Before Opening, The Pee-wee Herman Show Extends Four Weeks

What's today's secret word? Extension! Before beginning performances, The Pee-wee Herman Show has announced it will run an additional four weeks, through January 2. Previews begin October 26 ahead of a November 11 opening at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.

Written by Paul Reubens and Bill Steinkellner, with additional material by John Paragon, the new stage production is a “re-imagined” version of Reubens' past theatrical outings as the character. The original version of The Pee-wee Herman Show, aimed at adults, debuted at the Groundlings Theatre in 1981 before playing at L.A.’s Roxy Theatre for five months. The production later had a 22-city tour that included New York’s Carnegie Hall. The cult hit feature film Pee-wee's Big Adventure was released in 1985, followed by a sequel, Big Top Pee-wee. Reubens went on to play the character in a TV series called Pee-wee’s Playhouse from 1986 to 1990.

The new production will feature Pee-wee "regulars" including Miss Yvonne, Mailman Mike, Cowboy Curtis and Jambi the Genie, as well as Pee-wee’s talking chair, Chairry, and friend Pterri the Pterodactyl.