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| Arbender Robinson completes starry BRING BACK BIRDIE concert cast | |
| Posted by: Official_Press_Release 11:03 am EDT 10/22/17 | |
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| SHUFFLE ALONG's Arbender Robinson completes starry BRING BACK BIRDIE concert at Feinstein's/54 Below... Wednesday, November 1st, 2017 – 7:00PM AT FEINSTEIN’S/,54 BELOW, BROADWAY’S SUPPER CLUB, www.54Below.com As previously announced, Feinstein's/54 Below and the acclaimed Second Act Series will present the short-lived musical sequel Bring Back Birdie in concert for one performance only. Arbender Robinson (Shuffle Along, Les Miserables, Beautiful and more) completes the cast as Mr. Mtobe, stepping into the tap shoes of Maurice Hines, who originated the role. Robinson joins Broadway's Lenora Nemetz (Gypsy, The Rink, Chicago) as Rose Peterson. Nemetz is no stranger to the role after touring in Bye, Bye, Birdie opposite Tommy Tune in 1991. Also featured in the one night only concert are Michael Walters (The Honeymooners, National Tour of Babes in Toyland) as Albert Peterson and Loni Ackerman (Evita, Cats, George M!) as his overbearing mother Mae. The November 1st, 7:00pm concert will celebrate Charles Strouse and Lee Adams' tuneful score and Michael Stewart's wild and wacky libretto. Also featured in the starry one-night-only concert is original Bring Back Birdie cast member Cleve Asbury (How to Succeed in Business..., Me and My Girl, Annie Get Your Gun and more) as Mr. Marshall, the litigious NBC producer in search of Conrad Birdie. Following up their smash-hit musical Bye, Bye, Birdie, Strouse, Adams and Stewart set out to find out what happened to the Petersons and Conrad Birdie twenty years later. When heart-throb rock-n-roller Conrad Birdie came back from Vietnam, he disappeared for more than 20 years. But now he’s back… For one night only!Bring Back Birdie opened on Broadway in 1981, twenty years after its smash-hit prequel, Bye, Bye, Birdie! The short-lived sequel ran only 4 performances, but reunited the show’s creators and leading lady Chita Rivera. Peterson's most famous client, Conrad Birdie, will be played by Tom Schario (Nice Work If You Can Get It National Tour), while his children, Albert Jr. and Jenny, will be played by Lucas Schultz (Mary Poppins, Pippin) Alexa Shae Niziak (Matilda, A Christmas Story) as Jenny Peterson. Also featured in the ensemble are Shelby Anderson, Julia DeSimone, Thomas Dieter, Kristen Gehling, Mildred Gil, Kelly Reader and Tim Valentine. The evening will also highlight remarkable young tap-dancer Phoenix Goodman. Bring Back Birdie is presented as part of the popular Second Act Series, produced by Steven Carl McCasland and James Horan. Each evening revisits a short-lived musical, highlighting its neglected score and inviting audiences to rediscover a forgotten gem. Previous evenings include: Shelter (starring Jon Cryer), 70, Girls, 70, Henry, Sweet Henry, The Screams of Kitty Genovese, The Fix, Onward Victoria, Charlie and Algernon, Eating Raoul and more. MORE ABOUT FEINSTEIN’S/54 BELOW Michael Feinstein, one of the world’s great musical artists, and 54 Below, Broadway’s Supper Club, have united to give New York an unparalleled destination for entertainment and dining. Feinstein’s/54 Below, Broadway’s Supper Club, is the performance venue in the grand tradition of New York City nightlife. A few blocks from the heart of Times Square and just below the legendary Studio 54, Feinstein’s/54 Below is a classically designed state-of-the art nightclub in the theatre district that hosts audiences with warmth and style. Feinstein’s/54 Below presents iconic and rising stars from the worlds of Broadway and popular music. The venue provides a food and beverage menu from early evening through the wee hours of the morning that is worthy of the world-class entertainment on the stage. In their description of the venue, The New York Times writes Feinstein’s/54 Below “has the intimacy of a large living room with unimpeded views and impeccable sound; there is not a bad seat. Its sultry after-hours ambience is enhanced by brocade- patterned wall panels planted with orange-shaded lanterns. And the atmosphere is warmer and sexier than in Manhattan’s other major supper clubs.” Located at 254 West 54th Street, Feinstein’s/54 Below features up to three shows nightly with cover charges ranging from $15-$105. www.54Below.com/Feinsteins |
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| Far more interesting... | |
| Posted by: icecadet 11:56 am EDT 10/23/17 | |
| In reply to: Arbender Robinson completes starry BRING BACK BIRDIE concert cast - Official_Press_Release 11:03 am EDT 10/22/17 | |
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| "Following up their smash-hit musical Bye, Bye, Birdie, Strouse, Adams and Stewart set out to find out what happened to the Petersons and Conrad Birdie twenty years later." Far more interesting would be to hear the story of how Adams and Stewart wrested the show away from Edward Padula (BBB's producer) who's idea it was for the sequel. |
