Larry David’s play Fish in the Dark is a comedy about death. Photo: Fred Prouser/Reuters

Comedian Larry David’s new play, Fish in the Dark, is shaping up for a major opening on Broadway this month and has already set a record for advance ticket sales by racking up $13.5 million before a single performance.

The comedy about death begins previews today and opens on March 5 for a limited 18-week run at the Cort Theatre. It is written by and stars David, the co-creator and writer of the hit comedy series Seinfeld and the star of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, in his Broadway debut.

A spokesman for the play said the record $13.5 million in advance ticket sales stemmed from the popularity of David.

The Brooklyn-born, bespectacled comedian plays a character whom he described as very much like himself.

“A close friend, his father died and he started telling me about it,” David, 67, said in a videoclip about the show. “It sounded like a great idea for a play.”

The play broke the previous record of $13.05 million set by Betrayal. The revival of the Harold Pinter marital drama starred Daniel Craig, known for his film role of fictional secret agent James Bond, and his real-life wife, Rachel Weisz.

Fish in the Dark is directed by Anna D. Shapiro (August: Osage County) and produced by Scott Rudin. The play also stars Rita Wilson (Sleepless in Seattle) and Rosie Perez (Pineapple Express), who said in a video clip she “read it with her mouth on the floor” and could not believe some of the jokes.

David admitted he had not been in a play since eighth grade and added that it was “a crazy thing to take on”.

But the gamble is paying off, judging by the advance sales in a Broadway season full of Hollywood stars.

Bradley Cooper, a best actor Oscar nominee for his role in American Sniper, is performing to packed houses in the revival of The Elephant Man, which grossed more $678,000 for the week ended January 18, and Tony winner Hugh Jackman is a big draw in The River, which made nearly $723,000 that week.

Jake Gyllenhaal, a best-actor nominee for Brokeback Mountain, has shown his star power in the two-person play Constellations, opposite British actress Ruth Wilson, a Golden Globe winner for her role in The Affair on premium cable network Showtime.

Triple Tony winner Glenn Close is also back on Broadway after a two-decade absence in A Delicate Balance.