Mr. Saturday Night musical to star Billy Crystal with music from Jason Robert Brown

A new musical adaptation of Mr. Saturday Night is set to have a development run.

The stage adaption of the 1990s movie will see Billy Crystal reprise his role for a short work-in-progress run in the US next month (October).

The new musical version features songs by multi Tony Award winning composer Jason Robert Brown together with Amanda Green ((Bring It On, High Fidelity). Original screen writers Crystal, Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel return to write the book.

Originally released in 1992, Mr. Saturday Night follows the rise and fall of stand up comedian Buddy Young Jr.

Crystal will return to star as Buddy with David Paymer reprising his Oscar-nominated role of Stan Yankelman. Tony winner Randy Graff will play Elaine Young and Chasten Harmon will play Annie Wells in the short run.

Direction comes from John Rando with David O as musical director.

The piece will run between 22-44 and 26-30 October at Barrington Stage Company in the Berkshires. For more information and tickets, visit barringtonstageco.org.

Barrington Stage Company Founder/Artistic Director Julianne Boyd said: “We are thrilled to present a first look into this exciting new musical in development and welcome the sensational Billy Crystal to our stage.

“I know our audiences will be delighted to be the first in the country to experience Mr. Saturday Night.”

News of the adaptation was first shared in 2019 where it was aiming for Broadway.