The new work will begin performances Nov. 12 at the Broadhurst Theatre toward an official opening Dec. 5. Tony Award winner Des McAnuff (Big River, The Who's Tommy) directs.
"I am thrilled to come home and bring this story of my family to Broadway," said Crystal in a release statement. "As an artist, I've never felt as complete as I have developing and performing this show. 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."
700 Sundays... 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 show recently performed a workshop production (as 700 Sundays... Billy Crystal... A Life in Progress) at La Jolla Playhouse — where McAnuff is artistic director. 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.
Janice Crystal and Larry Magid will produce 700 Sundays. Crystal isn't the only humorist set to star on the Broadway boards this season: fellow comedian Martin Short has also announced he is bringing a solo work with music to the stage this spring.
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 lauds for his directorial work on the HBO film "61*" which he also executive produced. 700 Sundays will be joined on Broadway this fall by a number of other solo shows including Mario Cantone's Laugh Whore, Eve Ensler's The Good Body, Whoopi Goldberg's Whoopi and Dame Edna: Back With A Vengeance. The spring will likely bring two more — Sarah Jones' bridge & tunnel and If I'd Saved, I Wouldn't Be Here: Martin Short on Broadway.
Tickets to 700 Sundays at the Broadhurst Theatre, 235 West 44 Street will be available through Telcharge.
