Legendary comedian David Steinberg is bringing his latest production-in-development to the La Jolla Playhouse for seven workshop performances, giving audience members the rare opportunity to help shape the product of his one-man comedy show. Steinberg, whose longstanding career in comedy has taken him down various roads in the industry, will bring audience members along for the humorous journey of his life in show business. In addition to earning numerous accolades over his lifetime — including Directors Guild of America and Emmy Award nominations for his work on hit television situation comedies like “Seinfeld,” “Mad About You” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and two Grammy nominations for his comedy albums — Steinberg has also appeared on Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” more than 130 times, making him second only to Bob Hope in number of guest appearances on the show. Now 70, the Canadian-born comedian sources much of his content from the story of his life, which he says has been a “rich, unique — and some might say weird — one.” “Having come from Canada, having been on the ‘Tonight Show’ so much, having started at The Second City improv group, and having been involved with a ton of celebrities because I’ve been — and still am — a director gives me content for the show,” he said. “What you want is a point of view that is totally yours and totally unique, that is entertaining and funny. That’s the goal.” Although most people may have not experienced a Steinberg-esque lifestyle as a showman in Hollywood, audience members can still relate to the human experiences Steinberg presents in his performance. “Everything lends itself to humor if you just see it that way,” he said. “What makes it comedic is a comedy person. Comedy can’t be taught, you have to be born that way. Basically since I was 16 or 17, I’ve been in front of audiences — not professionally but by circumstance — and never thinking I was going to be a comedian, but it worked out that way.” His stand-up show at the La Jolla Playhouse will be unique in that it is a workshop performance that is ever evolving, based partly on the audience’s reaction to his content. “It’s being developed in front of your eyes as you’re watching it,” he said. “The reaction I’m always looking for is laughter. People crying — that’s a reaction I’m not interested in — or demanding their money back.” The likes of John Leguizamo and Billy Crystal — both of whom Steinberg has worked with and influenced — have hit the very same playhouse stage for their own workshop comedy performances in the past. “They’re actually one of the best for this sort of thing. [Former playhouse artistic director] Des McAnuff who did it in the past ran these kind of things, and [artistic director] Christopher Ashley is continuing it now,” he said of why he chose the La Jolla Playhouse to develop his comedic performance. “It seemed like the right idea.” His performance will combine any number of life experiences, opinions and ideas. “My wife will be the first to tell you — I wake up with opinions. That shows you how unarticulated they are, but I have them. I came from an improv background and have a lot to say about everything,” he said. “I’ll probably do some old material and make it retro by just analyzing it from today’s point of view.” Although no two performances will be the same, Steinberg assures that “none will be embarrassing.” He said he looks forward to having an audience and hearing their reaction to his performance. “The most exciting thing is usually just the little things, like ‘Is there an audience that is coming to see it?’ And that seems to be happening big time, so that’s already exciting. That’s something to never take for granted, so that already gives me some impetus to do my best,” he said. “I’m looking forward to hearing the laughter, and I’m interested to hear what the audience has to say about it.” Due to the looser nature of the workshop performance, Steinberg can move content around in his show or hold Q&A sessions after the performances to gauge his audience’s interest in certain topics. “You don’t really change it. You move things around, and you try to surprise yourself by leaving out something, heading into another area, wondering how much you can go in one direction to something being funny as opposed to being offensive,” he said. “People will let you know just by how they’re listening to you whether it is compelling or not.” With Steinberg’s longstanding career amid the best of the best in the industry, hilarity is certain to ensue in his upcoming performances. “When you’re doing an hour show, you want the audience to have laughed. I don’t think that’s going to be a problem, but you also want to leave them with a little more than that, and what that little more is, is what I’ll try to find out in the next couple weeks,” he said. Steinberg’s “A First Workshop Performance with Legendary Comedian David Steinberg: That Could Turn Into Something Big … or Not” will take place on Aug. 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. All performances will take place at the La Jolla Playhouse’s Theodore and Adele Shank Theatre, located at 2910 La Jolla Village Drive. Tickets are $20 and are available at www.lajollaplayhouse.org or by calling (858) 550-1010. For updates and information about David Steinberg, visit www.thedavidsteinberg.com or on Twitter at @david_steinberg.