Fred Applegate & John Gordon Sinclair join "The Producers" from 25 April 2005

Fred Applegate & John Gordon Sinclair join "The Producers" from 25 April 2005

Major cast changes in The Producers, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane from Monday 25 April 2005 with Fred Applegate (Max Bialystock); John Gordon Sinclair (Leo Bloom), taking over from Brad Oscar & Lee Evans.

The rest of the cast remain unchanged: Nicolas Colicos (Franz Liebkind), James Dreyfus (Carmen Ghia), Conleth Hill (Roger De Bris), and Leigh Zimmerman (Ulla).

Mel Brooks' Broadway hit musical opened in London 9 Nov 2004, following previews from 22 oct 2004, to superb notices from the popular press: NICHOLAS DE JONGH for THE EVENING STANDARD says, "A Spiffing knockabout musical comedy"; PAUL TAYLOR for THE INDEPENDENT says, "Unleashes an epidemic of bliss." MICHAEL BILLINGTON for THE GUARDIAN says, "Intoxicating, time-suspending and slightly guilty pleasure." CHARLES SPENCER for THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "From the opening number, the audience rides a tidal wave of pure pleasure and after three delirious hours one is left stunned by a combination of unstoppable laughter and sheer happiness." BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE for THE TIMES says, "Mel Brooks, has transformed his celebrated movie into a musical comedy, and as funny a one as I've seen."

The Producers opened on Broadway in April 2001 and quickly became Broadway's hottest ticket. It went on to win a record 12 Tony Awards in 2001, when it starred Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane.

The show has book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, and music and lyrics by Mel Brooks. It is directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman. The design is by Robin Wagner, costumes by William Ivey Long, lighting by Peter Kaczorowski, sound by Steve C Kennedy and orchestration by Doug Besterman.

A couple of guys come up with a scheme to produce the outrageous Broadway musical ever. They think they can take off with all their investors' money-but when the curtain goes up on their gigantic singing, dancing spectacular, they realize their plan has gone ridiculously wrong.