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What is the story behind Bye Bye Birdie?
The story was inspired by the phenomenon of singer Elvis Presley being drafted into the United States Army in 1957. Jesse Pearson plays the role of teen idol Conrad Birdie, whose character name is a word play on country singer Conway Twitty, who was, at that time, a teen idol pop artist.
Was Elvis supposed to be in Bye Bye Birdie?
Executives approached Presley to star in the film and he considered it, but his manager nixed the idea because it would have been self-parody. Instead, Jesse Pearson, who played Birdie in the national tour, reprised the role onscreen.
What is the setting of Bye Bye Birdie?
Setting New York City and Sweet Apple, Ohio, 1960.
Is Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie Hispanic?
Chita Rivera, who played Rosie in the original Broadway production that opened in 1960, was of Puerto Rican heritage, as is Lopez.
How did Elvis feel about Bye Bye Birdie?
When the film adaption of Bye Bye Birdie was being cast, the producers approached the King to play the part. By some accounts, Presley was interested, but his manager Colonel Tom Parker nixed the idea because he felt the parody wouldn't be flattering.
Is Sweet Apple Ohio a real place?
The fictional town of Sweet Apple, Ohio, the backdrop of Columbus High School's presentation of “Bye Bye Birdie” may seem familiar to anyone who's stayed a moment in a small town. There's club signs indicating the local veterans and civic organizations.
Is Bye Bye Birdie a satire?
BYE BYE BIRDIE is one of the most captivating musical shows of our time. It is a satire done with the fondest affection, and tells the story of a rock and roll singer who is about to be inducted into the army.
How do you succeed in business musical?
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a 1961 musical by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, based on Shepherd Mead's 1952 book of the same name. The story concerns young, ambitious J.
Who is Mrs Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie?
Characters and original castCharacterBroadway (1960)Encores! (2004)Mae PetersonKay MedfordDoris RobertsHugo PeabodyMichael J. PollardKeith NobbsUrsula MerkleBarbara DohertyGloria RasputinNorma Richardson7 more rows
Did Ann-Margret do her own singing in Bye Bye Birdie?
Ann-Margret and Dick Van Dyke star in the Broadway musical hit. The opening sequence, like the movie, is all about Ann-Margret, singing the title tune and leading into the credits in director George Sidney's Bye Bye Birdie,...
Who is Fred in Bye Bye Birdie?
Teenage ChorusFred (Teenage Chorus, variable range): He's a teenage boy from Sweet Apple. Suzie (Teenage Chorus, variable range): She's a teenage girl from Sweet Apple. 1st Reporter (speaking role): He's got something to say,.
Who is Hugo Peabody in Bye Bye Birdie?
Bobby RydellBobby Rydell: Hugo Peabody Photos (5)
When did ''Bye Bye Birdie'' close on Broadway?
Bye, Bye Birdie had a long, successful run on Broadway. It opened on April 14, 1960, and closed on October 7, 1961, after 607 shows.
Who sang '~'Bye Bye Birdie'~'?
The original Broadway production of Bye, Bye Birdie did not have a song with the same title. However, in the 1963 film adaption of the musical, A...
What is the storyline of ''Bye Bye Birdie''?
Bye, Bye Birdie is a story about Albert Peterson and Rosie Alvarez trying to figure out what to do when their star musical client, Conrad Birdie,...
Storyline
Conrad Birdie is the biggest rock & roll star of the 60's ever to be drafted. Aspiring chemist and song writer Albert is convinced he can make his fortune and marry his girlfriend Rosie if he gets Conrad on the Ed Sullivan show to kiss a high school girl goodbye. Albert's mother will do anything to break him up with Rosie.
Did you know
Despite portraying the mother of Dick Van Dyke 's character in the film, Maureen Stapleton is just six months older than Van Dyke.
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By what name was Bye Bye Birdie (1963) officially released in India in English?
What is the movie "Bye Bye Birdie" about?
Bye Bye Birdie is a 1963 American musical comedy film based on the 1960 stage production of the same name. The screenplay was adapted from Michael Stewart 's book for the musical by Irving Brecher, with songs by composer Charles Strouse and lyricist Lee Adams, and a score by Johnny Green. Produced by Fred Kohlmar and directed by George Sidney, ...
What episode does Monica draw a pictorial representation of the movie "Bye Bye Birdie"?
In the popular television series Friends (Season 1 , Episode 18), during a charade-like game Monica draws a pictorial representation of the film Bye Bye Birdie for the remainder of the group to identify; however, nobody can.
What episode does Peggy Olson sing "Bye Bye Birdie"?
In an episode of the television series Mad Men (Season 3, Episode 2), the opening sequence of Bye Bye Birdie is shown (twice), and later Peggy Olson sings the tune to herself in front of a mirror in an attempt to emulate Ann-Margret's appeal as somebody who can "be 25 and act 14", although Ann-Margret was, in fact, 21 at the time of filming, playing 16. Later, in Episode 4, Salvatore Romano directs a knock-off parody of the sequence for a commercial for Pepsi's new diet drink, Patio.
What song did the Carefrees sing?
In 1964, The Carefrees made a novelty record with a song called "We Love You Beatles" based on the song "We Love You Conrad" from Bye Bye Birdie. Released on the London International label #10614, the song peaked at No. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100. At the base of the Plaza Hotel in New York City, where the Beatles were staying for their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, scores of Beatles fans sang the song out so their voices would reach the band in their rooms up above.
What does Hugo feel threatened by?
Hugo feels threatened by Conrad, but Kim reassures him that he is the "One Boy" for her. Rosie, meanwhile, feels that Albert does not appreciate her, so Albert persuades her to "Put on a Happy Face". Albert's mother Mae shows up, distressed to find Albert and Rosie together; Harry is also agitated about the way Conrad is taking over his house and the changes in Kim's behavior. Harry and Mae lament what is wrong with these "Kids" today.
