Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me Set for Chicago, 7/5-7/16

Broadway In Chicago has announced the pre-Broadway engagement of Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, a new musical conceived by Martin Short, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman with book by Short and Daniel Goldfarb (Modern Orthodox), music by Shaiman, and lyrics by Wittman and Shaiman (Hairspray). Directed by Wittman, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me will play the LaSalle Bank Theatre (18 W. Monroe St.), July 5th through 16th, 2006. The show will open on Broadway August 17th.

In the grand tradition of West Side Story and The Lion King comes the next great American musical... but until then, there's Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me. A humble musical salute to the cultural phenomenon that is Martin Short, Fame Becomes Me is fractured autobiography, searing show business expose and heart-rending confessional, climaxing in a giant metaphorical snowball. Backed by a versatile troupe of singer/actors and his onstage music director Marc Shaiman, the show features Short in a tour de force performance guiding us through an improbable version of his life story in a transparent play for love and attention," state press notes. Live Nation & Becker Zeiger Entertainment and Harbor Entertainment will present Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me.

In their first score since their Tony Award-winning hit Hairspray, Shaiman and Wittman "will provide Short the chance to debut such future standards as 'Stepbrother de Jesus' from his early days in a 70's tribal rock musical, '12 Step Pappy,' his take on confessional one-person shows and a celebration of Hollywood's favorite vice - 'Sniff, Sniff.'"

The show features Brooks Ashmanskas, Mary Birdsong, Capathia Jenkins and Nicole Parker playing a wide variety of different characters, both real and imagined, who figure into Short's parallel reality.

Fame Becomes Me will feature the Tony-award winning design team of set designer Scott Pask (Tony Award for The Pillowman) and costume designer Jess Goldstein (Tony for The Rivals). Peter Hylenski is the sound designer and Christopher Gatelli (Altar Boyz) will choreograph.

Short appeared in the Broadway productions of Neil Simon and Cy Coleman's Little Me (Tony Award, Outer Critics Circle Award), Marvin Hamlisch and Simon's The Goodbye Girl (Tony Award nomination, Theater World Award, Outer Critics Circle Award) and in the Encores! Series in Promises, Promises--with a book by Simon. In Los Angeles, he appeared in Lawrence Kasdan's production of John Patrick Shanley's Four Dogs and a Bone and Mel Brooks' The Producers. Short began his theatrical career in the Toronto production of Godspell. In 1982, he joined the "SCTV Comedy Network" where his work garnered an Emmy Award. Short's ability as a comedic chameleon brought him to "Saturday Night Live," where his standout performances included Ed Grimley, Jackie Rogers Jr., legendary songwriter Irving Cohen and lawyer Nathan Thurm. He co-wrote, produced and starred in the television comedy specials: "Martin Short's Concert for the North  Americas" (Ace Award); "I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood" (Ace Award); and "The Show Formerly Known As The Martin Short Show" (Emmy Award). He also co-starred in the miniseries "Merlin" (Emmy nomination) and "Alice in Wonderland" as the Mad Hatter.

In the fall of 1999 he hosted the daily "The Martin Short Show" (nine Emmy nominations). From 2001-2003, Short co-wrote, produced and starred as star-interviewer extraordinaire Jiminy Glick in "Primetime Glick" (Emmy nomination). Short made the jump to the big screen in 1986 with Three Amigos and Innerspace. Among his other films are Three Fugitives, The Big Picture, Clifford, Father of the Bride (1 & 2), Mars Attacks and Jiminy Glick in La La Wood. In 1994, Short was awarded Canada's highest civilian honor, The Order of Canada, for his contribution to Canadian culture and was inducted into the Canadian Walk of Fame in June 2000.

Tickets for Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me range in price from $32- $82.50 and are available at Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (18 W. Monroe, 24 W. Randolph St. and 151 W. Randolph St.), through the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (312) 902-1400, at all Ticketmaster ticket centers (including all Carson Pirie Scott stores, Tower Records, Hot Tix, select Coconuts and fye stores) or online at ticketmaster.com. Groups of 20 or more can receive a discount by calling (312) 977-1710.

For more information, visit www.martinshortthemusical.com and www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

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