It must have been a surreal experience for the cast and crew of the new musical "Groundhog Day," based on the 1993 comedy, to have none other than the film's star, Bill Murray, show up to see it earlier this week. But it was probably even more surreal when Murray turned up for a second performance the very next night.

It was a case of life imitating art, as the plot of the show revolves around a self-absorbed weatherman (Murray) forced to relive the titular day over and over again. According to the New York Times, Murray was such a fan of the show -- which he took in on Tuesday, then again on Wednesday -- that it moved him to tears. And unlike his character, Phil Connors, who's initially driven mad by the inexplicable repetition, he didn't mind at all doing the same thing two days in a row.

The Times reports that Murray could be seen crying during curtain call on Tuesday, and afterward met with the cast to rave about their performances.

"It was really beautiful," Murray told Sean Montgomery, who plays the sheriff. "You got me. You really got me."

Addressing the entire ensemble, he said, "As actors, I can't respect enough how disciplined you are and how serving you are of the process. There's nothing worse than seeing someone that's out for themselves. And you are all in it for each other."

In an interview with the Times, Murray explained why he became so emotional, revealing that the story's moral spoke to him on a philosophical level.

"The idea that we just have to try again. We just have to try again. It's such a beautiful, powerful idea," he said.

The Times reports that Murray was his usual quirky, charming self when interacting with his fellow theater patrons, and posed for plenty of photos with fans. But we think this one, taken with lead actress Barrett Doss after Wednesday's show, best sums up the elation over having Murray in attendance.

Maybe Murray will keep up the gag and make it three nights in a row on Thursday.

[via: The New York Times]