Pee Wee Is Coming to Broadway, People!

After a successful run in LA in January, a theatrical adaptation of the ironic classic TV show Pee Wee's Playhouse will transfer to Broadway in October. The production will mark Pee Wee creator Paul Reubens's Broadway debut, as well as the Broadway debut of director Alex Timbers, whose Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson has been an Off Broadway hit. The limited six week engagement is inspired by Reubens's 1981 TV show, and according to the production's publicist, the show reunites Pee-wee Herman (Reubens) with many of the original Playhouse cast of characters, including Miss Yvonne, Cowboy Curtis, Pterri the Pterodactyl, Jambi the Genie, and Chairry.

Speaking to the Times, Reubens said that the LA production marked the first time in years that he'd played Pee Wee. "It just came right back out like it was yesterday. I don’t know what to make of that. I don’t know if that’s good or bad." The Broadway show will feature music by Jay Cotton and puppetry by Basil Twist, but the rest of the cast hasn't been announced yet. Time to crank up Facebook campaigns to cast Laurence Fishburne and S.Epatha Merkerson!

Tickets "officially" go on sale June 1st at Telecharge.com, but you can actually buy them NOW on the show's official website if you know the "secret word." Hint: SCREAM.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in Arts & Entertainment on May 20, 2010 2:28 PM

Comments [rss]

ThunderHeadThor

Like you've never masturbated! Grow a brain cretins! Pee Wee rules!

I saw him in Boulder and he was brilliant. I was the Tootsie Roll monitor for my row. I loved the original pilot with Phil Hartman as Captain Carl.

RomeoScott

@ Papercutninja: THE SHOW IS ORIGINAL!! The person that wrote the article forgot to mention the show was created at the GROUNDLINGS THEATRE in Los Angeles in the early 80s. It was then transfered to THE ROXY THEATRE. That was a 1hour show. This is expanded and includes music numbers, and includes characters from the children's show. It mixes the two.

I looked up the prices for NY, 100 bucks and up...yikes. They were like 35 and 60 in LA.

ropo

Enjoy the show, New Yorkers! I saw Pee-wee in L.A. and it was fab-u-lous. So very much fun, and I was lucky enough to be at an after show Q&A which was also fantastic. If you were a fan of the TV show, I definitely recommend it. And it's kid-safe, too!

Squard

I just hope Laurence Fishburne reprises his role as Cowboy Curtis

NannyState

I typed this one-handed :)

ANGRYGOD11

If I guess the Secret Word, do I get free tickets? Or do I need that magic wish?

Papercutninja

So basically, Broadway has COMPLETELY run out of ideas. There are no real plays or musicals starting up, just stage adaptations of pop culture. Fantastic. Coming soon: Jersey Shore: The Musical.