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Enter Laughing, With Eikenberry, Tucker, LaManna, Irving, Finds New Life in NYC Sept. 3
By Kenneth Jones
and Andrew Gans
03 Sep 2008
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Michael Tucker and Jill Eikenberry
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| photo by Aubrey Reuben | The York Theatre Company's new production of Enter Laughing: The Musical — the comic, showbiz coming-of-age tale once known as So Long, 174th Street, and inspired by the early life of writer Carl Reiner — begins Off-Broadway Sept. 3.
This full staging of the 1976 charming flop comes after two popular concert presentations by the York in 2007. York audiences expressed their passion for the musical and the York is now hoping to be responsible for holding a lost gem up to the light.
Stuart Ross (Forever Plaid) directs a starry cast that includes Josh Grisetti as David Kolowitz, Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker (both of "L.A. Law") as Mother and Father, Paul Binotto (Dreamgirls) as Don, Ray DeMattis (City of Angels) as Foreman, Erick Devine (Seussical) as Pike, Betsy DiLellio, Janine LaManna (Seussical, Sweet Charity) as Angela, Gerry McIntyre (Once On This Island) as Don, Robb Sapp (Zanna Don't) as Marvin, Emily Shoolin as Wanda, Allison Spratt (Curtains) as Miss B, and theatre legend and Tony Award winner George S. Irving (Irene, Me and My Girl and the original cast of Oklahoma! and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), who will re-create his original role of Marlowe.
Matt Castle, who is the show's music director, will also play the role of Roger.
Opening is Sept. 10 for a limited engagement through Oct. 12.
Enter Laughing has a book by Joseph Stein (Fiddler on the Roof) and music and lyrics by Stan Daniels ("Taxi"). The musical is based on Stein's play Enter Laughing, which was inspired by Carl Reiner's semi-autobiographical novel.
As So Long, 174th Street, the show had a 16-performance run on Broadway in 1976 (at the Harkness Theatre, at 62nd and Broadway, which was razed in 1977). The bankable Robert Morse (How to Succeed…) was cast as the juvenile lead, David, but Morse was no longer a kid. The musical's score achieved a cult status.
The show, according to the York, tells "the hilarious story of young aspiring actor David Kolowitz in 1930s New York City as he tries to free himself from overly protective parents and girlfriends, all the while struggling to meet the challenge of an immense lack of talent."
The new production features scenic design by James Morgan, costume design by David Toser and lighting design by Chris Robinson.
The York previously presented a Musicals in Mufti weekend staging of Enter Laughing in September 2007. That production was so successful that an encore weekend presentation was offered in December 2007. The musical now returns for a month-long, fully-produced run.
The York Theatre Company is located at Saint Peter's Theatre in Citigroup Center at 619 Lexington Avenue. Tickets are available by calling (212) 935-5820 or by visiting www.yorktheatre.org.
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