Limited Engagement of THE PEE-WEE HERMAN SHOW Begins January 12 at Club Nokia @ L.A. LIVE

Performances start Tuesday, January 12. for 'The Pee-wee Herman Show' at Club Nokia @ L.A. LIVE for a limited 4-week engagement, through February 7.

The cast features Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman, Lynne Marie Stewart as Miss Yvonne, Phil LaMarr as Cowboy Curtis, Jesse Garcia as Sergio, a new character, Josh Meyers as Firefighter, John Moody as Mailman Mike, John Paragon as Jambi, Drew Powell as Bear, Lance Roberts as King of Cartoons, and Lori Alan and Maceo Oliver as voices.

Pee-wee's talking chair Chairry, Pterri the pterodactyl, Conky the robot, Magic Screen, and Randy, will also be on stage at Club Nokia.

Lynne Marie Stewart (Miss Yvonne), John Moody (Mailman Mike), and John Paragon (Jambi) have long histories with Pee-wee Herman and originated these roles in the original "The Pee-wee Herman Show" at the Roxy Theatre.

Tickets are available by calling 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com

This brand new version of "The Pee-wee Herman Show," has been adapted from the original production by Reubens, Bill Steinkellner and John Paragon. David Korins, the show's scenic designer, will work with Gary Panter, the award-winning designer of both the original stage production and CBS's Pee-wee's Playhouse. The show's original musical composer is Jay Cotton, has returned and is writing new music.

Pee-wee dreams that one day he can fly. The play follows Pee-wee's quest to see this lifelong wish fulfilled. Pee-wee is torn when he has to choose to have his wish granted or better the lives of his friends. Along the way he embarks on hilarious adventures filled with his playhouse friends and some new ones. Throw in some funny pop culture references, and of course, your favorite Pee-wee-isms.

"I'm really excited that fans are responding so incredibly to Pee-wee's return," said Paul Reubens. "Thanks to our friends at Goldenvoice, we are able to bring our enormous production downtown to Club Nokia. I'm thrilled to have the talented Scott Sanders join the production as lead producer and Alex Timbers come on board as director."

"We're honored to have such a creative force like Paul Reubens to bring the first theatrical production to Club Nokia," said Susan Rosenbluth, Senior VP Goldenvoice.

To the generation that grew up with his groundbreaking Saturday morning television show, Pee-wee Herman is an icon. Revered by media theorists and studied in colleges, his enormous cultural influence continues to reverberate in fashion, film and television.

The original "The Pee-wee Herman Show" debuted at The Groundlings Theatre in 1981 then moved to the Roxy Theatre on Sunset Strip for five sold out months. Robert Osborne said the Hollywood Reporter, "Anyone who deliberately avoids the pleasure of seeing ‘The Pee-wee Herman Show' would probably be willing to go through life without Christmas, cornbread, Häagen-Dazs and puppies."

Taped as part of HBO's On Location series, the show catapulted Pee-wee into the national consciousness. It lead to Pee-wee's many appearances on "Late Night With David Letterman," followed by a 22-city tour that included Carnegie Hall. In 1985, Warner Brothers brought Pee-wee to the big screen with "Pee-wee's Big Adventure," Tim Burton's feature film debut. (Co-written by Reubens,) it featured Danny Elfman's first original film score.

The CBS television series "Pee-wee's Playhouse," premiered in 1986. During its five seasons, the show garnered 22 Emmy Awards. Pee-wee's second film, "Big Top Pee-wee" was released in 1988. While "The Pee-wee Herman Show", and "Pee-wee's Playhouse" were an homage to an earlier generation's television classics -- "Howdy Doody," "The Mickey Mouse Club," "Captain Kangaroo," "Kukla, Fran, and Ollie," and "The Shari Lewis Show" - Pee-wee himself became one of the most original and beloved stars in all of television history and late-century American culture.

By the late 90s, even fashion was not immune to the style of Pee-wee as fashion designers like Christopher Bailey, Ennio Capasa, Miuccia Prada, Viktor & Rolf, and Thom Browne imitated the high armholes, short inseams, and tight cut suits that Pee-wee made as his trademark. In 2007, Nike created a version of the Nike SB sneaker loosely inspired by Pee-wee.

When Cartoon Network aired the series in 2006, 1.5 million viewers watched every night; the next year TV Guide named the "Playhouse" among the top 10 cult classics of all time.

