Welcome Back Birdie!

The Roundabout Theater Company is reviving "Bye Bye Birdie" this fall on Broadway for the first time, and some preliminary casting news was recently released. Nina Gershon is set to portray Rosie and John Stamos will play Albert - no small shoes to fill in either case, as each of these roles were famously originated on Broadway by the equally infallible (in musicals, at least!) Chita Rivera and Dick Van Dyke, respectively. Additionally, Bill Irwin will play the role of Kim's father - can he live up to the character Paul Lynde created? - and Jayne Houdyshell will appear as Albert's mother. It will be especially interesting to see who is chosen to play Kim and Birdie, among other great characters as well - I'm wondering if we'll see more familiar faces in the mix or if newcomers will get some main roles too. The only stage version I've seen, aside from a high school production, was years ago at the Schubert in New Haven with Tommy Tune playing Albert, and it was fantastically fun. I am definitely excited to see this production - might have to rent the 1963 movie version with Ann Margaret again soon too!