Billy Crystal to reprise his role as ageing comedian

Billy Crystal is to return to Broadway with a musical adaptation of Mr. Saturday Night, his 1992 film about a washed-up comedian.

The story revolves around Buddy Young Jr, an outspoken comic who became a  TV star, but alienated many of those closest to him once his career began to fade.

Crystal, 73,. reprises the role at the Nederlander Theatre in New York from March 1.   

‘Creating and portraying the 75-year-old comedian Buddy Young Jr. in the film of Mr. Saturday Night was one of the highlights of my career,’ he said. ‘Thirty years ago I needed five hours of make-up to play him, now I just show up.’

He  wrote the book to the musical, alongside Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, all of whom were screenwriters for the original film, which the comedian also directed.

David Paymer will reprise the role of Stan Yankelman,  Young’s brother and manager, which he played in the film John Rando, director of Urinetown, also oversees  the new musical.

Crystal previously enjoyed solo success on Broadway with his one-man show 700 Sundays, which premiered in 2004 and had a return engagement in 2013. 

Published: 10 Nov 2021