All of the episodes of "Pee-wee's Playhouse" have been issued on DVD and iTunes and are consistently best sellers. Joyce Millman, writing for salon.com about the DVD box-set launch said, "Pee-wee is still a wonder to behold. ‘Pee-wee's Playhouse' is utterly timeless. When Pee-wee starts cutting up to the calliope bounce of the theme song, you know in an instant that innocence lost is often just misplaced and despite everything, you can go home again." The New York Times said, "To a public that remembers him with intense affection, Pee-wee is indelible."

And as Pee-wee was influenced by the television classics that came before him, it is hard to imagine that "Blue's Clues" or "SpongeBob SquarePants" would be quite the same without him.

Follow Pee-wee Herman on:
Twitter @peeweeherman
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/PeeweeHerman <http://www.facebook.com/PeeweeHerman>
Official Website: http://www.peewee.com <http://www.peewee.com/>

BIOGRAPHIES

PAUL REUBENS (Pee-wee Herman) At 5 years of age, after seeing an elementary school play, an Indian pageant, The Legend of Leelawallah, Paul decided to become an actor. His father built him a stage in the basement of their house and Paul wrote, produced and starred in plays he performed for the neighborhood. In 6th grade, he stepped onto a real stage for the first time as Nick Burns in A Thousand Clowns. Reubens created Pee-wee Herman while a member of the famed Los Angeles improv group The Groundlings. The Pee-wee Herman Show premiered at The Groundlings Theatre on February 7, 1981 at midnight. It quickly moved to The Roxy on Sunset Strip where it ran for an unprecedented five months. The HBO broadcast of the show introduced Pee-wee to a national audience. Pee-wee was brought to the big screen in the hit 1985 comedy Pee-wee's Big Adventure, which he co-wrote and marked Tim Burton's directorial debut. Reubens went on to create, co-write and direct "Pee-wee's Playhouse" on CBS where the series earned 22 Emmy Awards during its five year run. Reubens has been nominated for 14 Emmy Awards, winning twice. Pee-wee Herman was made an honorary Muppet, received a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame and was made an honorary Marine in conjunction with his work with Toys for Tots. Reubens has starred in a number of diverse film and TV roles, including "30 Rock," "Pushing Daisies," "Reno 911," "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Murphy Brown" which earned him an Emmy nomination. His film credits include Mystery Men, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Blow. Upcoming films include David O. Russell's Nailed and Todd Solondz's Life During Wartime. In the world of animation, Reubens has lent his voice to many projects including Dr. Dolittle, The Nightmare Before Christmas and "Family Guy." He currently can be heard as The Bat-mite on "Batman: The Brave and the Bold" and as the voice of Rex the Robot, the tour guide of George Lucas' Star Tours ride at Disneyland and Disneyworld.

Lynne Marie Stewart (Miss Yvonne). Lynne is excited to reprise the role of Miss Yvonne that she played on television and in the original Groundling stage show opposite the late, great Phil Hartman. For 20 years she performed with The Groundlings comedy troupe. On television Lynne played "Ellen" on FX's "Son of the Beach" and currently plays Charlie's Mom on "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia". She will be appearing in the upcoming season of Tracy Ullman's "State Of The Union." Her films include American Graffiti, as Mother Superior in Pee-wee's Big Adventure, and as Zelda the Bearded Lady in Big Top Pee-wee. She is happy to be back with Pee-wee and The Playhouse Gang!

PHIL LaMARR (Cowboy Curtis). Los Angeles native, is an alumnus of Yale University and The Groundlings. His stage credits include The Actor's Gang's Asylum, Theatre-a-Go-Go's Patty Patty Bang Bang: The Patty Hearst Musical, Sacred Fools' Jacques & His Master as well as directing Tales of A Bleaknik, Attack of the White Negro and Out of Tune. Television: "Mad TV," "Futurama," "Family Guy," "Justice League,""NYPD Blue," "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Castle." Film: Pulp Fiction, Step Brothers, Cherish, and Quid Pro Quo, a 2008 Sundance Film Festival selection.

LORI ALAN (Chairry, Magic Screen, Ginger, Fish, Flowers, u/s Miss Yvonne). Pearl the Whale on "SpongeBob SquarePants," Diane the Anchorwoman on "Family Guy," hundreds of voice-over and on-camera commercials and animated series. The DA on TNT's "Southland," and the lusty swinger on MTV's "Hard Times of R.J. Berger." Originated the part of Mae in the musical Reefer Madness, Gotham City Improv (Groundlings East), acclaimed solo show and stand-up artist. Television: "The Closer," "Chuck," "Desperate Housewives," "CSI," "Will and Grace," "Six Feet Under," "Friends," "Charmed," "Law and Order." Films: Boys on the Side, Father of the Bride II. www.lorialan.com <http://www.lorialan.com>

JESSE GARCIA (Sergio). Born in Rawlins, Wyoming, Garcia spent most of his childhood in Hanna, Wyoming, a town with a population of just over 500. His acting debut came in 1987 when he was cast in the challenging role of Li'l Brown Bear, in a classroom play. After a 15-year hiatus, and an ALMA Award winning performance for the 2006 Sundance hit, Quinceañera, he has been very busy acting, producing, writing and soon to be, directing, many projects. His next film, Days of Wrath, is scheduled to be released in 2010.

