Enter Laughing

This riotous, semi-autobiographical account of stagestruck young David Kolowitz (modeled on celebrated comedian Carl Reiner) originally starred Alan Arkin on Broadway. Working as a delivery boy in a sewing machine factory in the 1930s, David rejects his parent's wishes for a druggist in the family, leaving them and his devoted girlfriend Wanda to pursue a show biz career. Soon, David pays his way into the “leading man” role in a third-rate theatrical company. Pursued by the resident less-than-leading lady, who happens to be the daughter of the hammy “artistic director,” David bravely pushes through a hilarious premiere performance in which everything that can go wrong does.

Enter Laughing premiered on Broadway at Henry Miller's Theatre on March 13, 1963. Directed by Gene Saks, the production featured Alan Arkin, Vivian Blaine, Irving Jacobson, Alan Mowbray, Meg Myles and Sylvia Sidney.