the title role of stand-up comic David Ackerman, the director and producer sought either a stand-up comic who could sing and dance, or an actor who could sing and be funny – someone, as one report suggested, like Robert Lindsay or Jim Dale. When auditions were held in July 1987 (appropriately enough, at the Comic Strip on 81st Street), more than 400 comedians turned up. The part of David was duly filled by Robert LuPone (then best known as Zach from A Chorus Line), with Teresa Tracy cast as his dancer girlfriend, Gabrielle. The remaining minor roles – including various friends, club owners, hookers, and nightclub personnel – were performed by an ensemble of 11 that included future cabaret artiste Michael McAssey. In an effort to reduce costs, the show premiered at the Garde Theater in New London, Connecticut, on September 9, 1987. At that time, out-of-town tryouts for Broadway-bound musicals were no longer commonplace (as they had been in the 1950s and '60s), but the American Musical Theater,a non profit organization based in New London's Garde Theater, was hoping to reinstate the practice to revitalize theatre in New York. During the 11 days that Late Nite Comic played in New London, numerous major revisions were made to the show. The original opening number, "Stand up" was moved to later in the first act; another song, "When I am movin'" was expanded, and the lyrics to several others were rewritten. Towards the end of the New London run, the song "Nothing's changing this love" was replaced by "Having Someone", although the latter would not be orchestrated until the show reached New York. Further changes took place during rehearsals at 890 Broadway, including the excision of a song entitled "I live in L.A.". After previews opened on October 2, the title song was cut from the show, only to be reinstated, at Gari's strong insistence, on the night of the official Broadway opening. By that time, director Philip Rose (who suggested many of the revisions) had dissociated himself from the production, and requested that his name be removed from the credits. The show opened at the Ritz Theatre on October 15, 1987, and closed two days later after only four performances. An unflattering review in The New York Times asserted that: Late Nite Comic has no sense of direction. It also has no sense of book or score. In the course