Paul Reubens Is Resurrecting Pee-Wee Herman For Stage Show

Access Hollywood - August 11, 2009 10:28 PM PDT
Story photo: Paul Reubens Is Resurrecting Pee-Wee Herman For Stage ShowPaul Reubens as 'Pee-wee Herman' poses in the pressroom during of Spike TV's First Annual 'Guys Choice' taped at Radford Studios on June 9, 2007 in Studio City, California Getty ImagesAccess Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- After 20 years in retirement - Pee-wee Herman is back!

Actor Paul Reubens is bringing back his beloved character in a stage show this coming November at the Music Box at The Fonda in Hollywood.

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"I've put part of him away for a long time, but part of him has always been here with me," the actor told the Los Angeles Times. "I think it will be like riding a bike -- which is not a bad analogy for Pee-wee, by the way."

Paul confessed he has reservations about bringing back the iconic character after such a long absence.

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"I have some fear that he won't be funny after all this time," he continued. "I don't want to ruin it."

The stage show, titled "The Pee-wee Herman Show," is based on the first version of the actor's theatrical endeavor, which he launched at the Groundlings Theatre in LA in 1981.

The character grew in popularity and starred in a slew of projects including an HBO special, two feature films and the CBS Saturday morning series, "Pee-wee's Playhouse."

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Popular "Playhouse" character Chairry and Pterri the pterodactyl, who were not in the original stage show, will be featured in the new version.

"It has a lot of new material and a lot of old material," Paul said. "I felt that doing this show so many years later and having the TV show in between -- people are going to ask, 'Where's the talking chair?' So I've added characters from the TV series to the show."

But not every character from "Playhouse" will be on stage with Pee-we. The late Phil Hartman, who played Captain Carl on the CBS series, will not be recreated for the current show.

"I didn't want to be looking at someone else playing Phil's part," the actor said.

Paul said he's excited to be returning to the stage - no matter how long it's been and how old his audience is now.

"I've never said how old Pee-wee is. People attach their own age to him. I never decided myself," he added. "I'm glad people will be 20 to 30 feet away from me on stage. I'm trying to work out a system where people with bad vision sit in front. I think it will work."

"The Pee-wee Herman Show" runs from November 19-29 at the Music Box at The Fonda in Hollywood. Tickets go on sale today.

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comments 1-10 of 15  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • Keshka
    RITE ON PEE WEE!!!!!! THANKS FOR COMING BACK!!!!!!!!!!!
    report abuseposted January 23, 2010 10:52 PM PST
  • Home At Last
    I was able to see Pee Wee Herman's run at the Roxy Theatre and didn't miss a show. One of our best loved characters. The Pee Wee Herman Show was the only thing my young daughter would watch without moving around. I will forever remember clanging pots and pans along with a loud scream at the word of the day. Thank you Paul for bringing Pee Wee Back for another generation.
    report abuseposted August 12, 2009 1:16 PM PDT
  • StreetPeaches
    I love PeeWee.
    report abuseposted August 12, 2009 2:18 AM PDT
  • Traci
    omg, now Im sitting here remembering scenes from Pee wee's Big Adventure...guess its time to break out my movies and popcorn tonight. :D Yay!!!!
    report abuseposted August 11, 2009 11:59 PM PDT
  • MK
    Loves it++
    report abuseposted August 11, 2009 11:56 PM PDT
  • E
    kyle busch and him are twins!
    report abuseposted August 11, 2009 11:30 PM PDT
  • E
    kyle busch and him are twins!
    report abuseposted August 11, 2009 11:30 PM PDT
  • DREADS
    I KNOW YOU ARE,BUT WHAT AM I!! Huh-huh.
    report abuseposted August 11, 2009 11:19 PM PDT
  • LaLa
    Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we miss you pee wee!
    report abuseposted August 11, 2009 11:10 PM PDT
  • Sarah
    Oh my..... That guy is such a creep!!!!
    report abuseposted August 11, 2009 10:57 PM PDT
comments 1-10 of 15  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

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