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The Evolution of Broadway’s The Producers

Broadway’s celebrated musical, The Producers, nearly featured a different cast in its defining roles. Nathan Lane, who portrayed Max Bialystock, recently divulged in an interview on Conan O’Brien’s podcast that Mel Brooks originally considered Martin Short to play the character of Leo Bloom, Lane’s counterpart.

Lane recalled Brooks stating, “I’m working on a musical based on my movie The Producers, and I think you and Marty Short are the only two people in the world to play those parts.” However, Short ultimately declined the role after recently winning a Tony Award for his performance in Little Me. Lane explained that Short was hesitant to spend an extended period away from his family, having already dedicated significant time to New York.

As a result, the role of Leo Bloom was filled by Matthew Broderick, who received a Tony nomination for his portrayal in the original Broadway production. The musical was an extraordinary success, clinching a remarkable 12 Tony Awards, including one for Lane’s performance. Over a span of six years, the show captivated audiences on Broadway before being adapted into a film in 2005.

Even though Martin Short did not take part in the Broadway production, he later took on the role of Leo Bloom in a Los Angeles staging alongside Jason Alexander. Moreover, he and Lane have appeared together in several episodes of Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, which also featured Matthew Broderick as a guest star.

Oh, Mary!

Lyceum Theatre (Broadway)

The original cast of Oh, Mary!, featuring the show’s creator Cole Escola, has returned to Broadway. Escola portrays a downtrodden and suffocated Mary Todd Lincoln during the tumultuous weeks before Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. The cast also includes talents such as Conrad Ricamora, James Scully, Bianca Leigh, and Tony Macht.

Source
www.broadwayworld.com