Opening on March 5, 1981 at the Martin Beck Theatre, Bring Back Birdie was a sequel to Bye Bye Birdie. Chita returned to play Rose. Donald O’Connor played Albert, the character originally played by Dick Van Dyke. The plot had the duo scheming for Birdie to make a comeback on a Grammy Awards broadcast. Looking for a visual means to recapture the invention and excitement of the “Telephone Hour” set design from the original Birdie musical, the sequel featured large television screens. Bring Back Birdie played 31 previews and 4 performances. Chita received a Tony Award nomination for her performance.
The opening night celebration for Bring Back Birdie with Chita's daughter Lisa Mordente, Chita, Donald O’Connor, and
CREDITS Produced by Slade Brown, Shelly Gross and Lee Guber; Associate Producer: Jim Milford Lyrics by Lee Adams; Book by Michael Stewart; Music by Charles Strouse; Music arranged by Gerald Alters, Gary Anderson, Stanley Applebaum, Ralph Burns, Scott Kuney, Philip J. Lang, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Charles Strouse, Daniel Troob and Jim Tyler; Musical Director: Mark Hummel; Vocal arrangements by Mark Hummel; Dance arrangements by Daniel Troob Directed by Joe Layton; Conceived by Joe Layton Lighting Design by David Hays; Assistant to Mr. Mitchell: John Kasarda; Scenic Design by David Mitchell; Sound Design by Otts Munderloh; Costume Design by Fred Voelpel; Hair Design by Werner Sherer Company Manager: Stephen Arnold; General Manager: Theatre Now, Inc. Stage Manager: Tony Manzi; Assistant Stage Mgr: Robert O'Rourke; Production Stage Manager: Nicholas Russiyan Music Contractor: Seymour Press; Assistant Conductor: Linda Twine Video Games and Programs by Mattel Electronics; Video Consultant: Lee M. Erdman; Video Sequences Created by Frank O'Dowd and Wakefield Poole Dance Captain: Zoya Leporska; Associate to the Director: Wakefield Poole; Advertising: Ash / LeDonne; Additional Still Photography by Joey Epstein and Jeffrey E. Rothstein; Still Photographs by Barbara J. Rossi; Casting: Mary Jo Slater; General Press Representative: Solters / Roskin / Friedman, Inc.; Musical Consultant: Barbara Strouse; Furs by The Christie Brothers; Men's Boots, Western Wear and Jogging Wear by Wrangler
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Chita and Donald O'Connor rehearse
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CAST Donald O'Connor: Albert Chita Rivera: Rose Maurice Hines: Mtobe Maria Karnilova: Mae Peterson Cleve Asbury: "Filth" Group & Stage Door Johnnie Bill Bateman: Tourist, Reporter #1, and Stage Door Johnnie Vanessa Bell: Girl Friend, Chorus Girl, Birdette Michael Blevins: Cameraman Jeb Brown: Gary and "Filth" Group Julie Cohen: Girl Friend Frank DeSal: Porter, Rev. Sun, Reporter #3, Street Cleaner, Stage Door Johnnie Leon Evans: "Filth" Group Lynnda Ferguson: Rose II Marcel Forestieri: Mayor C.B. Townsend Mark Frawley: "Filth" Group Betsy Friday: Sunnie, Chorus Girl, Birdette Porter Hudson: Swing Larry Hyman: Indian Brave, Reporter #3 Christine Langner: Girl Friend Zoya Leporska: Tourist's Wife, Effie Donna Monroe: Reporter #2 Robin Morse: Jenny Peter Oliver Norman: House Manager, Stage Door Johnnie Howard Parker: Hogan, Guard, Marshall Kevin Petitt: Walter Rebecca Renfroe: Shopping Bag Lady, Chorus Girl, Birdette Donna Ritchie: Swing Evan Seplow: Albert, Jr., "Filth" Group Barbara Dare Thomas: Girl Friend Janet Wong: Indian Squaw Standbys: Howard Parker (Albert), Michon Peacock (Rose). Understudies: Cleve Asbury ( Gary ), Bill Bateman (Conrad), Michael Blevins (Albert, Jr.), Betsy Friday (Rose II), Zoya Leporska (Mae Peterson), Peter Oliver Norman (Mtobe).
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SONGS Act 1 Twenty Happy Years: Rose and Albert Movin' Out: Jenny, Gary and Kids Half of a Couple: Jenny and Girl Friends I Like What I Do: Rose Bring Back Birdie: Mtobe and Company Movin' Out (Reprise): Kids Baby, You Can Count On Me: Albert A Man Worth Fightin' For: Rose and Cowboys You Can Never Go Back: Mayor C.B. Townsend Filth: Filth Back in Show Biz Again: Albert Act 2 Middle Age Blues: Albert Inner Peace: Rose, Rev. Sun and Sunnies There's A Brand-New Beat in Heaven: Mtobe and The Tucson Tabernacle Choir Twenty Happy Years (Reprise: Albert Well, I'm Not!: Rose When Will Grown-ups Grow Up?: Kids Middle Age Blues (Reprise): Albert Young: Albert Show Girls: Zepol Sisters and Stage Door Johnnies Bring Back Birdie (Reprise): Conrad and The Birdettes Twenty Happy Years (Reprise): Albert and Rose
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