How CELEBRITY AUTOBIOGRAPHY Turned Celebrity Memoirs Into Broadway Comedy

The long-running Off-Broadway hit Celebrity Autobiography is currently making its Broadway debut, bringing its signature blend of comedy, celebrity culture, and live performance to the Shubert Theatre stage. 

Created by Eugene Pack and Dayle Reyfel, the Drama Desk Award-winning comedy has built a devoted following over the years through performances in New York and across the country. The show features a rotating lineup of stars from television, film, theater, sports, and politics reading excerpts from celebrity memoirs live onstage, with hilarious and dramatic results.

BroadwayWorld is taking a look back at the history of Celebrity Autobiography, including where the show has played, which stars have appeared over the years, which memoirs have been featured, and who is appearing in the Broadway production now.

What Is CELEBRITY AUTOBIOGRAPHY?

Celebrity Autobiography features famous TV, film, and theater actors, comedians, and more, on stage reading excerpts from celebrity memoirs in front of a live audience. 

How did CELEBRITY AUTOBIOGRAPHY Begin? 

Created by Eugene Pack and Dayle Reyfel, Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words was first presented  at a performance space in Los Angeles in 1998, before launching successful runs at venues across the country, and on television. 

Where Has CELEBRITY AUTOBIOGRAPHY Played?

Celebrity Autobiography has played in over a dozen cities, including Los Angeles, London, and New York, with its Off-Broadway premiere taking place in 2008 at the Triad Theatre. Performers in the first Off-Broadway production included Jackie Hoffman, Kristen Johnston, Carson Kressley, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, and Alan Zweibel.

Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words was presented as a Bravo TV special in 2005, featuring Andrea Martin, Bruce Vilanch, Doris Roberts, Jay Mohr, Cheryl Hines, Kevin Nealon, Fred Willard, Niecy Nash, Kel Mitchell, and Laraine Newman, reading excerpts of memoirs by Kathie Lee Gifford, Sylvester Stallone, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Tommy Lee and David Cassidy, and George Takei.

The production had a special limited run at the Marquis Theatre on Broadway in 2018, featuring Alec Baldwin, Mario Cantone, Tony Danza, Rachel Dratch, Susan Lucci, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel and Cecily Strong.

The production was revived at the Triad in 2024, featuring Bonnie Milligan, Craig Bierko, Jackie Hoffman, TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, Michael Urie, Carol Kane, Alan Zweibel, and more. 

 Which Stars Have Appeared in CELEBRITY AUTOBIOGRAPHY?

Some of Celebrity Autobiography's many past stars include: Jackie Hoffman, Kristen Johnston, Carson Kressley, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, Alan Zweibel, Andrea Martin, Bruce Vilanch, Doris Roberts, Jay Mohr, Cheryl Hines, Kevin Nealon, Fred Willard, Niecy Nash, Kel Mitchell, Laraine Newman, Bonnie Milligan, Craig Bierko, Ben Mankiewicz, Michael Urie, Carol Kane, Will Forte, Tony Roberts, Rachel Dratch, Lewis Black, Mario Cantone, Gina Gershon, Talia Balsam, Tate Donovan, Richard Kind, Susan Lucci, John Slattery, Bob Balaban, Susie Essman, Cheyenne Jackson, Seth Rudetsky, Claudia Shear, Sherri Shepherd, Kristen Wiig, BD Wong, Karen Ziemba, Cecily Strong, Alec Baldwin, Tony Danza, and more.

Which Celebrity Memoirs Have Been Featured in CELEBRITY AUTOBIOGRAPHY?

Many! Just to name a few, Celebrity Autobiography has featured readings from stories by Ivana Trump, Suzanne Somers, Vanna White, Mr. T, Star Jones, Kenny Loggins, Tommy Lee, Sylvester Stallone, *NSYNC, Zsa Zsa Gabor, David Cassidy, Neil Sedaka, Britney Spears, Madonna, Burt Reynolds, Loni Anderson, Elizabeth Taylor, Eddie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds, Kathie Lee Gifford, George Takei, Matthew McConaughey, Mariah Carey, Justin Bieber, Destiny's Child, and more. 

Who Is Currently Starring in CELEBRITY AUTOBIOGRAPHY on Broadway?

Stars who will appear in the current Broadway run of Celebrity Autobiography include:  Scott Adsit, Matthew Broderick, Mario Cantone, Jeff Hiller, Jackie Hoffman, Gayle King, Andrea Martin, Bobby Moynihan, Ben Mankiewicz, Kenan Thompson, Nia Vardalos, Rita Wilson, Brooke Adams, Pamela Adlon, Lewis Black, Christie Brinkley, Danny Burstein, Bob Costas, Tate Donovan, Chloe Fineman, Will Forte, Gina Gershon, Kathy Griffin, Christopher Jackson, Ken Jeong, Susan Lucci, Ralph Macchio, Eric McCormack, Molly Shannon, Tony Shalhoub, Jennifer Tilly, Bruce Vilanch, Alan Zweibel, creators Eugene Pack and Dayle Reyfel, and others to be announced. 

Celebrity Autobiography is currently playing on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre.