Pee-wee Herman ready for his stage comeback
August 10, 2009 | 12:30
pm
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."
"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.
Photo: Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman. Credit: Greg Gorman
COOL he's coming back LOVE THE PUPPETS YAY!!!! FOR PEE WEE
Posted by: chad Harkins | August 17, 2009 at 09:49 PM
Paul Reubens -- a genius at re-creating imagi-nations -- is to be welcomed with open arms. That he was hounded by the 'media' (they with their afternoon joints & S&M chic parties coupled with gag reflexes of hypocrisy) et al. is not to be ignored. I watched with eagerness all of the original episodes as they unfolded; the early cartoons were an astonishing array of rarely seen masterworks; the brilliant montages of ideas and images are still unparalleled...in these post-Auschwitz decades, for me as a Jew in Karloffornia, I am thrilled Pee-wee Herman is resurfacing. Shalom welitra'ot, Paul. I hope the programme is filmed and released on DVD for those of us who can't make it.
STEPHAN PICKERING / CHOFETZ CHAYIM BEN-AVRAHAM
Posted by: Stephan Pickering | August 24, 2009 at 12:09 AM
This could be a sticky situation. I hope he can keep a grip on himself long enough to jump start his career. You've got to give him a hand for trying to come back. I hope he gets off to a good start. Ok, I think I'm done.
Posted by: BT | August 24, 2009 at 07:24 AM
The Large Marge scene from Pee-wee's Big Adventure is still one of the best
laughs I've ever had in a movie theatre! Welcome back Paul.
Posted by: David Orth | August 24, 2009 at 09:54 AM
pee-wee: i love your show! i am hoping that you will come to the east coast so my son (28) and i can see you together. we spent many, many happy hours watching your show when my son was young. i have a pee-wee doll and a terry doll in my living room right now. welcome back. we love you.xxx
Posted by: sue | August 24, 2009 at 06:43 PM
I enjoy his act every time. Excellent.
Posted by: Susan Schrimsher | August 25, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Oh Pee Wee, I've missed you so much! Your Big Adventure is my All-Time-Number-One-Favorite-Movie; I also have quite an attachment to my sweet cruiser bike, too!
I wish you the best of luck with your new show and hope that I can see you when you take to the road.
Mekka-Lekka-Hai-Mekka-Hieny-Ho
Mekka-Lekka-Hai-Mekka-Chanai-Ho
Posted by: sheilaupnorth | August 29, 2009 at 06:42 PM
PEE WEE IS the best welcome back we all miss you AND lOVE YOU!!!
Posted by: phil john | September 22, 2009 at 07:48 PM
Paul Reubens genius predates Pee Wee. You should have seen him in about 1972 at a large halloween party, PERFECTLY garbed as Carmen Miranda. The funniest part was watching guys, who were dancing with "her", suddenly freak out when they realized what they had their hands on. Hilarious!
Can't wait to see the show. Go Pee Wee!!
Posted by: Art Alfonso | September 22, 2009 at 11:21 PM
I am a huge Pee Wee fan saw him on Leno last night! When is Pee Wee performing in NY?
Posted by: Robin | September 23, 2009 at 08:56 AM
YAY for Pee-Wee! I also grew up watching him and I am perfectly sain. LOL! Paul Ruebens waited WAY to long to bring back Pee-Wee! Congrats on the new show and I hope one day it will make its way back onto t.v!
Posted by: Jennifer | September 23, 2009 at 09:42 AM
I love Pee-Wee herman! hey frisbie how bout we give u a smut rating! you hater! lol anyways! its abut time he made a comeback and i had just bought the series of his show peewees playhouse! woooo! oh yeah once again frisbie quit hatin!
Posted by: EJ | September 23, 2009 at 10:10 AM
hey ozzie quit hatin! im sure if you were famous you would have some scarier skeletons in your closet! 'ozzie' wow how original! anyways! good luck pee-wee!
Posted by: Ej | September 23, 2009 at 10:13 AM
I love pee wee and gang, it would be awesome if he and the guy from steam pipe alley combine their talents with a show. Do anyone remember steam pipe alley? the guy played in sex and the city movie. I forgot his name...help me remember.
Posted by: barbara | September 23, 2009 at 11:10 AM
WELCOME BACK PEE-WEE!!!HOPE TO SEE YOU ON TV AND TO SHARE YOU WITH MY 4&5 YEAR OLD KIDS.FINALLY THEY CAN SEE AND LEARN SOMETHING AND HAVE FUN DOING TOO! ADIOS!!!!!!
Posted by: ELI CARRASCO | September 23, 2009 at 12:23 PM
I hope this is more like his Groundlings stage show, and less like the TV show. The Groundlings show was aimed at adults, and funny as can be. You notice the name is the same as the stage show and not the TV show.
It won't be the same without Captain Carl. RIP Phil Hartman!
Posted by: Jim Kirk | September 23, 2009 at 01:01 PM
Welcome Back Pee Wee!!
Posted by: Cindy | September 23, 2009 at 07:24 PM
There best be Mr.T (Crispy Sweet Corn and Oat)Cereal!!!
Posted by: Rae | September 25, 2009 at 12:19 PM
YES!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Milwaukee | November 17, 2009 at 04:45 PM
Well thank goodness!!! I've been telling my eight year old about how great Pee Wee was before he got caught doing...you know. I told the kid, "Well, Pee Wee was doing things... you just shouldn't do in public." Anyway, no big deal, Pee Wee. You're funny as hell and I'm glad you're back!
Posted by: Killer | December 04, 2009 at 07:55 AM