Welcome to a new Musical Theatre Monday! This month, as we celebrate one of the American sitcom’s first attempts to reach the baby-booming teen audience with The Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis, we’re turning our sights to a similar work from the Broadway stage: Bye Bye Birdie (1960), the classic Adams and Strouse musical that featured great talents like Chita Rivera and Paul Lynde, and made a star out of future sitcom legend Dick Van Dyke. (Also, brief Dobie Gillis co-star Michael J. Pollard appeared in the original cast as Hugo Peabody!)

In honor of this fun musical, I’ve got an audio — for subscribers who comment below to alert me of their interest — of the 2004 Encores! production, with Karen Ziemba, Daniel Jenkins, Jessica Grove, Bob Gaynor, and Marie Barone herself, Doris Roberts. Instead of a musical excerpt, here’s something more fun: a book scene where Roberts shines.

As a bonus, for subscribers who comment below, I’ll also throw in two audios from Tommy Tune’s tour in the early ’90s — one with Ann Reinking, one with Lenora Nemetz. (There are a few new songs in here, including a number for Rose and Mae, played by Marilyn Cooper!)

Come back next month for a new musical rarity! And stay tuned tomorrow for more Dobie Gillis!