Nathan Lane, as Max Bialystock, an overbearing theatrical producer who was once the toast of Broadway but has now fallen on hard times, sings the second number in The Producers, "King of Broadway." In it, Bialystock finds himself standing outside the Shubert Theatre, contemplating the opening - and closing - night of his latest show, Funny Boy, a musical version of Hamlet. A blind violinist makes him remember the good old days, when he was "young and gay, but straight" and had six shows on Broadway - "and one was a hit!" - dissolving the Eastern European lament into a parody of traditional Jewish dance. The Producers, based on the classic Mel Brooks comedy and featuring all new songs from Brooks, will open April 19 at the St. James Theatre. Chicago sees the new tuner first with a run at the Cadillac Palace Theatre Feb. 1-25 before Broadway previews begin March 22.
