Academy Premieres Digitally Restored BYE BYE BIRDIE, 4/27

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will premiere a new digital restoration of "Bye Bye Birdie" on Wednesday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Hosted by film critic Stephen Farber, the evening will feature a Digital Cinema presentation with a newly restored 4-channel stereo soundtrack, followed by an onstage discussion with special guests Ann-Margret and Bobby Rydell.

Just five years after Elvis Presley was drafted into the army, the satirical "Bye Bye Birdie" had already been written, staged on Broadway, and turned into a film.

When singing sensation Conrad Birdie (Jesse Pearson) is drafted, songwriter Albert Peterson (Dick Van Dyke) and his girlfriend, Rosie DeLeon (Janet Leigh), arrange for Birdie to sing one of Peterson's songs in a farewell performance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." To heighten the drama, the rock 'n' roll star is to give a goodbye kiss to a lucky young lady (Ann-Margret) from a small Ohio town - much to the dismay of her steady beau (Rydell) and parents (Paul Lynde and Mary LaRoche).

Directed by George Sidney, this vibrant adaptation of the successful Broadway musical comedy earned Oscar® nominations for both Music and Sound, and features a range of songs, from the youthful "A Lot of Livin' to Do" to the parentally angled "Kids."

For updates on special guests, visit www.oscars.org.

Tickets for "Bye Bye Birdie" are sold out. A standby line will form on the day of the event, and standby numbers will be assigned starting at approximately 5:30 p.m. Any available tickets will be distributed shortly before the program begins. Ticketholders should plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the event to ensure a seat in the theater. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. All seating is unreserved. The Samuel Goldwyn Theater is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. For more information, call (310) 247-3600 or visit www.oscars.org.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world's preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards - in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners - the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.