Richard Kind Bites Into a Bialy in Broadway's The Producers Dec. 21; Ruck Will Bloom in January
By Kenneth Jones
21 Dec 2004
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Richard Kind
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Richard Kind, the character actor known for playing larger-than-life characters on TV and stage, steps into the big shoes of Max Bialystock in Broadway's The Producers Dec. 21, replacing Brad Oscar.
Kind distinguished himself in the Stephen Sondheim musical Bounce and on such TV shows as "Carol & Company" and "Spin City." He appeared briefly in Sly Fox on Broadway last summer.
In the Mel Brooks smash he'll play one of two crooked but charming producers who scheme to overfinance a flop and pocket the leftovers. Nathan Lane won a Tony Award creating the role on Broadway and starred in the London premiere. Brad Oscar is heading to England to replace him.
On Jan. 11, 2005, Kind's partner in crime will be Alan Ruck, his pal from TV's "Spin City," who has played Leo Bloom in a national tour of The Producers. Hunter Foster (Urinetown, Little Shop of Horrors ) is the current Leo Bloom on Broadway.
Kind gets his feet wet at the St. James with
Jonathan Freeman (as Roger DeBris), John Treacy Egan (Franz), Brooks Ashmanskas (Carmen) and Angie Schworer (Ulla).
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Brad Oscar was the followup Max Bialystock after Lane left the Broadway company in spring 2002. Oscar exited the St. James on Broadway Dec. 12 for a Jan. 10, 2005 bow on the West End. John Treacy Egan took on Max in New York until Richard Kind's Dec. 21 bow.
Lane won the 2001 Tony Award for his work as the sleazy but lovable producer. He got raves again when he was the last-minute replacement for Richard Dreyfuss this fall in the West End premiere. The role was too physically challenging for Dreyfuss, the actor and producers announced.
Brad Oscar's association with The Producers began when he played Nazi musical comedy writer Franz Liebkind. He was Tony-nommed for it. He graduated to Max, played him on Broadway and went out on tour as well - only to return to the St. James in the past year.
Lane is returning to the U.S. for pre-production work on the film version of The Producers, to co-star Matthew Broderick and Will Ferrell (as Franz).
Tickets range $30-$100, are on sale by phone through Tele-charge at (212) 239-6200 and in-person at The St. James Theatre, 246 West 44th Street. The playing schedule is Tuesday evening at 7 PM, Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8 PM, Wednesday & Saturday matinees at 2 PM, and Sunday matinees at 3 PM.
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