FOLLOWING a limited engagement at the Barrington Stage last month, Billy Crystal is taking his stage adaptation of the 1992 comedy-drama “Mr. Saturday Night” to Broadway. Producers James L. Nederlander and Nederlander Presentations Inc. announced Wednesday that performances of the new musical comedy will begin at the Nederlander Theater on March 1, 2022, after which it will officially open March 31. Crystal will once again play the role of Buddy Young Jr. in a story about an “outrageous and outspoken comedian” who found fame in the early days of television, but 40 years later attempts to find the spotlight again following a flamed out TV career, along with taking “one last shot at fixing the family he fractured along the way,” according to the play’s synopsis. “Creating and portraying the 75-year-old comedian Buddy Young Jr. in the film of ‘Mr. Saturday Night’ was one of the highlights of my career — 30 years ago I needed five hours of make-up to play him and now I just show up,” Crystal said in a statement. “It’s been a joy to collaborate once again with the brilliant and hilarious Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, my co-writers from the film, and to be joined by the wonderful team of Jason Robert Brown, Amanda Green, Ellenore Scott and directed by John Rando. And it doesn’t get any better than sharing a stage with Randy Graff, my old friend David Paymer and Chasten Harmon.” “Together we have created a truly funny and moving musical comedy,” he added. The score features music by three-time Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Amanda Green. (SD-Agencies) | 