EXCLUSIVE: The chaotic, massively influential early era of Saturday Night Live has been portrayed in narrative film and documentaries. Now, the stage gets it turn: new play Not Ready For Prime Time will have its Off Broadway debut in October.
Written by Erik J. Rodriguez & Charles A. Sothers and directed by Conor Bagley, Not Ready For Prime Time begins previews October 5 at The Newman Mills Theater at The Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space. Opening night is October 20.
Casting will be announced later.
Described by producer Grove House Productions, the play is “a bold, behind-the-scenes look at the launch of one of America’s most iconic shows…From the writers’ room battles to the live-on-air adrenaline, this fast-paced and irreverent play dives into the personalities, clashes, and lightning-in-a-bottle moments that built an American institution.”
“This is a story about the moment lightning struck,” says co-writer Rodriguez. “These performers didn’t just make comedy — they changed it forever.”
The synopsis: “Not Ready For Prime Time is set in 1975 and follows nine soon-to-be legends — Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Lorne Michaels, Garrett Morris, Bill Murray, Laraine Newman, and Gilda Radner — as they navigate the chaos, creativity, and comedy that changed television forever. This new play pulses with live music, quick wit, and backstage mayhem, capturing the electric atmosphere of a cultural revolution in the making.”
