Dreyfuss Heads London ‘Producers’

It's been the must-have ticket on Broadway since it opened and now Mel Brooks' musical The Producers is coming to the London stage. But while it won't have the American pairing of Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane, the British cast has persuaded Hollywood star Richard Dreyfuss to join their ranks. Dreyfuss, who'll take the role played by Lane on Broadway, will be joined by British comedy star Lee Evans. By all accounts the role Dreyfuss will play is pretty demanding vocally, but the theatre's producer David Ian is confident that the actor has the tonsils for the job; 'Richard went through the numbers and met the musical supervisor and Mel and (director-choreographer) Susan Stroman, and everyone came away thrilled.' The play will open at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on 9 November 2004.