2017 NBC Live Musical is "Bye Bye Birdie"

[Theater_Nerd]

This is pretty exciting news. "Bye Bye Birdie" is a much beloved show and casting smeone like Jennifer Lopez who is extremely talented and has a pretty strong fan base that spans many demographics is a recipe for success...if it's done right.

I am eager to see who they surround her with to support her.

[jacobsnchz14]

I think Kenny Leon will return to direct. Not sure about since it hasn't been confirmed. 

[yinyang1195]

Not nearly as familiar-to-everyone of a show as Sound of Music, Peter Pan, The Wiz, Grease, Rocky Horror, or Hairspray, but probably brilliant in terms of casting. Between Jennifer Lopez as Rosie, along with the perfect opportunities to cast a young starlet as Kim and a modern teen heartthrob as Conrad (unless those are the characters they'll be taking the Dorothy/Tracy-route with and have open auditions).

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

I am COMPLETELY in favor of whoever suggested Bruno Mars as Conrad...especially after how great Ne-Yo turned out to be as the Tin Man.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Marc Kudisch, who of course played Conrad Birdie in the 1991-92 national tour and the 1995 TV movie was recently on Broadway.com's Live at Five where he actually gave a very interesting idea for the live NBC production…
@18:50 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWeiPachASU

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

Here's my dream casting....

Rose Alvarez - Jennifer Lopez (confirmed)

Albert Peterson - Zachary Levi

Conrad Birdie - Corbin Bleu

Mae Peterson - Rosie O'Donnell or Bernadette Peters

Hugo Peabody - Ryan McCartan or an Unknown

Kim MacAfee - Kira Kosarin or an Unknown

Mr. MacAfee - Stephen Colbert

Mrs. MacAfee - Laura Benanti

 

[jacobsnchz14]

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "Marc Kudisch, who of course played Conrad Birdie in the 1991-92 national tour and the 1995 TV movie was recently on Broadway.com's Live at Five where he actually gave a very interesting idea for the live NBC production…
@18:50 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWeiPachASU"

I love that idea. Really love it. 

 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Here's some of my casting ideas...

Albert Peterson: Neil Patrick Harris
Conrad Birdie: (if white) Darren Criss; (if black) Corbin Bleu
Harry MacAfee: Kelsey Grammer
Doris MacAfee: Megan Mullally
Mae Peterson: Rosie O'Donnell
Hugo Peabody: Nicholas Barasch

[ljay889]

Albert needs to be Zachary Levi. I can't think of anyone more perfect, his singing voice is even reminiscent of Dick Van Dyke. NPH is too predictable. I'm sure Rosie will be a contender for Mae. 

[jacobsnchz14]

ljay889 said: "Albert needs to be Zachary Levi. I can't think of anyone more perfect, his singing voice is even reminiscent of Dick Van Dyke. NPH is too predictable. I'm sure Rosie will be a contender for Mae. "

 

Levi is a name being tossed around in these dream castings. I can dig it. 

 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Zachary Levi is definitely a great choice for Albert too. In fact, what Levi and NPH both have in common (aside from their obvious musical theatre backgrounds) is their previous working relationships with NBC.

[mc1227]

I would love to see Andrea Martin as Mae.  I don't think Mae needs to be a woman of size but needs to be a woman of great comedic timing and no one does it better than Andrea.

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

YES, mc1227! I've had Andrea Martin pegged for Mae since I found out she'd be involved in Hairspray. She and Judy Kaye are truly the best musical show-stealers.

Also, I third (fourth?) Zachary Levi as Albert! Dream team.

[GreatBroadwayFan]

Here's my DREAMCAST ideas for Bye Bye Birdie Live!

https://youtu.be/yiz5fiFYq-k

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

GreatBroadwayFan said: "Here's my DREAMCAST ideas for Bye Bye Birdie Live!

https://youtu.be/yiz5fiFYq-k

 

"

I WOULD SO WATCH THIS if Stephen Colbert and Laura Benanti played Mr. and Mrs. MacAfee!!!!

[ljay889]

Good god that would be an amazing duo. 

[AKarp2013]

Well, we have our directing team, Jerry Mitchell and Alex Rudzinski. I actually think this could be really great. Jerry Mitchell's choreography and staging for "Hairspray Live" was the best part of the broadcast for me. Hopefully Rudzinski can recapture the camera work magic he created for "Grease". "Hairspray" for me was a bit hit-or-miss for me at times.

[darquegk]

I'm wondering if a black Birdie would muddle the "latent racism" theme too much. The gradual revelation that Mae is a racist, and not just "of her time," would be a little bit offset by the fact that Birdie is indeed uneducated, oversexed, uncouth and a bad influence on the kids around him. 

 

I suppose the Sweet Apple setting could be integrated, but given the shows subtle focus on generational racism, that might not play as well.

[SweetLips]

Nicely said darquegk

Birdie was my first musica so left quite an impression as this young man developed, mentally and physically. Really looking forward to this one.

Please don't let Rosie anywhere near this--can't stand to even LOOK at this woman-some people just grate and she sure does.

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

I personally would love it if Carol Burnett played Mae Peterson. I know it's wishful thinking but I think she would be hilarious!

[elephantseye]

http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/VIDEO-Nick-Jonas-to-Star-in-NBCs-BYE-BYE-BIRDIE-LIVE-J-Lo-Teases-Name-Has-Come-Up-20170309

 

Oh boy. How are we feeling about this one (assuming they end up getting him)?

[VintageSnarker]

I could see him as a passable if not exciting Hugo but he wouldn't be good as Conrad. Isn't the range of the part lower than his normal range? It seems a waste to cast him and maybe change the keys of all the songs. 

[barcelona20]

Nick Jonas = ZZZZZZZZZ

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

BRUNO OR BUST!

[Dollypop]

Seriously, Harvey Fierstein would make a great Mae

[Speed]

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "Zachary Levi is definitely a great choice for Albert too. In fact, what Levi and NPH both have in common (aside from their obvious musical theatre backgrounds) is their previous working relationships with NBC.

What working relationship does NPH have with NBC? HIMYM and the Tonys were on CBS.