Joining Short onstage at the Curran Theatre will be Brooks Ashmanskas (Little Me), Mary Birdsong ("Reno 911"), Capathia Jenkins (Caroline, or Change) and Nicole Parker ("Mad TV"). They will play numerous different roles alongside Short "guiding the audience through an improbable musical version of his life story," according to press materials.
The structural nature of the long-gestating show has been something of an enigma up until now, but a new press release describes it thusly: "Fame Becomes Me begins with Short and company singing the exuberant 'Party with Marty,' launching what he intends to be a celebration of his 'fabulous, perfect life.' Very quickly, it becomes clear the audience—addicted to Oprah and 'Behind the Music' — expects scandal and angst from their star. Lacking any in his own life, Short frantically modifies his life story as he and the cast tell it, adding the requisite struggle, pain and psychobabble to fabricate an increasingly hilarious alternative autobiography."
The show will then play engagements at Toronto's Canon Theatre May 27-July 2; and in Chicago at the LaSalle Bank Theatre July 5-16. It will arrive on Broadway at the Jacobs Theatre on July 22. Opening is Aug. 10.
The production features music by Shaiman, lyrics by Wittman and Shaiman and direction by Wittman. Shaiman, who will musical direct, will also be seen onstage. Wittman and Shaiman's Fame Becomes Me score includes such tunes as "Stepbrother de Jesus," "12 Step Pappy" and "Sniff, Sniff."
The book for the show was penned by Short and Daniel Goldfarb; Christopher Gatelli will choreograph. The creative team will also include Scott Pask (set design) and Jess Goldstein (costume design). Short most recently starred in the Los Angeles debut of The Producers as Leo Bloom. He won a Tony for Little Me and also starred in Broadway's The Goodbye Girl.