The New York City debut of The Lowest Show on Earth, the solo piece actor-writer Scott Thompson co-wrote with Paul Bellini, has been cancelled, a spokesperson said.

Thompson was in town and preparing to begin after a delay Sept. 27, but producers scotched the plan due to "a variety of reasons, all related to the event" — the Sept. 11 destruction of the World Trade Center in a terrorist attack. In addition to the great loss of life and property, the economic impact is being felt by the tourism community, including restaurants, hotels and Broadway and Off-Broadway theatres.

Thompson, an alum of TV's "Kids in the Hall," was originally scheduled to play Sept. 19-Nov. 4, at 45 Bleecker, then it was announced that Sept. 27 would be the first performance. On Sept. 19, the cancellation was announced. The booking of the show bumped the hit Much Ado About Nothing to Manhattan Ensemble Theatre's space. The Lowest Show is expected to resurface in the coming months, perhaps in Toronto.

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Ted Dykstra directs Canadian Thompson in the new show about "what happens when people don't merely give into their 'lowness,' but revel in it and even indeed succeed because of it." According to production notes, "Thompson's characters make no apologies, but in an era where politics, religion, medicine and the media have all but squandered their credibility, why should they?" The production is presented by Clear Channel Entertainment. The Lowest Show on Earth previously played summer engagements in Montreal, Davie, FL, and Denver.

The show, with its provocatively juicy print ad campaign, is sure to lure fans of Thompson's gay-and-straight-culture spoofs on "Kids in the Hall" (which he appeared on for six years — getting exposure on the CBC, CBS, HBO and now Comedy Central). A native of Brampton, Ontario, Thompson cut his teeth in comedy in the Toronto improv group, The Love Cats. He was a series regular on "The Larry Sanders Show," a co-star in "More Tales of the City," and is a recurring character on "Providence."

Co-writer Paul Bellini's association with Scott Thompson has spanned over 20 years and has included such projects as "The Kids in the Hall," the novel "Buddy Babylon," the comedy special "Out There In Hollywood," and the rock band Mouth Congress.  On his own, Bellini has written and produced for such TV shows as "This Hour Has 22 Minutes," "The Bette MacDonald Show," "P.R.," "Yvon of the Yukon," and the film "Hayseed."  He has also recorded two CDs of original music, entitled "The Northland's Own" and "Put Paul First."  He lives in Toronto.

— By Kenneth Jones