Featured Actress in a Musical]]
| [[Chita Rivera]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical|Best Direction of a Musical]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Gower Champion]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Choreography|Best Choreography]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Conductor and Musical Director|Best Conductor and Musical Director]]
| [[Elliot Lawrence]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Scenic Design|Best Scenic Design]]
| Robert Randolph
| {{nom}}
|}

==Cast and other recordings==
*The Original Broadway Cast recording was released by [[Columbia Masterworks]] (1960).<ref>[http://www.castalbumdb.com/rec.cfm?RNumber=135 "Original Broadway Cast album listing"], castalbumdb.com; accessed August 22, 2011.</ref>
*The Original London Cast recording was released by [[Decca Records]] (1961).
*''Bye Bye Birdie: All the Great Songs Recorded by [[Bobby Rydell]]'' was released by [[Cameo-Parkway Records|Cameo Records]] (1962).
*Studio Cast Recording featuring [[James Darren]], [[Shelley Fabares]], [[Paul Petersen]] and [[The Marcels]] was released by [[Colpix Records]] (1963).
*The film soundtrack featured Dick Van Dyke, Janet Leigh, Ann-Margret, Bobby Rydell, Paul Lynde and Jessee Pearson, released by [[RCA Victor]] (1964).<ref>[http://www.castalbumdb.com/rec.cfm?RNumber=137 "1963 film cast album"] Cast Album Database, accessed August 22, 2011</ref>
*The television soundtrack was released by RCA Records (1995) featuring [[Vanessa L. Williams]], [[Jason Alexander]] and [[Marc Kudisch]].<ref>[http://www.castalbumdb.com/rec.cfm?RNumber=1902 "1995 TV cast album"], castalbumdb.com; accessed August 22, 2011</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{ibdb title|id=2199}}
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20121018203603/http://www.ibdb.com/productionreplacements.asp?ID=2199 Cast Replacements/Transfers at IBDB]
* [http://www.stageagent.com/Shows/View/723 ''Bye Bye Birdie'' character descriptions, songs, lyrics & plot summary] from StageAgent.com
* [http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_b/bye_bye_birdie.htm Listing with synopsis and productions] at guidetomusicaltheatre
* [http://www.castalbumdb.com/rec.cfm?RNumber=135 Cast Album Database listing]
{{Charles Strouse}}
{{TonyAwardBestMusical 1947–1975}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1960 musicals]]
[[Category:Broadway musicals]]
[[Category:Original musicals]]
[[Category:Rock musicals]]
[[Category:Fiction set in 1958]]
[[Category:Musicals set in the 1950s]]
[[Category:Tony Award for Best Musical]]
[[Category:Musicals by Charles Strouse]]
[[Category:Musicals by Michael Stewart (playwright)]]
[[Category:Tony Award–winning musicals]]
[[Category:Teen musicals]]
[[Category:Musicals set in Ohio]]