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
Liza Minnelli

 

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

 

 

 

Chita and Donald O'Connor rehearse

 

 

 

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).

 

 

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