Mar 18, 2026 10:00 EST
Stage & Screen Featuring The Estate of Charles Strouse & Barbara Siman
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A wide-ranging group of Bye Bye Birdie materials, with early programs, photographs and more
The Estate of Charles Strouse & Barbara Siman
CHARLES STROUSE
A wide-ranging group of Bye Bye Birdie materials, including material from the 1981 Bye Bye Birdie revival featuring Chita Rivera and and Donald O'Connor. The group includes a Bye Bye Birdie program from the 1961 production starring Gretchen Wyler and Gene Rayburn, with photographs throughout; a book containing the original 1960 piano conductor's score; an original playbill for the sequel Bring Back Birdie performed at the Martin Beck Theatre in 1981 starring Donald O'Connor and Chita Rivera; a typescript essay by Charles Strouse titled "Why Bring Back Birdie"; a folder of material concering the 1995 Bye Bye Birdie televison film starring Jason Alexander and Vanessa Williams, including press photos, articles, etc; and five Bye Bye Birdie vinyl records, including the original London soundtrack and jazz adaptations of songs from the musical. The printed materials are overall in very good condition, with usual wear and the Strouse estate stamp to the typescript essay, records with some wear to the outer sleeves; two of the records with minor surface scratches, one unopened; overall very good.
A wonderful group of Bye Bye Birdie materials spanning the 1961 hit musical to the 1995 televsion film adaptation. Bye Bye Birdie was Charles Strouse's first Broadway musical and earned him significant fame. The original 1960–1961 Broadway production was a Tony Award–winning success. It spawned a London production and several major revivals, a sequel, a 1963 film, and a 1995 television production. The show also became a popular choice for high school and college productions due to its variable cast size and large proportion of ensemble numbers. The original Broadway cast included Dick Van Dyke, Chita Rivera, Paul Lynde, Dick Gautier, Susan Watson, Kay Medford, Charles Nelson Reilly, and Michael J. Pollard. Reilly understudied as Albert Peterson for Van Dyke, who periodically took time off (including a two-week hiatus to film the pilot episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show) and returned to the leading role. During pre-production, Chita Rivera took the role of Rosie after both Carol Haney and Eydie Gormé turned it down. Replacements during the run included Gene Rayburn as Albert and Gretchen Wyler as Rosie, both of whom joined the cast on April 9, 1961. In 1981, the Broadway sequel Bring Back Birdie opened, starring Donald O'Connor and returning original cast member Chita Rivera. It closed after 31 previews and four performances. A TV-movie adaptation was produced for ABC in 1995 by RHI Entertainment. It starred Jason Alexander in the role of Albert and Vanessa Williams as Rosie. Bye Bye Birdie remains a musical theater classic and has had a lasting influence on pop culture. Further, songs like "Put on a Happy Face," "Kids," and "A Lot of Livin' to Do" are still beloved, classic showtunes.
The Estate of Charles Strouse & Barbara Siman
CHARLES STROUSE
A wide-ranging group of Bye Bye Birdie materials, including material from the 1981 Bye Bye Birdie revival featuring Chita Rivera and and Donald O'Connor. The group includes a Bye Bye Birdie program from the 1961 production starring Gretchen Wyler and Gene Rayburn, with photographs throughout; a book containing the original 1960 piano conductor's score; an original playbill for the sequel Bring Back Birdie performed at the Martin Beck Theatre in 1981 starring Donald O'Connor and Chita Rivera; a typescript essay by Charles Strouse titled "Why Bring Back Birdie"; a folder of material concering the 1995 Bye Bye Birdie televison film starring Jason Alexander and Vanessa Williams, including press photos, articles, etc; and five Bye Bye Birdie vinyl records, including the original London soundtrack and jazz adaptations of songs from the musical. The printed materials are overall in very good condition, with usual wear and the Strouse estate stamp to the typescript essay, records with some wear to the outer sleeves; two of the records with minor surface scratches, one unopened; overall very good.
A wonderful group of Bye Bye Birdie materials spanning the 1961 hit musical to the 1995 televsion film adaptation. Bye Bye Birdie was Charles Strouse's first Broadway musical and earned him significant fame. The original 1960–1961 Broadway production was a Tony Award–winning success. It spawned a London production and several major revivals, a sequel, a 1963 film, and a 1995 television production. The show also became a popular choice for high school and college productions due to its variable cast size and large proportion of ensemble numbers. The original Broadway cast included Dick Van Dyke, Chita Rivera, Paul Lynde, Dick Gautier, Susan Watson, Kay Medford, Charles Nelson Reilly, and Michael J. Pollard. Reilly understudied as Albert Peterson for Van Dyke, who periodically took time off (including a two-week hiatus to film the pilot episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show) and returned to the leading role. During pre-production, Chita Rivera took the role of Rosie after both Carol Haney and Eydie Gormé turned it down. Replacements during the run included Gene Rayburn as Albert and Gretchen Wyler as Rosie, both of whom joined the cast on April 9, 1961. In 1981, the Broadway sequel Bring Back Birdie opened, starring Donald O'Connor and returning original cast member Chita Rivera. It closed after 31 previews and four performances. A TV-movie adaptation was produced for ABC in 1995 by RHI Entertainment. It starred Jason Alexander in the role of Albert and Vanessa Williams as Rosie. Bye Bye Birdie remains a musical theater classic and has had a lasting influence on pop culture. Further, songs like "Put on a Happy Face," "Kids," and "A Lot of Livin' to Do" are still beloved, classic showtunes.
Auction: Stage & Screen Featuring The Estate of Charles Strouse & Barbara Siman, Mar 18, 2026
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Auction of the Estate of Composer Charles Strouse & Choreographer Barbara Siman on March 18, 2026
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Memorabilia, Artwork, Furniture, Decorations, Books and More from Their Manhattan Apartment
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Featured Section of the March 18 Stage & Screen Auction
NEW YORK, NY -- Fans and collectors from across the nation and beyond gathered in Doyle's saleroom and online for the auction the Estate of the legendary Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning composer Charles Strouse and his wife choreographer Barbara Siman. Showcased were memorabilia, artwork, furniture, decorations, books and more from the couple's Manhattan apartment. The landmark sale was a featured section of the Stage & Screen auction on March 18, 2026.
Over his 50-year career Charles Strouse wrote the music for such iconic musical theater hits as Bye Bye Birdie, Applause and Annie, as well as the theme song for the classic sitcom All in the Family ("Those Were the Days"). Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin's partnership on Annie produced one of Broadway's most successful scores ever. "Tomorrow" and other songs from the production have since become enduring American musical standards admired by generations. Read More
Highlighting the sale was Charles Strouse's antique Steinway Model A Grand Piano that achieved $11,520, surpassing its $7,000-10,000 estimate. Manufactured in 1897, the piano was acquired by Strouse in the late 1960s and used throughout the composition Applause (1970), Annie (1977), and other celebrated works.
Among the memorabilia offerings that realized strong results were signed sheet music for the iconic song “Tomorrow” from Annie that sold for $1,280, many times its $300-400 estimate, and signed sheet music for “Those Were the Days,” the opening theme from the television series All in the Family, estimated at $300-500, which achieved $1,216. Also drawing interest at the sale was Charles Strouse’s director’s chair, printed on the front with “Charles Strouse” and on the back with “Annie,” which more than doubled its $300-500 estimate, selling for $1,152.
Stage & Screen
Property from the Estate of Charles Stouse & Barbara Siman was offered as a featured section of the Stage & Screen auction celebrating Theater, Hollywood, Music and Dance. Read More
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