Photo Coverage: 'Enter Laughing': Curtain Call and After Party

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) opened ENTER LAUGHING: THE MUSICAL on Wednesday, September 10th. This limited engagement runs through October 12; all performances will be at the company’s home at The Theatre at Saint Peter's (Lexington Avenue just south of 54th Street).

ENTER LAUGHING has a book by Fiddler on The Roof’s Joseph Stein and music and lyrics by “Taxi” creator Stan Daniels. Based on the early life of comedian Carl Reiner and the hit play by Broadway master Joseph Stein, ENTER LAUGHING tells the hilarious story of a stage-struck, woman-struck teenager who blunders his way into manhood via show biz.

Stuart Ross (Forever Plaid) directs a cast that includes Josh Grisetti (“The Knights of Prosperity,” Spamalot Las Vegas) as David Kolowitz, “L.A. Law’s” married couple Jill Eikenberry (Moonchildren, Watch on the Rhine) and Michael Tucker (The Goodbye People, Moonchildren) as Mother and Father, Paul Binotto (Dreamgirls) as Don, Ray DeMattis (Little Shop of Horrors) as Forman, Erick Devine (Seussical) as Pike, Betsy DiLellio (The Baker’s Wife), Janine LaManna (Seussical) as Angela, Gerry McIntyre (Once on This Island, Anything Goes) as Don, Robb Sapp (Johnny Guitar, Zanna, Don’t) as Marvin, Emily Shoolin (Nerds://A Musical Software Satire) as Wanda, Allison Spratt (Curtains, Cry-Baby) as Miss B. and George S. Irving (countless Broadway shows since the original production of Oklahoma!, including Me and My Girl, On Your Toes, Irene, among many others), here recreating his original role of Marlowe. Matt Castle (Company) is the Music Director and will perform the role of Roger. 

ENTER LAUGHING will have scenic design by James Morgan, costume design by David Toser and lighting design by Chris Robinson.

Joseph Stein won the Tony Award and the Drama Critics Circle Award for best musical for Fiddler on the Roof. His other musicals include Zorba (Tony nomination, Drama Critics Circle Award), The Bakers Wife (Olivier Award), Rags (Tony nomination), Irene, Juno, Take Me Along, The King of Hearts, and So Long, 174th Street. He also co-authored, with Alan Jay Lerner, the musical Carmelina and, with Will Glickman, the shows Plain and Fancy and Mr. Wonderful. His plays are Enter Laughing, Before the Dawn and (with Will Glickman) Mrs. Gibbons’ Boys. 
Stan Daniels won eight Emmys during his long television career, including three as co-creator and executive producer of “Taxi” and three as a writer on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” He also wrote for The Dean Martin Show, The Bill Cosby Show and Phyllis.

Stuart Ross wrote and directed the long-running musical Forever Plaid. He also created and directed its two sequels, The Sound Of Plaid, and Plaid Tidings. Mr. Ross wrote the book and co-wrote the lyrics for The Public Theatre’s Radiant Baby directed by George C. Wolfe (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Lucille Lortel Award nominations, Best Musical).  On Broadway Stuart co-wrote the book (with Barry Keating) to the Tony nominated musical Starmites as well as The Radio City Music Hall Easter Show. Off-Broadway he wrote A Leap Of Faith (a one-woman show for Faith Prince), The Heebie Jeebies, Not-So-New Faces, Tea With Bea and Fun With Dick And Jane: The Musical.

Following Enter Laughing will be the Off-Broadway premiere of the new musical, My Vaudeville Man!, the story of a son born to tap dance and a mother hell-bent on stopping him. Karen Murphy (soon to be seen on Broadway in 9 to 5) and Shonn Wiley (seen in No No Nanette at Encores!) star in a musical based on the life of legendary eccentric tap dancer Jack Donahue, directed and choreographed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett.  Performances begin November 7.

For more information please visit www.yorktheatre.org

Photos by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

Enter Laughing

Paul Binotto, Betsy DiLellio and Gerry McIntyre

Paul Binotto, Betsy DiLellio and Gerry McIntyre

Allison Spratt, Robb Sapp, Erick Devine and Matt Castle

Allison Spratt, Robb Sapp, and Erick Devine

Allison Spratt and Rob Sapp

Allison Spratt and Rob Sapp

Janine LaManna, Emily Shoolin, Ray DeMattis

Janine LaManna and Emily Shoolin

George S. Irving

George S. Irving

Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker

Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker

Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker

Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker

Josh Grisetti

Josh Grisetti

Josh Grisetti

Emily Shoolin, George S. Irving, Josh Grisetti, Jill Eikenberry, Michael Tucker and Ray Mattis

Emily Shoolin, George S. Irving, Josh Grisetti, Jill Eikenberry, Michael Tucker and Ray Mattis

Emily Shoolin, George S. Irving, Josh Grisetti, Jill Eikenberry, Michael Tucker

Josh Grisetti

Josh Grisetti

Josh Grisetti

Enter Laughing

Jim Morgan

Stuart Ross

Stuart Ross

Jim Morgan

Stuart Ross and Jim Morgan

Jerry Bock

Sheldon Harnick

Joseph Stein

Joseph Stein

Joseph Stein and Wife

Jerry Bock, Joseph Stein and Sheldon Harnick

Linda Hart

Linda Hart

Max von Essen

Max von Essen

Anita Gillette and Jamie Farr

Anita Gillette and Jamie Farr

Anita Gillette

Anita Gillette

Elaine Cancilla-Orbach

Betsy DiLellio

Jill Eikenberry and Anita Gillette

Jill Eikenberry and Anita Gillette

Jill Eikenberry

Jill Eikenberry

Michael Tucker and Jill Eikenberry

Michael Tucker and Jill Eikenberry

Michael Tucker, Jill Eikenberry and Stuart Ross

Josh Grisetti and his girlfriend

Josh Grisetti

Josh Grisetti

Josh Grisetti

Josh Grisetti and his girlfriend

Josh Grisetti and Emily Shoolin

Josh Grisetti and Emily Shoolin

Eli Wallach and Jim Morgan

Eli Wallach

Eli Wallach

Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson

Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson

Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson

Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson and Joseph Stein and wife

Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson and Joseph Stein and wif

Eli Wallach and Josh Grisetti

Eli Wallach, Josh Grisetti and Anne Jackson

George S. Irving and Josh Grisetti

George S. Irving and Josh Grisetti

George S. Irving

George S. Irving

Janine LaManna

Janine LaManna

Janine LaManna

Gerry McIntyre

Gerry McIntyre and Linda Hart

Gerry McIntyre and Linda Hart

Rob Sapp and Gerry McIntyre

Rob Sapp

Rob Sapp

Rob Sapp

Rob Sapp

Rob Sapp

Emily Shoolin

Emily Shoolin

Allison Spratt

Allison Spratt

Allison Spratt

Allison Spratt and her father

Janine LaManna, Josh Grisetti and Allison Spratt

Janine LaManna, Josh Grisetti and Allison Spratt

Janine LaManna, Josh Grisetti and Allison Spratt

Janine LaManna, Josh Grisetti and Allison Spratt

Stuart Ross, Janine LaManna, Josh Grisetti and Allison Spratt