<P> Reubens assembled a supporting troupe that included ex-Groundlings and cast members from The Pee - wee Herman Show, including Phil Hartman, John Paragon, Lynne Marie Stewart, Laurence Fishburne and S. Epatha Merkerson . Production began in New York City in the summer of 1986 in a converted loft on Broadway, which one of the show's writers, George McGrath, described as a "sweatshop". Reubens moved the production to Los Angeles for season two in 1987, resulting in a new set and a more relaxed work atmosphere . </P> <P> Playhouse was designed as an educational yet entertaining and artistic show for children, and its conception was greatly influenced by 1950s shows Reubens had watched as a child, like The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, The Mickey Mouse Club, Captain Kangaroo, and Howdy Doody . The show quickly acquired a dual audience of kids and grownups . Reubens, always trying to make of Pee - wee a positive role model, sought to make a significantly moral show that would teach children the ethics of reciprocity . Reubens believed that children liked the Playhouse because it was fast - paced, colorful and "never talked down to them", while parents liked the Playhouse because it reminded them of the past . </P> <P> The premise of the show was that host Pee - wee Herman went to play in a fantastic house (situated in Puppetland) known as the Playhouse, which was filled with toys, gadgets, talking furniture and appliances (e.g., Magic Screen and Chairy) and puppet characters such as Conky The Robot, Pterri the baby Pteranodon and Jambi the Genie (John Paragon), a disembodied genie's head who lives in a jeweled box . The Playhouse was also visited by a regular cast of human characters, including Miss Yvonne (Lynne Marie Stewart), Reba The Mail Lady (S. Epatha Merkerson), Captain Carl (Phil Hartman), Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne) and a small group of children, The Playhouse Gang . </P> <P> Although primarily a live - action comedy, each episode included segments featuring puppetry, video animation and prepared sequences using Chroma - key and stock footage, e.g., when Pee - wee jumps into the Magic Screen, as well as inserted clay animation sequences (some made by Aardman Animations, who would late make Wallace & Gromit) and excerpts from cartoons from the Golden Age of American animation, usually presented by the character "The King of Cartoons". Each episode also featured specially written soundtrack music by noted rock / pop musicians such as Mark Mothersbaugh (Devo), Todd Rundgren, Mitchell Froom and The Residents . The show's theme song performance was credited to "Ellen Shaw", though in her autobiography, Cyndi Lauper admits to being the actual singer . </P>

Who played cowboy curtis on pee wee herman