New 'Birdie' lands on Broadway

NEW YORK, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- The first Broadway revival of the 1960 stage musical "Bye Bye Birdie" opened Thursday night with John Stamos, Gina Gershon and Bill Irwin in the lead roles.

Stamos plays Albert Peterson, while Gershon portrays Rosie Alvarez and Irwin plays Harry MacAfee.

The cast also includes Broadway newcomers Allie Trimm and Nolan Gerard Funk as Kim MacAfee and Conrad Birdie.

Directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom, the Roundabout Theatre Company show is the inaugural production of the new Henry Miller's Theatre on Broadway.

The original production of "Bye Bye Birdie" won the 1961 Tony Award for best musical.

Set in 1960, the show is about what happens when a rock 'n' roll icon visits a small Ohio town on his way to serve a stint in the U.S. Army. It includes the songs "Put On a Happy Face," "Kids," "The Telephone Hour" and "A Lot of Livin' to Do."