The boy/man that I grew up loving as a child is finally making a return. Paul Reubens is once again putting on the grey suit and red bow tie for a limited run of “The Pee-wee Herman Show” live on stage in California.

Here’s the press release:

The SECRET WORD is FUN! Live onstage in Hollywood, “The Pee-wee Herman Show,” starring Paul Reubens, will have a limited engagement beginning November 8, 2009, at The Music Box @ Fonda. Press opening is Thursday, November 19, 2009.

Tickets go on sale Tuesday, August 11 at 8 am at all Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com and by phone at 800-745-3000.

“It’s time,” said Reubens. “My Pee-wee suit and red bow tie are at the ready – and this is proof that white shoes are cool past Labor Day.”

To the generation that grew up with his groundbreaking Saturday morning television show, Pee-wee Herman is an icon. Revered by media theorists and studied in colleges, his enormous cultural influence continues to reverberate in fashion, film and television.

When asked to comment, Herman himself simply said, “I know you are, but what am I?!”

This new version of “The Pee-wee Herman Show,” still about a wish, includes Miss Yvonne, Mailman Mike, Cowboy Curtis and Jambi the Genie, as well as Pee-wee’s talking chair, Chairry, Pterri the pterodactyl, robot Conky, Magic Screen, Randy, and many more.

Many of the show’s original artists, both on stage and behind the scenes are involved in this re-imagined production.

And the full performance schedule:

Previews: Sun 11/8 at 8pm; Wed 11/11 at 8pm; Thurs 11/12 at 8pm; Sat 11/14 at 7pm & 10pm; Wed 11/18 at 8pm
Opening: Thursday, November 19 at 8pm
Post-opening: Week ending 11/22 — Fri 11/20 at 8pm; Sun 11/22 at 5 pm & 8pm; Week ending 11/29 — Wed 11/25 at 8pm; Fri 11/27 at 7pm & 10pm; Sat 11/28 at 7pm & 10pm; Sun 11/29 at 5pm & 8pm

I’m not sure if I can pass this up. A complete toy recreation of Pee-wee’s Playhouse sits on my home office floor. My living room has a roughly 1/2 scale Chairry. (Both are thanks to my wife and eBay!) I only wish the show was going to tour instead of just being in California.

Update (8/11): I bought a ticket to the November 18 show. I couldn’t resist. Anyone else going to that one?