Actor, writer and our favorite Monkee Micky Dolenz will star in Mike Reiss‘ new play, “Comedy Is Hard,” premiering Sept. 24 to Oct. 12 at the Ivoryton Playhouse.

Dolenz, who just began a tour with pop group The Monkees last week, performed as an actor in productions of “Aida,” “Grease,” “Pippin” (at the goodspeed Opera House), “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum” and most recently “Hairspray” in London’s West End.

“I am ready to un-leash my inner-comedian.” Dolenz says of the new role in the play by Reiss whose “I’m Connecticut” was a hit at Ivoryton and the Connecticut Repertory Theatre where it premiered several seasons back.

Reiss’ play is set in a home for retired actors and the play takes an affectionate look at the relationship and rivalry between a retired stand-up comedian and a classical actress.

Reiss, who is writer and producer on “The Simpsons,” also created the animated series “The Critic,” the webtoon “Queer Duck” and worked on the screenplays for “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs,” “Horton Hears a Who,” “The Simpsons: The Movies; and, “My Life In Ruins.”

“Comedy Is Hard” will be staged by Jacqueline Hubbard, artistic sdirector at the playhouse. The rest of the cast is not yet announced.