JOSH MEYERS (Firefighter, Conky, Clocky, Fish) grew up in New Hampshire watching "Pee-wee's Playhouse." After graduating from Northwestern University he moved to Amsterdam to work for the improv comedy theater Boom Chicago. In LA, he has been cast in "That 70's Show," "MADtv," Bruno, and several pilots that everyone sees. Wait, pilots get made and everyone doesn't see them? But people back in New Hampshire will understand that's still good, right? What? Hold on. Noooooooo (said falling into a well that's inside a cave for a more dramatic echo).

JOHN MOODY (Mailman Mike) played Mailman Mike in the original stage production of The Pee-wee Herman Show. He served a ten-year tour of duty with The Groundlings comedy troupe. Television appearances run the gamut from "The Golden Girls" to the prestigious "America's Funniest People." Writing gigs include: "Pee-wee's Playhouse," The Kampung Boy, the political comedy troupe, Gross National Product and a million Elvira projects. He also worked as a gag writer for Jackie Chan. He currently writes and directs corporate comedy videos for the amusement of our Captains of Industry.

Maceo Oliver (u/s Cowboy Curtis, Sergio, King of Cartoons, Bear). Night is a Child, Ray Charles Live! (World Premier) and Cuttin' Up with Pasadena Playhouse. Swing! (Japanese National Tour; McCoy/Rigby - Ovation Award Nomination); Ken in Smokey Joe's Cafe (Ovation Award Nomination) El Portal Theatre; John in Miss Saigon (Ovation Award Nomination) Fullerton CLO; Ragtime as Coalhouse Walker Jr. (Cabrillo Music Theatre); A Midsummer Night's Dream as Oberon (San Francisco Shakes); Valentine in Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Merchant of Venice as Morocco (Dean Goodman Award-CalShakes). Feature Films: Self-Inflicted; Little Chicago; Not Necessary.

JOHN PARAGON (Jambi, Pterri and original material). Born on an Army base in Anchorage, Alaska, John was developed as a top-secret, military weapon. However, exposure to the Northern Foot Lights caused him to explode onto Hollywood's stage, screen and TV. Miraculously, he is still living and working as an actor, writer and director. Summing up in eighty words or less, Mr. Paragon wishes that everyone enjoy the show. Fun fact: Jambi got his name from a falafel stand.

JOHN PARAGON (Jambi, Pterri, Writer) Actor, writer and director, starred in his own Showtime special, "The Paragon of Comedy" and in cult movie classics, Eating Raoul, Echo Park, and Weird Al's U.H.F. Other TV guest star appearances include "Cheers," "Star Trek Deep Space 9," and a recurring role on Seinfeld. Paragon received 5 Emmy nominations for writing and co-directing "Pee-wee's Playhouse" and also co-wrote (with Paul Reubens) the acclaimed "Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special." John Paragon is also a creative consultant for Walt Disney Imagineering. Fun fact: Jambi got his name from a falafel stand on Hollywood Blvd.

DREW POWELL (Bear, Mr. Window, Randy, Flowers, u/s Jambi, Mailman Mike, Firefighter) was raised by wolves in rural Indiana. A kindly hunter took pity upon the feral child, and taught him the Meisner technique. Theatre: Skirts and Flirts (NYC, LA), Bedtime Stories (LA), Greater Tuna (LA), and Where the Hell is My Residual Check?, presented from his living room. He recently finished watching 1989's "Turner & Hooch" on his Netflix queue. Films: Straw Dogs (director Rod Lurie), 1408, The Marine, and Mexican Sunrise. Television: The Office, ER, House, Leverage, Monk, Cold Case, Malcolm in the Middle. Love to wife Veronica, mistress Stacy and website: www.drewpowell.com <http://www.drewpowell.com> .