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| re: BRING BACK BIRDIE | |
| Posted by: Dale 12:30 pm EDT 10/22/17 | |
| In reply to: Arbender Robinson completes starry BRING BACK BIRDIE concert cast - Official_Press_Release 11:03 am EDT 10/22/17 | |
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| Why bring back this awful show? The only time the audience woke from it's stupor when there was a reprise of "Rosie" at the end of Act 2 from "Bye Bye Birdie". | |
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| re: BRING BACK BIRDIE | |
| Last Edit: Chromolume 08:08 pm EDT 10/22/17 | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 08:01 pm EDT 10/22/17 | |
| In reply to: re: BRING BACK BIRDIE - Dale 12:30 pm EDT 10/22/17 | |
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| My god, man. It's a one-night concert version, surely designed for those of us who are curious to hear a live performance of a now-legendary flop. It's not like they're trying to do an open-ended run of a full production. Calm down...;-) | |
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| re: BRING BACK BIRDIE | |
| Posted by: MarjorieMae 01:44 pm EDT 10/22/17 | |
| In reply to: re: BRING BACK BIRDIE - Dale 12:30 pm EDT 10/22/17 | |
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| I remember dining in the theater district and hearing a guy who was involved with Sophisticated Ladies discuss how Michael Smuin was turning things around. He then added how depressed Chita was about Birdie I thought there was an obc recording of Birdie for any curiosity seekers. |
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| re: BRING BACK BIRDIE | |
| Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 02:13 pm EDT 10/22/17 | |
| In reply to: re: BRING BACK BIRDIE - MarjorieMae 01:44 pm EDT 10/22/17 | |
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| The show was recorded in 1981. It was remixed and released on CD by Varese Sarabande in 1993. I assume it's out of print by now. | |
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| here's why | |
| Posted by: stevemr 01:12 pm EDT 10/22/17 | |
| In reply to: re: BRING BACK BIRDIE - Dale 12:30 pm EDT 10/22/17 | |
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| There's definitely a curiosity factor to see a legendarily bad show created by A-list people, especially in a casual setting with drinks available. maybe next year they'll do Prettybelle, or Pleasures and Palaces, or Hot Spot (could Mary Louise Wilson still do her original songs?) | |
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| re: here's why | |
| Posted by: bmc 07:56 pm EDT 10/22/17 | |
| In reply to: here's why - stevemr 01:12 pm EDT 10/22/17 | |
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| I Love the score to PRETTYBELLE; there's A gorgeous ballad, 'even to a small Degree'(or something like that). Act one opens with a goof called Manic Depressives don't do Rewrites, Act II opens with a very bizarre song about theraputic rape, and another song about the No-Tell motel, and on the LP, side one ended with a song called 'How could I Know what was Goin On?', which someone (on this site?) described as Don't rain on my Parade's second cousin. It was recorded long after the closing with Angela Lansbury reprising her role | |
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| re: here's why | |
| Posted by: MikeR 01:30 pm EDT 10/22/17 | |
| In reply to: here's why - stevemr 01:12 pm EDT 10/22/17 | |
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| Exactly. There's enough of an interest to fill one show at 54 Below. Those who don't want to see it can just not buy tickets. 54 Below is in the business of selling the events they program. If they can make money off of one night of Bring Back Birdie, why shouldn't they do it? And what harm will it cause anyone who chooses not to attend? | |
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| re: here's why | |
| Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 02:01 pm EDT 10/22/17 | |
| In reply to: re: here's why - MikeR 01:30 pm EDT 10/22/17 | |
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| Sequels to hit Broadway musicals usually fail. Bring Back Birdie was no exception and had a pretty risible plot, but some of the songs are pretty good, especially "Twenty Happy Years". I bought the OBC CD album, but haven't listened to it in years. I'm going to be in New York the second week in November and am considering seeing this show. I really do want to see Berlin's This Is the Army at 54 Below on 11/11 at 9:30 PM if I can find a show with a short running time that I can see earlier in the evening. | |
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| re: BRING BACK BIRDIE | |
| Posted by: FinalPerformance 12:48 pm EDT 10/22/17 | |
| In reply to: re: BRING BACK BIRDIE - Dale 12:30 pm EDT 10/22/17 | |
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| To be fair I liked the show during it's short run. The cast headed by Donald O'Connor and Chita Rivera and Maurice Hines had difficulties, but still glad I caught it at the Martin Beck long ago. | |
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