David Geffen and Mel Brooks are talking about adapting his 1968 film comedy The Producers as a Broadway musical.

Please propose contemporary performers you think would be right to perform the roles of Max Bialystock, Leo Bloom, Franz Liebkin, L.S.D., Roger DeBris, Carmen Ghia and, of course, Ulla.

Send your Dramatis Personae to Playbill On-Line's Managing Editor Robert Viagas at [email protected]. Please include your town and state, and please note whether you'd like us to include your full e-mail address so you can receive responses. This is optional, of course.

Here are the results so far:

From Jay Clark:
MAX: Harvey Fierstein
LEO: Rick Moranis
FRANZ LIEBKIND: Roseanne
L.S.D.: Steve Martin
ROGER DEBRIS: Charles Busch
CARMEN GIYA: Martin Short
ULLA: Lisa Kudrow
Of course, not even the ghost of Florenz Ziegfeld could afford this cast, but wouldn't they be fun in the roles?

From Stephen Rourke ([email protected]):
As a Broadway musical? Well, it's no weirder than the original idea, and yet the film is one of my all-time favorites. I have it on tape--it never fails to make me laugh!
I haven't worked out the whole cast, but I second the nomination of Lane as Max. And how about pairing him with Jason Alexander as Leo? What a combination that would be!

From mreynolds:
Well, if you want to do it right . . .
Max Bialystock . . . George Hearn
Leo Blume . . . Justin Kirk (Old Wicked Songs)
Franz Liebkind . . . Leo Burmester (Buried Child)
L.S.D. . . Timothy Carhart (By The Sea, By The Sea ...)
Roger De Bris . . . Alan Oppenheimer (Sunset Blvd.)
Carmen Giya . . . .Henry W. Schlemmer (Cocoanuts)
Ulla . . . Rachel York (Victor/Victoria)

From Sweeney856:
As Max, Nathan Lane - who else can play a Zero Mostel-created role? And as Bloom, how about Mark-Linn Baker? Whatever happens, this is one show Whoopi Goldberg should NOT be in - even as a replacement!

From R. A. Brabson, Wilmington, DE:
Of course Nathan Lane must play Max! I know he would be once again in Zero's footsteps, but he is perfect for the role -a better fit than Gable for Rhett.
Now for the accountant Bloom, I am stumped--perhaps Matthew Broderick?