'The Pee-Wee Herman Show On Broadway' Coming To HBO

Unless you live in New York or Los Angeles, chances are you weren't able to see Pee-wee Herman return to the theater. No, not THAT theater. "The theater" as in Broadway. Paul Reubens brought back his famous Pee-wee character in 2010 for The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway, which premiered last January in Los Angeles and will conclude its New York Broadway run on January 2. HBO announced Tuesday that, immediately following the end of the run, they'll shoot the production to air sometime in 2011. So if you weren't able to go out and see Pee-wee, Miss Yvonne, Cowboy Curtis, Chairy, Jambi and the rest, you'll soon get your chance. Check out a montage from the show, read the press release and more after the break.

Here's what Nancy Geller, senior vice president of HBO Original Programming, said in a press release.

Before his hit series and movies, HBO introduced Paul Reubens' Pee-wee Herman to a national audience in the 'Young Comedians' series, followed by the groundbreaking 1981 special. It's thrilling to have Paul back on the network, and it will be a blast to return to Pee-wee's Playhouse.

The show runs 90 minutes and is based on both the original Pee Wee stage show, The Pee-wee Herman Show, and the classic Saturday morning TV show, Pee-wee's Playhouse. It tells the story of Pee-wee wanting to fly and what he chooses to do when he gets one wish that could make it happen. Here's a montage from the show.

The Pee-wee Herman Show Montage from The Pee-wee Herman Show on Vimeo.

After breaking on HBO and into Saturday morning programming, the Pee-wee character spawned two films: Pee-wee's Big Adventure directed by Tim Burton and Big Top Pee-wee, directed by Randal Kleiser. Recently, due to Pee-wee's resurgence thanks in part to this live show, Judd Apatow announced that he and Paul Reubens would begin developing a new movie starring Pee-wee.

Living in Los Angeles and growing up in New York, it feels like every single one of my friends saw the new show and loved it. So it's great news for me that I don't have to spend $70 for a ticket and will now be able to see it on television.

Did you see it on the stage, did you want to see it, and are you excited that it's now coming to TV?

Read the full press release below:

HBO TO SHOOT THE BROADWAY HIT

"THE PEE-WEE HERMAN SHOW," STARRING PAUL REUBENS,FOR AN ALL-NEW SPECIAL DEBUTING ON THE NETWORK IN 2011

NEW YORK, Dec. 21, 2010 – Three decades after his first HBO special, Paul Reubens will return to the network in an exclusive presentation of his current hit Broadway show, it was announced today by Nancy Geller, senior vice president, HBO Original Programming.  Debuting in 2011, the HBO presentation THE PEE-WEE HERMAN SHOW ON BROADWAY will shoot at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre New York this January, immediately following the conclusion of its exclusive Broadway engagement, running through Jan. 2.

"Before his hit series and movies, HBO introduced Paul Reubens' Pee-wee Herman to a national audience in the 'Young Comedians' series, followed by the groundbreaking 1981 special," noted Geller.  "It's thrilling to have Paul back on the network, and it will be a blast to return to Pee-wee's Playhouse."

Opening to critical acclaim at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre on Nov. 11, 2010, "The Pee-wee Herman Show" is 90 minutes of subversive humor and childlike wonder based on both Reubens' original stage show, "The Pee-wee Herman Show," and the Emmy®-winning Saturday morning TV show, "Pee-wee's Playhouse," which became a cultural phenomenon.  The New York Times called the new Broadway show "yummier than chocolate," with New York saying, "Welcome back, Pee-wee!  You were sorely missed," while the New York Post noted, "The audience screams for joy!"

The Broadway production of "The Pee-wee Herman Show" stars (in order of appearance):  Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman, plus John Moody (Mailman Mike), Drew Powell (Bear), John Paragon (Jambi), Jesse Garcia (Sergio), Phil LaMarr (Cowboy Curtis), Lynne Marie Stewart (Miss Yvonne), Lance Roberts (King of Cartoons) and Josh Meyers (Firefighter).  Reubens also brought the Pee-wee character to the big screen in "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" and "Big Top Pee-wee."

THE PEE-WEE HERMAN SHOW ON BROADWAY reunites Paul Reubens and Marty Callner, who will direct this new HBO special and directed the 1981 HBO special  "The Pee-wee Herman Show."  Callner's previous HBO credits include comedy specials starring Will Ferrell, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, George Carlin and Robin Williams.

Credits for the Broadway presentation of "The Pee-wee Herman Show":  production created and conceived by Paul Reubens; written by Paul Reubens and Bill Steinkellner; additional material by John Paragon; music by Jay Cotton; directed by Alex Timbers; based on the original "The Pee-wee Herman Show" by Paul Reubens, Bill Steinkellner, Phil Hartman, John Paragon, Edie McClurg, John Moody, Lynne Marie Stewart, Ivan Flores, Brian Seff, Monica Ganas, Tito Larriva.  David Korins' production design is based on the original "Pee-wee's Playhouse" production design by Gary Panter.  Cristina Waltz's make-up design is based on the original "Pee-wee's Playhouse" by Ve Neill and the costume design is by Ann Closs-Farley.

The character of Pee-wee Herman is experiencing a remarkable renaissance, with enormous followings on Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare.  Renowned writer-director-producer Judd Apatow recently announced that he and Reubens are developing a new feature film based on the character.

Paul Reubens' other credits include the TV series "30 Rock," "Pushing Daisies," "Reno 911!," "Everybody Loves Raymond," "Family Guy" and "Murphy Brown" (which earned him an Emmy® nomination), and the feature films "Mystery Men," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Blow," "Life During Wartime," "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and the upcoming "Nailed."