Jackie Mason's ''Laughing Room Only'' is a 2003 Broadway musical with a book by
Dennis Blair and
Digby Wolfe
James Digby Wolfe (4 June 19292 May 2012) was a British actor. After a successful career in the UK and Australia, his later career was based in the US.
Early life
James Digby Wolfe was born to a father who was an international banker and a m ...
and music and lyrics by
Doug Katsaros
Doug Katsaros is an American keyboardist, arranger, composer, and conductor.
Biography
In 1978 he played on Paul Stanley's debut album, followed by working on albums by Richie Havens, Michael Bolton, Arc Angel, Bon Jovi and his band Balance ...
.
It began previews at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on October 23, 2003, opened on November 19, 2003, and closed on November 30, 2003, totaling 14 performances.
The show's story features the titular
Jackie Mason
Jackie Mason (born Yacov Moshe Maza; yi, יעקב משה מזא; June 9, 1928 – July 24, 2021) was an American stand-up comedian and actor.
His 1986 one-man show ''The World According to Me!'' won a Special Tony Award, an Outer Critics Cir ...
as himself as he tries to put on a 10 million dollar musical on a budget of $19.99.
Other cast members were Ruth Gottschall,
Cheryl Stern
Cheryl Stern is an American Broadway actress.
Education
Stern is a graduate of Northwestern University.
Career
Stern worked as a backup performer for comedian Jackie Mason and was in his comedy musical Laughing Room Only.
In 2009, she starr ...
, Darrin Baker, Robert Creighton, and Barry Finkel.
The show was directed by Robert Johanson.
Songs
Act l
* ''Million Dollar Musical''
* ''French Chanteuse''
* ''This Jew Can Sing''
* ''Frieda From Fresno''
* ''Only in Manhattan''
* ''Starbucks''
Act ll
* ''Comedy Ambulance''
* ''Jackie's Signature Song''
* ''I Need a Man''
* ''Perfect''
* ''Jew Gentile Tap-Off''
* ''Tea Time''
* ''Musical Chairs''
* ''Finale''
Reception
Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
gave the show a mixed review, praising Mason's comedic talent while being less impressed with some of his reused material and the show's music.
[{{Cite web , last=Isherwood , first=Charles , date=2003-11-20 , title=Laughing Room Only , url=https://variety.com/2003/legit/reviews/laughing-room-only-1200537853/ , access-date=2023-02-04 , website=Variety , language=en-US]
References
2003 musicals
Broadway musicals
Original musicals