Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts ("The Wallis") presents Enter Laughing - The Musical, featuring a book by Joseph Stein (Fiddler on the Roof), music and lyrics by Stan Daniels ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show"), and directed by Stuart Ross (Forever Plaid). Musical Direction is by Gerald Sternbach. The show will run for 23 performances only, February 8 - March 1, 2015, in the Lovelace Studio Theater.
The cast includes
Joel Brooks (Mr. Forman),
Janet Dacal (Miss B),
Anne DeSalvo (Mrs. Emma Kolowitz), Mueen Jahan (Ensemble),
Gerry McIntyre (Mr. Pike),
Sara Niemietz (Wanda),
Robert Picardo (
Mr. Morris Kolowitz),
Amy Pietz (Angela Marlowe),
Jeff Skowron (Marvin),
Nick Ullett (Harrison Marlowe), and
Noah Weisberg (David Kolowitz).
Based on the semi-autobiographical novel by iconic writer-comedian
Carl Reiner and the play of the same title by Stein, Enter Laughing - The Musical tells the story of David Kolowitz, a stage-struck errand boy from the Bronx who wants to be a big time Broadway star (is that so much to ask?). Unfortunately, oy vey, his parents don't approve; they want him to become a pharmacist. They aren't the only thing standing in the way of his Broadway dreams, however: he also has a despondent girlfriend, dismissive boss, distracted best friend and disgusted acting coach.
Patricia Wolff, Interim Artistic Director of The Wallis, said, "Enter Laughing is a truly funny spin on a timeless tale: leaving one's ordinary life to pursue big Broadway dreams. When
Stuart Ross approached The Wallis about bringing this critically acclaimed musical to
Carl Reiner's hometown of
Beverly Hills, we couldn't say no - especially after the reading had our entire company in stitches from beginning to end. We can't wait to share this comedic gem with our audience."
Carl Reiner is a 12-time Emmy-winning actor and director known for co-starring on the seminal television program "Your Show of Shows," and for creating and co-starring in "The
Dick Van Dyke Show." As an actor, he starred in The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming; Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid; and Oceans Eleven, Oceans Twelve and Oceans Thirteen with
George Clooney,
Brad Pitt and
Matt Damon. Reiner directed the 1967 film version of Enter Laughing, The Jerk with
Steve Martin, Where's Poppa?, All of Me and Oh, God! with comedy legend
George Burns, among others. He also teamed up with
Mel Brooks on the Grammy-winning comedy albums 2000-Year-Old Man.
Legendary playwright and author
Joseph Stein first adapted Reiner's novel for the stage as a play, which enjoyed a successful Broadway run starring
Alan Arkin. The next year, Stein won a Tony Award and Drama Critics Circle Award for writing the book for Fiddler on the Roof. His other musicals include Zorba (Tony Award nomination, Drama Critics Circle Award); Rags (Tony Award nomination); The Baker's Wife (
Laurence Olivier Award, London); Juno; Take Me Along; Irene (starring
Debbie Reynolds) and The King of Hearts. He also co-authored the musical Carmelina with
Alan Jay Lerner; and Mr. Wonderful (starring
Sammy Davis, Jr.) and Plain and Fancy with
Will Glickman. In addition, Stein wrote the screenplays for the film adaptations of Enter Laughing and Fiddler on the Roof (which earned him a Writers Guild of America Screen Writers' Award).
Writer, producer and director
Stan Daniels earned his lone Broadway credit composing the score for the musical adaptation of Enter Laughing - The Musical (originally called So Long 174th Street). Daniels, known for his television work, won eight Emmys over the course of his career: two for writing (''The
Mary Tyler Moore Show'') and six for producing (three each for "The
Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Taxi"). He also wrote for ''Phyllis," a ''
Mary Tyler Moore'' spinoff starring
Cloris Leachman, and was a co-writer of the ABC special ''Cindy,'' an African-American version of the Cinderella story. His later television credits include HBO's ''Glory! Glory!'' (1989), a four-hour musical spoof of television evangelists.
Stuart Ross also directed the New York production of Enter Laughing - The Musical at the York Theatre (Drama Desk and
Lucille Lortel Award nominations) as well as the acclaimed
Bay Street Theatre production. Best known as the creator and director of Forever Plaid (as well as sequels Plaid Tidings and The Sound of Plaid), Ross recently directed the world premiere of
Catherine Butterfield's It Has to Be You at NYC's Abingdon Theatre and Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays. In Los Angeles, Stuart directed Promises, Promises (starring
Jason Alexander,
Jean Smart,
Fred Willard and
Alan Thicke) and Brigadoon for Reprise, and It's A Wonderful Life (starring
Alfred Molina,
Michael Richards,
Tony Shaloub,
Sharon Lawrence, and
Orson Bean) at
Pasadena Playhouse, and Silk Stockings at Musical
Theatre West.
Tickets are available at
www.thewallis.org or by calling
310-746-4000 or in person at The Wallis Ticket Services located at 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd.,
Beverly Hills, CA 90210.
About The Wallis
Located in the heart of
Beverly Hills, California, the Wallis
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (aka "The Wallis") brings audiences world-class theater, dance and music, performed by many of the world's most talented and sought-after artists. With eclectic programming that mirrors the diverse landscape of Los Angeles, and its notability as the entertainment capital of the world, The Wallis offers original and revered works from across the US and around the globe. This fall marks The Wallis' second season, which also includes its prestigious "Arts & Ideas" series, conversations with guests from the realms of culture, literature and politics. Housed in a breathtaking 70,000-square-foot venue designed by Zoltan E. Pali, FAIA of Studio Pali Fekete architects, The Wallis celebrates the classic and the modern. This is reflected in the juxtaposition of the restored, original 1933
Beverly Hills Post Office (on the National Register of Historic Places) that serves as the theater's dramatic yet welcoming lobby, and houses the 150-seat Lovelace Studio Theater, as well as a theater school for young people, and the contemporary 500-seat, state-of-the-art Bram Goldsmith Theater. Together, these two structures embrace the city's history and its future, creating a performing arts destination for LA-area visitors and residents alike.
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