Photo Coverage: 'BYE BYE BIRDIE' Celebrates at the New Henry Miller's Theatre Ribbon Cutting Ceremony 2009/07/29

Photo Coverage: 'BYE BYE BIRDIE' Celebrates at the New Henry Miller's Theatre Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Wednesday, July 29, 2009; Posted: 10:07 AM - by Walter McBride

After a 48 year absence, Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents the first new Broadway production of Bye Bye Birdie as the inaugural production of the new Henry Miller's Theatre (124 West 43rd Street) beginning Thursday, September 10th, 2009 with an official opening on Thursday, October 15th, 2009. This will be a limited engagement through January 10th, 2010.

Bye Bye Birdie creators Charles Strouse and Lee Adams joined the stars and creative team on Tuesday, July 28th to cut the ribbon outside the new Henry Miller's Theatre. The group celebrated with a very special ceremony that inaugurated the new theatre on the 1st day of Bye Bye Birdie rehearsals. The green ribbon is symbolic of the fact that the theatre is Broadway's first 'GREEN' - fully sustainable - theatre.

BroadwayWorld.com's cameras were there for the festive and historic event!

Bye Bye Birdie will star John Stamos (Albert Peterson), Gina Gershon (Rose Alvarez) & Bill Irwin (Mr. Harry MacAfee) with Jayne Houdyshell (Mrs. Mae Peterson) & Dee Hoty (Mrs. MacAfee). The cast will also feature Matt Doyle (Hugo Peabody), Molly Ephraim (Ursula Merkle), Jake Evan Schwencke (Randolph MacAfee), Allie Trimm (Kim MacAfee) and Nolan Funk as "Conrad Birdie." Robert Longbottom will direct and choreograph Bye Bye Birdie with a book by Michael Stewart, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams.

Additional cast members include Catherine Blades, Deanna Cipolla, Paula Leggett Chase, Riley Costello, John Treacy Egan, Colleen Fitzpatrick, Todd Gearhart, Patty Goble, Suzanne Grodner, Robert Hager, Nina Hennessey, Natalie Hill, Julia Knitel, Jess Le Protto, David McDonald, JC Montgomery, Jillian Mueller, Paul Pilcz, Daniel Quadrino, Emma Rowley, Tim Shew, Kevin Shotwell, Allison Strong, Jim Walton, Brynn Williams, Branch Woodman

Roundabout is proud to welcome back six artists who have previously worked at the theatrical institution: John Stamos, Gina Gershon, Bill Irwin, Paula Leggett Chase and Colleen Fitzpatrick.

Bye Bye Birdie's design team includes Andrew Jackness (Sets), Gregg Barnes (Costumes), Ken Billington (Lights), Acme Sound Partners (Sound), Howard Werner (Projections), David Holcenberg (Musical Director), Howard Joines (Musical Coordinator), David Br Ian Brown (Hair & Wigs), Jonathan Tunick (Orchestrations) and David Chase (Music Supervisor).

In Bye Bye Birdie, the exuberant rock n' roll musical comedy, it's 1960 and hip-swingin' teen idol superstar Conrad Birdie (Funk) has been drafted into the army. Birdie's manager Albert (Stamos) and his secretary Rosie (Gershon) have cooked up a plan to send him off with a swell new song and one last kiss from a lucky teenage fan... on "The Ed Sullivan Show"!

Bye Bye Birdie received the 1961 Tony Award® for Best Musical and features such beloved songs as "Put on A Happy Face," "Kids," "Spanish Rose," "The Telephone Hour" and "A Lot of Livin' To Do."

Major support provided by Bank of America. Lead support provided by Roundabout's Musical Theatre Production Fund partners: Perry and Marty Granoff, The Kaplen Foundation, Peter and Leni May, John and Gilda McGarry, Tom and Diane Tuft. Generous support also provided by The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation.

Tickets are available online at www.byebyebirdieonbroadway.com or by phone at (212)239-6200. Ticket prices range from $86.50 - $136.50. To become a Roundabout subscriber visit www.roundabouttheatre.org or call Roundabout Ticket Services (212)719-1300.

All tickets for the first preview performance on September 10th will be $10, made possible through the generous support of Bank of America. These tickets will only be available for purchase at the Henry Miller's Theatre box office, beginning at 12pm on Monday, August 10.

Bye Bye Birdie will play Tuesday through Saturday evening at 8:00PM with Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00PM.