Pee-wee Herman ready for his stage comeback

Get ready: That famous red bow tie, too-tight gray suit and unmistakable voice are back.

Pee-wee Herman, the '80s television man-child icon, is returning to the spotlight. "The Pee-wee Herman Show," starring Paul Reubens, will have a limited engagement run from Nov. 19 to 29 at the Music Box @ Fonda in Hollywood.

"I've put part of him away for a long time but part of him has always been here with me," the soft-spoken actor said in an interview today. "I think it will be like riding a bike -- which is not a bad analogy for Pee-wee, by the way."

The new stage production is a "re-imagined" version of Herman's past theatrical outings, according to promoters. The original version of the show debuted at the Groundlings Theatre in 1981 before playing at L.A.'s Roxy Theatre for five months. The production then went on a 22-city tour that included New York's Carnegie Hall. 

The new production will feature Pee-wee regulars, including Miss Yvonne, Mailman Mike, Cowboy Curtis and Jambi the Genie. Audiences can also count on appearances by Pee-wee's talking chair, Chairry, and his friend Pterri, the pterodactyl.

Previews for the show begin at the Music Box on Nov. 8 and tickets go on sale Tuesday. Jared Geller and David J. Foster are producing the show.

Reubens, whose run-ins with the law over the years eclipsed his acting achievements, has branched out into serious films over the years, including supporting roles in "Blow" and the upcoming "Nailed" and "Life During Wartime."

Check back later on Culture Monster for more about Pee-wee's return to the stage.

-- David Ng

Related coverage: Paul Reubens revives Pee-wee Herman for new stage show

Photo: Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman. Credit: Greg Gorman

Comments

[healthy guy]

The secret word of the day is Zyzzybalubah...

[Michael Frisbie]

Pee-pee Herman is at it again? I can't believe it,
Our children don't have enough weirdos to emulate already?
Pee-pee Herman should have a smut rating on anything he does.

[Louie]

Awesome

[Jan Kerr]

Interestingly, I believe Paul Ruebens is the only person on the Hollywood Walk of Fame that has his character's name enshrined rather than his own.

[Tom]

Welcome back, Pee-Wee AND Mr. Reubens! You've been much missed! God bless, Tom

[Doris]

Love PeeWee and all the characters like Miss Yvonne, great that they are back again!

[Doris]

Love PeeWee!!!

[Pee-Wee Fan #1]

I think Michael Frisbie needs to take the stick out of his.....

I'm a 31-year-old woman whose done quite well for herself and I grew up watching Pee-Wee's Playhouse every Saturday morning and watching "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" about a billion times. I'm a perfectly normal person with a childlike, fun sense of humor. It wouldn't hurt Mr. Frisbie to get one himself.

[ZONG]

THANK GOD, SOMEONE FOR THE KIDS TO LOOK UP TO, UNLIKE THIS SCUM BAG OBAMA!
IMPEACH OBAMA, ELECT PEE-WEE

[pippigirl]

Can't wait for Pee Wee to take the stage!! This is the best news EVER!! For all you people who think he's a perv you obviously have never been horny!! Must look for tickets on Ticketmaster ASAP!!

[Susie Que]

Always loved PeeWee. Such a shame he was banned from TV. Welcome back to your adoring public!!!

[dusty]

I love Pee Wee. Sure, the uptight Republicans are going to complain, but they complain about everything and no one is listening to them anymore anyway. ;-)

Good luck Pee Wee and welcome back. You were missed!

[Veronica]

What most people don't know is that the Pee-Wee Herman show was conceived as a joke - a parody of daytime children's programming. It was riddled with sexual innuendo.

I always thought it was supposed to be for adults - turns out I was right. Some friends in the business who knew the producers gave me the lowdown on it.

All that said, I thought it was a great show. Besides, I think if kids watched it, they wouldn't pick up on the sexual references, any more than children picked up on similar references in the old Bugs Bunny cartoons.

Enjoy the show!

[JN]

I Love Pee Wee!!!!! I watched his show as a kid and NEVER picked up on the sexual innuendo (Veronica is right!) only the bright colors and funky characters. I don't care what the man does on his own time as long as he hasn't hurt anyone ~ We all know that lots of the "upstanding" types we live next to do way weirder things behind closed doors... His humor has always been on the edge but that's what we need comedians for. The man is GENIUS!!!!

[Jeaux Janovsky]

WOW! Congrats Pee Wee/Paul Reubens!

http://doubled8.blogspot.com/2009/08/pee-wees-big-comeback-triumphant-return.html

Here's a drawing I did for you!
-Jeaux Janovsky

[Alyssa]

I AM SO EXCITED!
i've always fantasized about seeing pee wee's playhouse live on stage and good lord that day has come.

[Skylaire Alfvegren]

I grew up on Pee Wee Herman, Elvira and the A-Team. (I wasn't allowed to watch much television, for which I'm actually grateful in hindsight.) I loved his show! I'm saddened that we live in a country where a handful of hysterical puritans can ruin the career of someone so talented... I say, Pee Wee's return has been a long time coming. I haven't kept up with children's programming since I was one myself, but I suspect that whatever crap is aimed at them today has replaced the inventiveness of Pee Wee with crass fast food tie-ins or cheap Asian labor (ie, crap cartoons.)

[WALLY]

Paul.
I always liked you,i smiled a lot ,watching you Saturday am with our boys.
w schiesl

[WALLY]

would like your show to make it to the Chicago area!
w schiesl

[richard schumacher]

Now I'm the luckiest boy in the world :_>