The York Theatre Company is entering the fall season laughing with "Enter Laughing," a new musical comedy loosely based on the early life of funny man Carl Reiner. It tells the story of David Kolowitz, a young actor trying to make his way into manhood by way of show business.

This musical actually traces its roots back to a 1958 semi-autobiographical novel Reiner penned called "Enter Laughing." The novel was later made into a Broadway play, a film and then a musical called "So Long 174th Street."

This new musical version has a book by Joseph Stein who wrote the book for “Fiddler On the Roof” and music and lyrics by the late Stan Daniels, creator of the hit TV show "Taxi." Stein, who also wrote the original play, screenplay and musical, is now reworking the book for The York.

“Its whole concept is different, because originally it was a flashback with a middle-aged man playing a young boy trying to break into theater. And this is directly the story of a young boy who is trying to break into theater,” said Stein.

Josh Grisetti stars as the Reiner-inspired character.

“It's shocking how much this parallels my actual life,” said Grisetti. “Anybody in the theater, when you start, you're just that kid who thinks he has talent possibly and has no idea how to focus it or utilize it. And usually it's just sort of splattered all over the walls of a theater, if you make it that far. So I've been there.”

The show also features real-life married couple Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker, from the hit TV series "L.A. Law," as the parents of wannabe-star David.

“I loved the part when I read it, the mother, and I was excited to get back on the boards in a musical,” said Eikenberry.

“We did the workshop last year and we packed the houses, they were hanging off the rafter, they couldn’t get a ticket,” said Tucker. “People were stomping and cheering, so they're bringing it back because it's fun!”

"Enter Laughing" will play at the York Theatre Company from September 3 through October 12.