--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I auditioned for 'Bye Bye Birdie' on…" description: "\"When I auditioned for 'Bye Bye Birdie' on Broadway, Gower Champion said, 'You've got the job!' I said, 'Mr. Champion, I can't dance.' He said, 'We'll t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/dick-van-dyke-2430_broadway_when-i-auditioned-for-bye-bye-birdie-on_756465.jpg" --- # When I auditioned for 'Bye Bye Birdie' on Broadway, Gower… ![“When I auditioned for 'Bye Bye Birdie' on Broadway, Gower Champion said, 'You've got the job!' I said, 'Mr. Champion, I can't dance.' He said, 'We'll teach you what you need to know.'” quote by Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/dick-van-dyke-2430_broadway_when-i-auditioned-for-bye-bye-birdie-on_756465.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/dick-van-dyke-2430_broadway_when-i-auditioned-for-bye-bye-birdie-on_756465.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/dick-van-dyke-2430_broadway_when-i-auditioned-for-bye-bye-birdie-on_756465.jpg) > “When I auditioned for 'Bye Bye Birdie' on Broadway, Gower Champion said, 'You've got the job!' I said, 'Mr. Champion, I can't dance.' He said, 'We'll teach you what you need to know.'” [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even when lacking a skill, confidence and willingness to learn can secure opportunities, as mentorship fills gaps. **In simple terms:** Confidence and learning can overcome lack of skill. Key Takeaway Embrace learning when faced with new challenges. Themes confidence learning mentorship Mood motivational reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - performing arts - personal development Key Concepts growth mindset skill acquisition Questions to Reflect On - How do you seek help when unprepared? - What role does confidence play in success? A Different Perspective Mentorship may not always be available. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Auditioned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditioned-278559/) [Auditioned Bye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/auditioned-bye-5874750/) [Birdie Broadway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birdie-broadway-5874751/) [Broadway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broadway/) [Bye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bye/) [Bye Birdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bye-birdie-1053356/) [Bye bye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bye-bye/) [Bye bye birdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bye-bye-birdie/) [Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champion/) [Champion Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champion-said-3622021/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) ## Related quotes > [Initially, I wanted to be an ice skater, but then when I was 13 I saw Bye Bye Birdie, and that was it -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-minnelli/initially-i-wanted-to-be-an-ice-skater-but-then-when-i-was-13-i-saw/) [Liza Minnelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-minnelli/) > [I was thrown into a community production of 'Bye Bye Birdie' or something when I was a kid. I wanted to just build the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stuhlbarg/i-was-thrown-into-a-community-production-of-bye-bye-birdie-or/) [Michael Stuhlbarg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stuhlbarg/) > [We didn't have movies in this little mining town. When I was 12 my mom took me to New York and I saw Bye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-kidder/we-didn-t-have-movies-in-this-little-mining-town-when-i-was-12-my-mom/) [Margot Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-kidder/) > [My first audition ever was for 'Bye Bye Birdie' in fifth grade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-grande/my-first-audition-ever-was-for-bye-bye-birdie-in-fifth-grade/) [Frankie Grande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-grande/) > [In 1957, 'West Side Story' had introduced the musical to the reckless dark side of teen-age life; 'Bye Bye Birdie,' set in Sweet Apple,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lahr/in-1957-west-side-story-had-introduced-the-musical-to-the-reckless/) [John Lahr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lahr/) > [I'm not a singer. In 'Bye Bye Birdie,' I think I was the sad girl who sits on the park bench during 'Put on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-strahovski/i-m-not-a-singer-in-bye-bye-birdie-i-think-i-was-the-sad-girl-who/) [Yvonne Strahovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-strahovski/) > [“He came up and kissed me on my forehead, and before he stepped away, I closed my eyes and tried hard to memorize this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/he-came-up-and-kissed-me-on-my-forehead-and-before-he-stepped-away-i/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [First I wanted to be an ice skater, and then I saw 'Bye, Bye Birdie,' and everything changed. I'm glad I learned through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-minnelli/first-i-wanted-to-be-an-ice-skater-and-then-i-saw-bye-bye-birdie-and/) [Liza Minnelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-minnelli/) > [I met my wife in 1990 when I was on the national tour of 'Bye, Bye Birdie.