BWW TV: Sneak Peek at THE PEE-WEE HERMAN Show on Broadway!

By: Nov. 11, 2010
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Film and television icon Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) brings his signature brand of hilarious mayhem to Broadway for a special limited engagement of the acclaimed stage play, The Pee-Wee Herman Show. The production began previews October 26 at the Sondheim Theatre and opens tonight, November 11.

Based on Reubens' 1981 cult classic stage production, The Pee-Wee Herman Show, with new elements from the ground-breaking CBS show "Pee-wee's Playhouse" added generously, this new production is written by Paul Reubens and Bill Steinkellner, with additional material by John Paragon. Directed by Alex Timbers (Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson), The Pee-Wee Herman Show will feature music by Jay Cotton and the work of renowned puppetry artist Basil Twist. Direct from its acclaimed, sold-out run in Los Angeles, The Pee-Wee Herman Show will begin its 48-performance limited run on Tuesday, October 26, 2010 and officially open on Thursday, November 11 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 West 43rd street). The engagement will run through December 5.

Based on the Saturday morning television show that became a cultural phenomenon, The Pee-Wee Herman Show reunites the one-and-only Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) with many of the original Playhouse cast of characters - including Miss Yvonne, Cowboy Curtis, Pterri the Pterodactyl, Jambi the Genie, and Chairry - for an all new celebration of sophisticated silliness. An eye-popping 90 minutes of subversive humor and childlike wonder, The Pee-Wee Herman Show charts a day in the life of our bow-tied hero, one of the most inspired comic personas of our time.

The complete design team for The Pee-Wee Herman Show includes David Korins (Scenic Design), Ann Closs-Farley (Costume Design), Jeff Croiter (Lighting Design), M.L. Dogg (Sound Design), Jimmy Cuomo (Design Consultant), Jake Pinholster (Projection Design), and Ve Neill (Make-Up Design).

The original Pee-Wee Herman Show debuted at The Groundlings Theatre in 1981 and quickly moved to the Roxy Theatre On Sunset Strip for five sold out months. Taped as part of HBO's "On Location" series, the show catapulted Pee-wee into the national consciousness, leading to his many appearances on "Late Night With David Letterman," and a 22-city tour that included Carnegie Hall. In 1985, Warner Brothers brought Pee-wee to the big screen with Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Tim Burton's feature film debut (co-written by Reubens). Pee-wee's second film, Big Top Pee-wee, was released in 1988.

Created, co-written, and co-directed by Paul Reubens, the CBS television series, "Pee-wee's Playhouse," premiered in 1986 and earned 22 Emmy Awards in its five seasons. Reubens has been nominated for 14 Emmy Awards, winning twice. While "The Pee-Wee Herman Show" and "Pee-wee's Playhouse" were an homage to an earlier generation's television classics -- "Howdy Doody," "The Mickey Mouse Club," and "Captain Kangaroo," among others -- Pee-wee himself became one of the most original and beloved stars in all of television history.

When Cartoon Network re-aired the series in 2006, 1.5 million viewers watched every night; the next year TV Guide named "Pee-wee's Playhouse" among the top 10 cult classics of all time.

The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday - Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and 8pm, Sunday at 2pm and 7pm.

Tickets, priced $65 - $120, will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, June 1st at Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200.



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