BACKGROUND OF CHARLES STROUSE & BYE BYE BIRDIE

MUSICAL
Music by Charles Strouse; Lyrics by Lee Adams - Book by Michael Stewart.

STAGE PRODUCTION
The original produciton of Bye Bye Birdie played for 607 performances on Broadway in three theatres between April 4, 1960 and October 7, 1961. Opening at the Martin Beck Theatre, (4/14/1960 - 10/22/1960), moving to the 54th Street Theatre, (10/24/1960 - 1/14/1961) and finally to the Shubert Theatre, (1/16/1961 - 10/7/1961). The original produciton starred Dick Van Dyke, Chita Rivera, Paul Lynde, Susan Watson as Kim MacAfee, and Kay Medford as Albert's mother, Mae Peterson.

MOVIE
Bye Bye Birdie was made into a film musical in 1963 by MGM. The movie starred Dick Van Dyke, Janet Leigh, Paul Lynde and a young Ann-Margret as Kim MacAfee.

TELEVISION
The 1995 made for television version starred Jason Alexander, Vanessa Williams, George Wendt, and Chynna Phillips as Kim MacAfee. Tyne Daly played Albert's mother, Mae Peterson.

AWARDS
(1959-60) - 4 Tony Awards

Musical, Director, Choreography and Supporting or Featured Actor
The Outer Critics Circle Award for Music

(1961)
1961 Tony Award® Best Musical

Book by Michael Stewart; Music by Charles Strouse; Lyrics by Lee Adams; Produced by Edward Padula; Produced in association with L. Slade Brown [winner]

1961 Tony Award® Best Featured Actor in a Musical

Dick Van Dyke [winner]
Dick Gautier [nominee]

1961 Tony Award® Best Featured Actress in a Musical

Chita Rivera [nominee]

1961 Tony Award® Best Scenic Design (Musical)

Scenic Design by Robert Randolph [nominee]

1961 Tony Award® Best Choreography

Gower Champion [winner]

1961 Tony Award® Best Direction of a Musical

Gower Champion [winner]

1961 Tony Award® Best Conductor and Musical Director

Elliot Lawrence [nominee]

CHARLES STROUSE & LEE ADAMS

Composer & Lyricist information coming soon.

SYNOPSIS OF BYE BYE BIRDIE

Bye Bye Birdie is a satire that takes place in 1958 and centers around an Elvis Presley type rock and roll superstar (Conrad Birdie) who is drafted into the army. His agent and song writer (Albert Peterson) and Albert's secretary and love interest (Rosie Alvarez) plan a farewell performance for Birdie on the Ed Sullivan television show, which they hope will provide the publicity to sell his new song "One Last Kiss" and bring Albert's company out of debt. At the conclusion of the performance, Birdie will give a real kiss to a lucky girl from his fan club.

The lucky girl is randomly chosen is Kim MacAfee from Sweet Apple, Ohio, and is a avid member of the local Conrad Birdie fan club. Albert and Rosie come to Sweet Apple to prepare for Birdie's arrival and things begin to unravel. Kim's father (Harry MacAfee) begins to get excited about the thought of being on the Ed Sullivan Show with his daughter and Kim's new steady (Hugo Peabody) starts to get jealous of the thought of Kim kissing Birdie on national television.

After Birdie's arrival in Sweet Apple, things continue to come undone as Birdie's charms enrage Hugo to punch him out on national television as he embraces to kiss Kim. Later, Birdie confesses that he is tired of show business and goes out on the town with the kids to show them how to party. This leads to Birdie's arrest. Meanwhile, Rosie is getting tired of waiting for Albert to propose and figures that eight years is long enough. She is also tired of Albert's domineering mother (Mae Peterson) who is constantly interfering in their relationship. Rosie goes out on the town and stumbles into a Shriners' meeting, leading to a humorous ballet sequence.

The show ends with Albert bailing Birdie out of jail prompting Birdie to ask Albert to be his agent forever as he gets on the train to New York and his induction into the army. Kim and Hugo make up as Hugo proposes to Kim and Albert finally decides to propose to Rosie to tie up remaining romantic knot before the show's finale.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

DANCE NOTE:	- Yes means that this is a role for someone with some experience in dance (often with classical/jazz/tap dance training). Many of these roles are intended to be featured dancers. - Some means that there the role requires some dancing, but not necessarily a trained dancer. The ability to learn simple dance steps is neeeded. - No means no dance ability is necessary.
AGE NOTE:	The age range is a general guide to the approximate age of each character. Some characters can be played older or younger depending upon the director's vision. Also, your age is less important than your ability to portray a character of that age. The plus sign (+) next to an age indicates that there is no specific upper limit on age for that role.)

