ENTER LAUGHING is Broadway Bound, 2010-2011 Season

The New York Times has revealed that the York Theater's production of ENTER LAUGHING, based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Carl Rainer about a young actor managing his life and women, will head to the Great White Way in the 2010 - 2011 season.  The production ran off-Broadway in the 2008 - 2009 season. No Broadway theater has been booked.

ENTER LAUGHING was adapted for the stage in the mid - 1960 as a comedy and enjoyed a successful run on Broadway from March 13, 1963 - March 14, 1964.  It was given musical treatment on Broadway in 1976 under the name So Long, 174th Street, which flopped.

In January, 2009, the York Theatre Company revived off-Broadway, which had a wildly successful run from January 21 through March 8, 2009.  It drew kudos from both critics and such prominent voices as Jerry Seinfeld.  

Keith Sherman, a spokesman for ENTER LAUGHING producer Dan Whitten, confirmed that the production is intended to transfer to Broadway next season.

Stuart Ross (Forever Plaid) directed the York Theater production, which featured a cast including Josh Grisetti ("The Knights of Prosperity") as David Kolowitz, "LA Law's" married couple Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker as his parents, Bob Dishy (Tony Award® nominee and Drama Desk Award winner for Sly Fox; Flora The Red Menace, The Price) as Marlowe, and Marla Schaffel (Tony Award® nominee and Drama Desk Award winner for Jane Eyre) as Angela, along with Paul Binotto, Ray Demattis, Erick Devine, Betsy DiLellio, Gerry McIntyre, Robb Sapp, Emily Shoolin, and Allison Spratt. Matt Castle music director and performed the role of Roger.

ENTER LAUGHING has a book by Fiddler on The Roof's Joseph Stein, based on his 1964 hit play of the same name, with music and lyrics by "Taxi" creator Stan Daniels. Based on the autobiographical novel by comedian Carl Reiner, ENTER LAUGHING tells the story of a stage-struck, woman-struck teenager who blunders his way into manhood via showbiz.

No word on whether the this cast and creative team will be making the transfer in the future.

In the photo: Josh Grisetti in the York Theater's production of ENTER LAUGHING

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.