What song is in Wild Barts Can't Be Broken?
In " Wild Barts Can't Be Broken ", an episode of the TV series The Simpsons, the kids, adults and seniors of Springfield perform a musical parody of the song "Kids" from Bye Bye Birdie.
Where is Conrad's farewell performance?
Columbus, Ohio, is chosen as the location for Conrad's farewell performance. The random lucky girl chosen is Kim MacAfee (Ann-Margret), who is thrilled. Kim already has a high school sweetheart, Hugo Peabody ( Bobby Rydell ), who is not so thrilled. The teenagers of Sweet Apple, blissfully unaware of their town's impending fame, are spending the "Telephone Hour" catching up on the latest gossip: Kim and Hugo have just gotten pinned (a tradition where a boy gives a girl his fraternity pin, indicating a serious commitment to each other) and Kim feels grown up ("How Lovely to be a Woman").
Bye Bye Birdie, the Musical & Play
Set in 1958, Bye, Bye Birdie, the musical, tells the story of a talent agent, Albert, and his girlfriend, Rosie, trying to save Almaelou Music Company after their star client, Conrad Birdie, gets drafted into the army.
Bye Bye Birdie Characters
"Bye, Bye Birdie" is a musical full of dynamic characters who contribute to the story and plot movement. Below are the primary characters:
What Is Bye Bye Birdie About?
Bye, Bye Birdie is a musical about relationships disrupted by a celebrity's appearance. The main character, Albert Peterson, has just found out that his primary client, Conrad Birdie, is being drafted, an occurrence which has the potential to bankrupt his business.
What happens when Albert and Rosie head to Sweet Apple?
When Albert and Rosie head to Sweet Apple to prepare for Birdie’s arrival, things start to unravel. Kim’s father is starstruck at the thought of being on The Ed Sullivan Show with his daughter, and Kim’s new steady, Hugo gets jealous at the thought of Kim kissing Conrad on national television.
When was Conrad Birdie drafted?
The year is 1958 , and the much-adored rock-and-roll idol -- Conrad Birdie -- has been drafted into the US army. His songwriter and agent, Albert, and Albert’s secretary and some-time girlfirend, Rosie, hatch a plan for a farewell performance to take place on The Ed Sullivan Show, which they hope will help sell Birdie’s new song “One Last Kiss,” ...
Storyline
Rock-and-roll icon Conrad Birdie is about to go into the Army, and plans are being made to arrange his final going-away concert.
Did you know
Three songs were added for this version not included in any previous one. They include "Let's Settle Down", sung by Rosie to Albert, "A Mother Doesn't Matter Anymore", Mae Peterson's admonishment to her son, and "A Giant Step", a love song for Albert to Rosie.
Overview
Bye Bye Birdie is a 1963 American musical romantic comedy film directed by George Sidney from a screenplay by Irving Brecher, based on Michael Stewart's book of the 1960 musical of the same name. It also features songs by composer Charles Strouse and lyricist Lee Adams, and a score by Johnny Green. Produced by Fred Kohlmar, the film stars Janet Leigh, Dick Van Dyke, Ann-Margret, Mauree…
Plot
In 1958, popular rock and roll star Conrad Birdie receives an Army draft notice, devastating his teenage fans nationwide. Despite his doctorate in biochemistry, unsuccessful songwriter Albert Peterson schemes with his secretary and long-suffering girlfriend Rosie DeLeon to have Conrad sing a song Albert will write. Rosie convinces Ed Sullivan to have Conrad perform Albert's song "One Last Kiss" on The Ed Sullivan Show and then kiss a randomly chosen high school girl goodby…
Cast
• Janet Leigh as Rosie DeLeon
• Dick Van Dyke as Albert Peterson
• Ann-Margret as Kim MacAfee
• Maureen Stapleton as Mae Peterson
Musical numbers
1. "Bye Bye Birdie" – Kim
2. "The Telephone Hour" – Ursula and Sweet Apple Kids
3. "How Lovely to Be a Woman" – Kim
4. "We Love/Hate You Conrad" - Kim, Ursula, Hugo and Sweet Apple Kids
Differences from stage musical
Several significant changes were made in the plot and character relationships in the film from the stage version. The film was rewritten to showcase the talents of rising star Ann-Margret, adding the title song for her and dropping songs by certain other characters.
• The name of the character Rosie Alvarez was changed to Rosie DeLeon. In both versions the character is a positive portrayal of a Latina; however, the song "Spanish Rose", originally perform…
Production
According to Ann-Margret, she was cast when director George Sidney saw her dancing while on a date at the Sands Casino on New Year's Eve 1961.
Sidney was so smitten with the rising new star that Janet Leigh was "very upset that all the close-ups were going to Ann-Margret", as Leigh herself was the lead star of the film.
Sidney says originally he was only going to produce and Gower Champion would direct, but Cham…
Reception
As of July 2019, Bye Bye Birdie holds a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 89% based on 28 reviews. The consensus states: "A poppy satire on pop music, Bye Bye Birdie is silly, light, and very, very pink."
Bye Bye Birdie grossed $233,825 in its opening week at Radio City Music Hall in New York, a house record. It was the 13th highest-grossing film of 1963, grossing $13.1 million domestically, earning $6 million in rentals in the United States and Canada.
In popular culture
• In 1964, The Carefrees made a novelty record with a song called "We Love You Beatles" based on the song "We Love You Conrad" from Bye Bye Birdie. Released on the London International label #10614, the song peaked at No. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100. At the base of the Plaza Hotel in New York City, where the Beatles were staying for their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, scores of Beatles fans sang the song out so their voices would reach the band in their rooms up …