Lance Roberts (King of Cartoons, Globey, Mr. Knucklehead, Flowers). Theatre: LA -- Cats, I Love You You're Perfect, Forbidden Hollywood, Once on this Island, The All Night Strut, Ain't Misbehavin' (30th Anniversary). NY -- Forbidden Hollywood, Radio City's America, The Me Nobody Knows (revival) and March of the Falsettos. Regional -- Ragtime, Dreamgirls, Five Guys Named Moe, Driving Miss Daisy, I'm Not Rappaport, Cab Calloway's Cotton Club and The Old Globe's Sammy. Television: "Numbers," "Will & Grace," "Drew Carey," "Zoey 101," "Knots Landing," "The Colbys," "Girlfriends." Has played Jafar in Aladdin since the beginning of its 7,000 performance run at Disney's Hyperion Theatre.

Alex Timbers (Director) Alex Timbers is an OBIE Award-winning director. Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (also co-writer; Public Theater and Center Theatre Group), Peter and the Starcatchers (Disney Theatricals/La Jolla), Gutenberg! The Musical! (Drama Desk nom.- Best Director of a Musical), Hell House (also adaptation; Drama Desk nom.- Unique Theatrical Experience), ...Scientology Pageant (conceiver; OBIE Award and Garland Award- Best Director), The Language of Trees (Roundabout), Boozy, Heddatron, Dance Dance Revolution (Les Freres), Beyond Therapy (Williamstown/Bay Street). Alex is the Artistic Director of NY-based company Les Freres Corbusier.

Scott Sanders (Lead Producer) Scott Sanders Productions is a leading theatre and film Production Company whose projects have grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide and have involved world-class and award-winning talent from across the broad spectrum of the film, television, music, theatre and arts communities. The company's Film division has a first-look deal with Walt Disney Pictures and maintains its West Coast office on the Disney lot in Burbank. The company's Theatre and Live Entertainment division is partnered with a private equity investor group consisting of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, David Kraft and investment bankers Roy Furman and Jim Fantaci. In addition to his credit as lead producer of the 11 Tony Award-nominated hit Broadway musical The Color Purple, Sanders is widely credited with the historic turnaround of Radio City Music Hall. Additional credits include Elaine Stritch: At Liberty, which won the 2002 Tony Award, and the HBO special of "Elaine Stritch: At Liberty," which won two Emmy Awards, including one for Sanders for
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy SpeciaL. Sanders partnered with Queen Latifah and AEG in a groundbreaking music partnership to record and produce her first vocal album, The Dana Owens Album, which is approaching platinum sales status and received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album. He also produced the Tony Award-nominated Broadway production Dame Edna: Back With a Vengeance and pop star Josh Groban's Broadway debut in a concert version of Chess at the New Amsterdam Theatre. Sanders also launched film and television powerhouse Mandalay Entertainment with partner and chairman Peter Guber and served as president of Mandalay Television, executive producing six network series - in association with Columbia TriStar - including ABC's "Cupid" with Jeremy Piven and the WB's "Young Americans" with Kate Bosworth. Mr. Sanders first met Pee-wee Herman in 1983 when he was seated in the ‘hot seat' during one of Pee-wee's early performances at Caroline's in New York City.'

Performance Schedule
January 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 at 8 PM; January 16 at 4:30 PM;
January 17 at 4 PM and 7:30 PM.

January 19, 20 (press opening), 21, 22, 23 at 8 PM; January 23 at 4:30 PM;
January 24 at 4 PM and 7:30 PM.

January 26, 27, 28, 30 at 8 PM; January 29 at 7 PM and 10:15PM, January 30 at 4:30 PM

February 2, 3, 4, 6 at 8 PM, February 5 at 7 PM and 10:15PM, February 6 at 4:30 PM
February 7 at 4 PM and 7:30 PM.

Please note, there will be no performances on Grammy Sunday, January 31st.

Club Nokia @ L.A. LIVE, 800 West Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015
Tickets: $29.50-$125.00; $20 Rush Tickets Available at Club Nokia Box Office one hour prior to doors for all performances.

For tickets and more information, please visit www.peewee.com or www.ticketmaster.com

CLUB NOKIA, a multi-use music, entertainment and concert venue, located in the heart of the acclaimed LA Live Complex, accommodates over 2,300 guests. Featuring state-of-the-art acoustics designed for live entertainment, Club Nokia is the perfect venue for emerging music acts and cultural shows while also providing excellent space for corporate events and private parties. The theatre brings the latest technology to music enthusiasts including an innovative interactive experience embedded in foot-controlled floor interfaces, touch screens, and a large LED installation within the lobby of the Club Nokia space. This interactive experience allows users to scroll through the history and the future of Club Nokia events and interact with pictures, video, and text messages submitted by fellow concert fans. Club Nokia was awarded the "Best New Major Concert Venue" at the 2009 20th annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards

 

 

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