Pee-wee Is 'Worn Out,' But Ready to Dazzle With Stage Show

By Bruce Haring Posted Dec 10th 2009 12:18PM

Exclusive: Pee-wee Herman is tired. At age 57, actor Paul Reubens is reviving his classic character and his Pee-wee's Playhouse concept in a Los Angeles stage show that runs Jan. 12-Feb. 7 at the Club Nokia@LA Live, a 2300-seater in a neon-filled downtown mall. PopEater caught up with Reubens to talk about his upcoming show, and how he's "very, very worn out" just from rehearsing his high-energy act.

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Pee-Wee Herman Snapshots

Actor Paul Reubens -- seen here in his infamous Pee-wee Herman red tie, grey suit outfit -- is seen here at a press conference on December 7. Click for More Pee-wee Pics >>>

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Pee-wee Herman Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 07: Actor Paul Reubens, playing the character Pee-wee Herman, launches his Pee-wee Herman show at a press conference at Club Nokia on December 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Toby Canham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Paul Reubens

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The "Pee-wee Herman Show," which features 19 puppets and 11 actors (including many of the originals who played Miss Yvonne, Cowboy Curtis and others), is designed to resonate with fans of the "Pee-wee's Playhouse" TV series. The show may be Broadway or Las Vegas-bound if ticket demand is high enough.

The "if" part of that equation is the reason why media were summoned for a sit-down with the star, even though over 10,000 tickets have already been sold. The economy, you know ... and Reubens, who was unfairly railroaded by the legal system for about a decade, probably has some financial and image-focused catching up to do.

But six days per week of eight-hour, high-intensity rehearsals clearly have taken a toll on the star.

Asked if he still has the stamina to play a megawatt character with a persona at least three decades younger than his actual age, Reubens confesses, "I don't know the answer to that quite yet.

"The set is very large," he says. "The other day in the middle of rehearsal I thought -- and I think I even said this out loud -- 'I wish this Playhouse was a little smaller!' Because there's a lot of running back and forth, so it seems kinetic and energetic while you're watching it. But it's a lot of work. I have to say, I've been very, very worn out, tired from doing it all."

Then the Pee-wee side takes over. "But we will have a nurse standing by!"

In the show, Pee-wee dreams that one day he can fly. The play follows his quest to see this lifelong wish fulfilled.

Tickets are available by calling 800-745-3000 or at www.ticketmaster.com

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Tags: paul reubens, PaulReubens, Pee-Wee Herman, Pee-weeHerman

Comments

(4)

Thursday 10 December

By CowTV

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Pee-Wee ROCKS! Anyone who knows - ANYONE - who has seen the magic and appreciated what he did knows he must have been rail-roaded because he wasn't "main-stream".

Does the level of creativity that The Pee- Wee Herman Show brought to television exist today? Disney Channel, you listening? I THINK NOT!

You go Pee-Wee! Bring back the magic!

By photo

Vote down Vote up Report this

You are so right! I have really missed Pee Wee's sense of fun on TV. I purchased the CDs of his show for my Grandkids and they love him as much as I do. I hope his new show is taped so that those of us who can't see him on stage, can eventually watch him on our TVs.

By SailorKnightWing

Holy cow. That man does NOT look 57. I hope his show does well, if nothing else he's a tremendous voice actor.

By Craig

Got front row seats reserved. (Does it really last longer with a picture?)

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