By Ernio Hernandez
12 Nov 2004

Billy Crystal
photo by Nigel Parry

Actor-comedian Billy Crystal begins his Broadway debut in his own solo work 700 Sundays at the Broadhurst Theatre, starting Nov. 12.

Tony Award winner Des McAnuff (Big River, The Who's Tommy) directs 700 Sundays which is set to open Dec. 5 for a run through March 6, 2005.

"I am thrilled to come home and bring this story of my family to Broadway," said Crystal in a statement. "This is not a history of my career, it is about periods of my life and people in my life that helped make me a man."

The solo work is billed as two-act play that "deals with [Crystal's] youth, growing up in the jazz world of Manhattan, his teenage years, and finally adulthood." The work, which features additional content by Alan Zweibel, was built upon material used in his live benefit performances of An Evening with Billy Crystal and His Special Guest David Steinberg in 2003.

Crystal, who hosted the Academy Awards for the eighth time in 2004, has recently appeared in "Analyze That," the sequel to "Analyze This." Other films credits include "Running Scared," "City Slickers," "Throw Momma From The Train," "The Princess Bride," "When Harry Met Sally," and "America's Sweethearts." He also provided the voice of Mike in the animated "Monsters Inc." Crystal also received plaudits for his directorial work on the HBO film "61*" which he also executive produced.

Janice Crystal (the star's wife) and Larry Magid produce the Broadway run of the work which was developed at La Jolla Playhouse, where McAnuff is artistic director.

Crystal joins the influx of Broadway solo shows running including Mario Cantone's Laugh Whore, Dame Edna: Back With A Vengeance, Whoopi Goldberg's Whoopi, Eve Ensler's The Good Body and the upcoming Jackie Mason's Freshly Squeezed.

700 Sundays performs at the Broadhurst Theatre, located at 235 West 44 Street.

The marquee of the Broadhurst Theatre, home of 700 Sundays
photo by Ernio Hernandez