 

Role	Voice Type (Range)	Dance	Age Range
Albert Peterson - President of Almaelou Music Corp., Conrad Birdie's agent and songwriter	Baritone	Some	28-35
Rose Alvarez - Albert's secretary and love	Soprano	Yes	28-35
Conrad Birdie - Rock and Roll Elvis-like superstar	Baritone	Some	20-25
Kim MacAfee - Teen-age girl from Sweet Apple, Ohio, slected to kiss Conrad Birdie on the Ed Sullivan Show. Pretty and self-possessed	Soprano	Some	14-16
Mr. Harry MacAfee - Kim's father	Tenor	Some	40-45
Mrs. Doris MacAfee - Kim's & Randolph's mother	Soprano	Some	40-45
Mrs. Mae Peterson - Albert's mother	Alto	Some	60+
Hugo Peabody - Kim's "steady" boyfriend	Tenor	Some	16-17
Randolph MacAfee - Kim's younger brother	Young Boy	Some	8-10
Ursula Merkle - A hyper-enthusiastic dark haired teen friend and neighbor of Kim's	Soprano	Some	14-16
Mrs. Merkle - Ursula's mother	Soprano	Some	35+
Gloria Rasputin - A big broad, tap dancing "secretary," Mae's choice to replace Rosie	Soprano	Some	28-32
Mayor - Mayor of Sweet Apple, Ohio	All Ranges	Some	50+
Mayor's Wife (Edna) - Member of quartette, Act I, Scene 9	All Ranges	Some	50+
Harvey Johnson - Speaks Act 1, Scene 2	Tenor	Some	14-16
Mr. Johnson - Harvey's father	All Ranges	Some	35-40
Charles F. Maude - Proprieter/ bartender of "Maude's Roadside Retreat." 2nd tenor in male quartet	Tenor	Some	30+
Conrad's Guitar Man - Non-speaking	All Ranges	Some	20-25
Adult Chorus, Neighbors   Policeman - Speaks Act I, Scene 4   First Reporter - Speaks   Second Reporter - Non-speaking cameraman   Third Reporter - Speaks   Ed Sullivan's Voice - Offstage   Traveler - Speaks Act I, Scene 4   Maude's Dishwasher - Tenor male quartet. Speaks Act I, Scene 4   Maude's First Customer - Baritone male quartet. Speaks Act I, Scene 4   Maude's Second Customer - Tenor male quartet. Speaks Act I, Scene 4   Trainman - Speaks Act I, Scene 4   Lee - Speaks Act I, Scene 5   Phyllis - Speaks Act I, Scene 5   Four Men's Voices - Act I, Scene 7   Another Parent - Act 2, Scene 6   Train Conductor - Act 2, Scene 8   Police - In New York and Ohio (non-speaking)   Train Station Workers - Non-speaking   2 Additional Reporters - Non-speaking   Travelers - Non-speaking   Stage Crew for TV Show - 9 people - Stage Manager, 4 Stage hands, 2 Audio men, 2 Wardrobe women   Doctor   Sweet Apple Shriners - Male dancers, non-speaking   Sweet Apple Parents - Non-speaking	All Ranges	Some	25-55+
Teen Chorus   Helen - Teenage singer (non-speaking)   One Girl - Speaks Act I, Scene 4   Nancy - Speaks Act I, Scene 5   Alice - Sweet Apple teenager and Mayor's daughter.   Margie Ann - Speaks Act I, Scene 5 & Act I, Scene 7.   Deborah Sue - Speaks   Girl's Voice - Act 1, Scene 7   Penelope Ann - Speaks Act I, Scene 5, Act II, Scene 7.   2 Sad Girls - Dancers, non-speaking   Freddie - Teenage singer, speaks Act I, Scene 5   Karl - Teenage singer (non-speaking)   Suzie - Teenage singer (non-speaking)	All Ranges	Some	13-17
Kids Chorus	All Ranges	Some	8-12

ORCHESTRA INSTRUMENTATION

Full Orchestration

LIST OF SCENES

SETTING: 1958, New York City and Sweet Apple, Ohio

LIST OF MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT TWO