NBC taps Jennifer Lopez for next musical production, ‘Bye Bye Birdie Live!’

Jenny from the Block is heading to Sweet Apple, Ohio.

NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt announced Thursday that the network has its sights set on “Bye Bye Birdie” as its 2017 live musical and it has tapped Jennifer Lopez to star.

Greenblatt made the announcement during a speaking engagement at the Paley Center in Los Angeles.

The classic musical is about a recently drafted rock ‘n’ roll music star, named Conrad Birdie, who stages a publicity stunt on “The Ed Sullivan Show” by agreeing to kiss a teen fan before reporting for duty. The musical was inspired by Elvis Presley’s induction into the Army.

NBC’s “Bye Bye Birdie Live!” will be based on the 1960 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical that starred Dick Van Dyke as Albert Peterson (earning Van Dyke a Tony) and Chita Rivera as Rosie (earning Rivera a Tony nomination). (“Bye Bye Birdie” was later adapted as a feature film in 1963.)

Lopez will star as Rosie, the girlfriend and assistant of Birdie’s manager, Albert. It’s Rosie who comes up with the publicity stunt. The actress will also serve as an executive producer on the production, along with Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Benny Medina, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.

The role extends Lopez’s relationship with the Peacock network. She currently stars and serves as an executive producer on “Shades of Blue,” which returns for a second season in early 2017.

Tony winner Harvey Fierstein, who later this year will reprise his role as Edna in the network’s production of “Hairspray,” will write the teleplay adaptation for NBC’s “Bye Bye Birdie Live!”

NBC isn’t the first broadcast network to bring the musical to the small screen. More than 20 years ago, ABC aired a three-hour version of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical that starred “Seinfeld’s” Jason Alexander and Vanessa Williams.

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