Initially scheduled as a limited engagement through Jan. 10, the revival was extended two weeks, and ends when the leading actors' contracts end; there had been talk in the theatre community in late 2009 that the show might be recast, but it was not to be.
The production has sold at over 90 percent capacity each week throughout most of the run of the production. John Stamos and Gina Gershon star.
Roundabout artistic director Todd Haimes said in a statement, "We had hoped to keep the show running into the spring, however sales are not strong enough after the departure of our principal actors. We made a decision to end the production on a high note. I am happy that we have been able to extend the production two weeks beyond the initial run."
After a 48-year absence, Bye Bye Birdie, was the inaugural production of the new Henry Miller's Theatre (124 West 43rd Street). The Dame Edna-Michael Feinstein mash-up All About Me is the next tenant there.
The revitalization of Henry Miller's Theatre "is consistent with Roundabout's history of bringing dilapidated, lost theatres back to life and programming the venues as viable, live performance spaces for the benefit of theatre artists and audiences and managing them efficiently," according to the not-for-profit that also runs Broadway's American Airlines Theatre and Studio 54. By close, Bye Bye Birdie will have played 40 previews and 117 performances. Preview performances began on Sept. 10. The show officially opened on Oct. 15.
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Bye Bye Birdie received the 1961 Tony Award for Best Musical and features such beloved songs as "Put On a Happy Face," "Kids" and "A Lot of Livin' to Do."
Roundabout's Bye Bye Birdie (directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom) stars John Stamos (Albert Peterson), Gina Gershon (Rose Alvarez) and Bill Irwin (Mr. Harry MacAfee) with Jayne Houdyshell (Mrs. Mae Peterson), Dee Hoty (Mrs. MacAfee) and Nolan Gerard Funk (Conrad Birdie).
The show has a book by Michael Stewart, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams.
Tickets are available online at www.byebyebirdieonbroadway.com or by phone at (212)239-6200. Visit www.roundabouttheatre.org or call Roundabout Ticket Services (212) 719-1300.
