Billy Crystal Takes 700 Sundays From Memory to Broadway to Memoir | Playbill

Related Articles
News Billy Crystal Takes 700 Sundays From Memory to Broadway to Memoir Billy Crystal will translate his Broadway debut work 700 Sundays into a book to be released by Warner Books, the company has announced.

//assets.playbill.com/editorial/99a577c1d25d545b3e68745898857151-crystal1_1106080161.jpg
Billy Crystal in 700 Sundays Photo by Joan Marcus

The book — which will bear the same title as the solo work currently packing Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre — is slated to be published November 2005. Warner Books is a division Time Inc.'s Time Warner Book Group.

700 Sundays is billed as two-act play that "deals with [Crystal's] youth, growing up in the jazz world of Manhattan, his teenage years, and finally adulthood." The title refers to the number of days Crystal got to spend with his busy-with-jobs father who died when young Billy was only 15.

"I couldn't be more pleased," Billy Crystal said in a statement. "My Broadway experience has been a once in a lifetime opportunity. Now I am thrilled to share the story in another way."

The book form, inspired by the stagework, is expected to not only offer a look into the Crystal family history, but lead readers to consider their own "origins, our destinations and the people who mean the most to us along the way."

Tony Award winner Des McAnuff (Big River, The Who's Tommy) directs the solo work which began performances Nov. 12, 2004 and opened Dec. 5 at the Broadhurst Theatre. 700 Sundays is currently slated for a run through March 6. The work, which features additional content by Alan Zweibel, was built upon material used in his live benefit performances of An Evening with Billy Crystal and His Special Guest David Steinberg in 2003.

Crystal, who hosted the Academy Awards for the eighth time in 2004, has recently appeared in "Analyze That," the sequel to "Analyze This." Other films credits include "Running Scared," "City Slickers," "Throw Momma From The Train," "The Princess Bride," "When Harry Met Sally," "Mr. Saturday Night" and "America's Sweethearts." He also provided the voice of Mike in the animated "Monsters Inc." Crystal also received plaudits for his directorial work on the HBO film "61*" which he also executive produced.

Janice Crystal (the star's wife) and Larry Magid produce the Broadway run of the work which was developed at La Jolla Playhouse, where McAnuff is artistic director.

In the weeks prior to its first performance, reports had the advance sales at over $6 million, though no official confirmation of advance or capitalization was released. The day following its opening, the new show took in close to $600,000 and the following day (Dec. 7, 2004) saw over another $300,000 in sales, confirmed production spokespersons at the time.

700 Sundays performs at the Broadhurst Theatre, located at 235 West 44 Street.

 
RELATED:
Today’s Most Popular News:
 X

Blocking belongs
on the stage,
not on websites.

Our website is made possible by
displaying online advertisements to our visitors.

Please consider supporting us by
whitelisting playbill.com with your ad blocker.
Thank you!