The production which began performances Feb. 23 has also moved its opening night from March 31 to April 7.
Smirnoff, the man who made the phrase "What a Country!" part of the vernacular in the late '80s with the television show of the same name stars in As Long as We Both Shall Laugh. Now that the cold war is over, his Russian vs. American material has been dropped to focus on the differences between men and women.
David Hirschi is the creative producer and Jeffrey Sweet, Jimmy Brogan and Buzz Nutley serve as creative consultants to the production. The design team includes Eric Renschler (scenic consultant), Mike Baldassari (lighting), Robin L. McGee (costume) and Fitz Patton (sound). Choreography is handled by Jennifer Werner.
The show runs on a Sunday and Monday night schedule — the off-nights for the Roundabout Theatre Company's upcoming A Day in the Death of Joe Egg. There are no performances on March 9-10 and March 16-17.
Smirnoff (born Yakov Naumovich Pokhis) became an American citizen on July 4, 1986 at the Statue of Liberty. Coming to America in 1977 — his parents and under $100 to his name — the comedian went on to perform on "The Tonight Show," in the aforementioned sitcom and in such films as "Moscow on the Hudson," "Brewster's Millions" and "The Money Pit." Tickets to As Long As We Both Shall Laugh are available through Roundabout Ticket Services at (212) 719-1300 or at the American Airlines Theatre box office, 227 West 42nd Street. For further information, visit www.yakov.com or www.roundabouttheatre.org.