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-zahn/i-met-my-wife-in-1990-when-i-was-on-the-national-tour-of-bye-bye/) [Steve Zahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-zahn/) > [When I was growing up, I had a nanny who would always play 'The Sound of Music' and 'Bye Bye Birdie,' so I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumer-willis/when-i-was-growing-up-i-had-a-nanny-who-would-always-play-the-sound/) [Rumer Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumer-willis/) > [The first role that I played as a musical - I was 14 years old, and I played Birdie in 'Bye Bye Birdie.' That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/the-first-role-that-i-played-as-a-musical-i-was-14-years-old-and-i/) [Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/) > [We did a lot of high school productions. My first was 'Twelfth Night.' I played Viola. We did 'Much Ado About Nothing' and 'Taming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-strahovski/we-did-a-lot-of-high-school-productions-my-first-was-twelfth-night-i/) [Yvonne Strahovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-strahovski/) > [I got to play Kim in Bye Bye Birdie, Sandy in Grease, and Maria in The Sound of Music. And it was so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-got-to-play-kim-in-bye-bye-birdie-sandy-in-grease-and-maria-in-the/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [I would have been a much more popular Wolrd Champion if I had always said what people wanted to hear. I might have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-stewart/i-would-have-been-a-much-more-popular-wolrd-champion-if-i-had-always/) [Jackie Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-stewart/) > [“Well, Champion,” he said. He still wasn’t wearing his sword. “Yes, Captain?” The corners of his mouth tugged upward. “Are you happy now?” She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/well-champion-he-said-he-still-wasn-t-wearing-his-sword-yes-captain/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) ## More by Dick Van Dyke > [Today, with the subject matter that's around politically, and internationally and everything, I think Carl Reiner would have a ball. I think the format…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/today-with-the-subject-matter-that-s-around-politically-and/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [We used to get 27, 28 minutes to do a story in, and now they're lucky if they get 18 or 20 minutes. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/we-used-to-get-27-28-minutes-to-do-a-story-in-and-now-they-re-lucky/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I did a 'Golden Girls' once, which shot in front of an audience, and that went well. I had a good time. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-did-a-golden-girls-once-which-shot-in-front-of-an-audience-and-that/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [A lot of the guilt didn't help my drinking at that point. I never expected a divorce to happen in my life particularly, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/a-lot-of-the-guilt-didn-t-help-my-drinking-at-that-point-i-never/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [No, no, it was the relationships. That was that group. People believed that Rob and Laura were really married in real life. You know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/no-no-it-was-the-relationships-that-was-that-group-people-believed/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [They did ask me to do 'Dancing With The Stars;' I said I can do one show, but on that show you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/they-did-ask-me-to-do-dancing-with-the-stars-i-said-i-can-do-one-show/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I've never been what you'd call a great singer, but I loved to sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-ve-never-been-what-you-d-call-a-great-singer-but-i-loved-to-sing/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I found doing that kind of comedy without an audience is just... for me, it's almost impossible. You need the audience to do their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-found-doing-that-kind-of-comedy-without-an-audience-is-just-for-me/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I learned everything that I know about comedy and about show business and a lot about life from Carl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-learned-everything-that-i-know-about-comedy-and-about-show-business/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I've had a lot of writers, in particular, who said they got into writing because of the 'Van Dyke Show.' They said it looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-writers-in-particular-who-said-they-got-into/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I cannot tell you what it means when children recognize. This is about the third generation for me. And when kids that small recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-cannot-tell-you-what-it-means-when-children-recognize-this-is-about/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [So as my kids will tell you, they had a pretty normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/so-as-my-kids-will-tell-you-they-had-a-pretty-normal-life/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I think, the 'Van Dyke Show' and 'Mary Poppins' are two of the best periods of my life. I had so much fun, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-think-the-van-dyke-show-and-mary-poppins-are-two-of-the-best/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I think it's being thrown at the wolves, we call it in our business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-think-it-s-being-thrown-at-the-wolves-we-call-it-in-our-business/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [My favorite unknown movie is 'The Comic.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/my-favorite-unknown-movie-is-the-comic/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) [Explore all 166 Dick Van Dyke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) ## More Broadway quotes > [When somebody mentions that I did a play with George C. Scott, I'm like, it can't have happened. What was I doing on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/when-somebody-mentions-that-i-did-a-play-with-george-c-scott-i-m-like/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. 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