Character guide
Conrad Birdie
from Bye Bye Birdie
Conrad Birdie is the swaggering, Elvis inspired rock and roll idol at the center of the publicity stunt in Bye Bye Birdie, the 1960 musical by Charles Strouse.
- Show
- Bye Bye Birdie
- Broadway premiere
- 1960
- Role
- Lead
- Music by
- Charles Strouse
Conrad Birdie on stage vs screen
Broadway compared with the 1963 film and 1995 TV movie
The 1963 film lets Conrad off easy. On stage, the adults and police catch up with him at the Ice House and arrest him, and Kim happily returns to Hugo; the film's brighter, lighter ending leaves Conrad unarrested and makes its climax Hugo's punch on live television, just as Conrad leans in for the famous farewell kiss (on stage that punch ends Act One). Jesse Pearson played Conrad in that film.
Dick Gautier originated the role on Broadway in 1960. Marc Kudisch played Conrad in the 1995 ABC TV movie, which kept the arrest and stayed much closer to the stage version.
Conrad Birdie: role facts
- Originated on Broadway by
- Dick Gautier (1960)
- Notable performers
- Gautier earned a Tony nomination for the role; Nolan Gerard Funk played Conrad in the 2009 Broadway revival and Jesse Pearson in the 1963 film.
- Voice type and range
- Baritone (rock), G#2 to F#4
- Songs Conrad Birdie sings
- Honestly Sincere (with company)
- One Last Kiss (with company)
- A Lot of Livin' to Do (with Kim and the teenagers)
Who is Conrad Birdie?
Conrad Birdie is a wildly popular but self absorbed rock star who has just been drafted into the army. Manager Albert Peterson arranges for Birdie to descend on the small town of Sweet Apple, Ohio, to give one lucky fan, Kim MacAfee, a farewell kiss on live television before he ships out.
Birdie himself is more a force of chaos and comic satire than a fully rounded character, a gentle parody of the hip swiveling rock idols of the late 1950s whose arrival upends the quiet routines of small town family life.
Conrad's role in Bye Bye Birdie
Conrad Birdie is a lead role, though a comparatively smaller singing part than Albert or Rosie, built around a swaggering stage presence more than vocal range. His key numbers, Honestly Sincere and One Last Kiss, showcase the character's exaggerated, self satisfied charisma.
Dick Gautier originated the role on Broadway, playing up its comic, larger than life energy, and the part has since become a favorite showcase for performers who can commit fully to the character's over the top, rock idol swagger.
Conrad Birdie: frequently asked questions
Who is Conrad Birdie based on?
Conrad Birdie is loosely based on Elvis Presley: the story was inspired by Presley being drafted into the Army in December 1957. The character's name is a play on Conway Twitty, one of Presley's rock and roll rivals in the late 1950s.
What songs does Conrad Birdie sing in Bye Bye Birdie?
Conrad Birdie's key numbers are Honestly Sincere and One Last Kiss in Act One, plus A Lot of Livin' to Do, which he leads with Kim and the Sweet Apple teenagers in Act Two. The title song, Bye Bye Birdie, was written for the 1963 film and is not part of the original stage score.
What happens to Conrad Birdie at the end of Bye Bye Birdie?
At the end of Bye Bye Birdie, Conrad is arrested after his wild last night out with the Sweet Apple teenagers at the Ice House. Albert bails him out and sneaks him out of town dressed as a middle-aged woman, presumably so he can report for his Army induction as scheduled.
What show is Conrad Birdie from?
Conrad Birdie is a lead character in Bye Bye Birdie, which opened in 1960.
Is Conrad Birdie a lead or supporting role?
Conrad Birdie is a lead role.
Who wrote the music for Bye Bye Birdie?
Charles Strouse composed the music, with lyrics by Lee Adams.
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