Where Everybody Knows Your Name: ‘Cheers’ Coming to Stage

The gentle coach, Nick Colasanto, turns into a tyrant when he begins to manage a little league team, and Sam, Ted Danson, and Diane, Shelley Long, try to show him the error of his ways in a heart-to-heart talk. This episode “Manager Coach,” is on the NBC TV’s “Cheers.” Colasanto, shown in this 1983 photo, portrays coach Ernie Pantusso. (AP Photo)

BOSTON (AP) — The bar where everybody knows your name is coming to the stage.

“Cheers Live on Stage” is a comedy based on some of the most memorable moments of the celebrated TV show’s first season. The two-hour show is scheduled to debut in September in Boston — of course — before embarking on a national tour.

Fans will see all of their favorite characters, including shameless lothario Sam Malone, pretentious waitress Diane Chambers, rotund barfly Norm Peterson, Carla, Cliff and Coach, with a few new twists thrown in.

Although no original cast members are involved, the director says he plans to bring members of the audience on stage during the performances to be bar patrons.

The TV series won dozens of awards during an 11-year run that started in 1982.