Nathan lane injured pulls out of The Producers

Nathan lane injured pulls out of The Producers

Nathan Lane has pulled out of all his remaining performances of The Producers after suffering from two slipped discs. He was due to play the part of Max Bialystock until 8 January 2005. Cory English will now play the part until Brad Oscar takes over on 10 Jan 2005.

Nathan Lane took on the role in November after actor Richard Dreyfuss pulled out. Dreyfuss blamed recent back surgery and a shoulder injury for his decision to quit the show, and was replaced by Lane at short notice.

The rest of the cast remain unchanged: Lee Evans (Leo Bloom), 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.