You might say that he's left a trail of De Bris and now he's following it back home to the St. James Theatre.

His latest contract in the Mel Brooks smash musical comedy will take him into the winter, coinciding with the premiere of the Susan Stroman-directed film version of the hit. His return to The Producers is being billed as the first time a star has appeared concurrently in the same role in the Broadway and film versions of the same property.

The "Producers" movie opens Dec. 21.

Beach was Tony Award nominated for the 2004-05 Broadway production of La Cage aux Folles. As the over-the-top gay and drag-friendly stage director Roger De Bris in The Producers, Beach won the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

Beach's other Broadway credits include Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Tony Award nomination, Best Featured Actor in a Musical), Doonesbury, The Moony Shapiro Songbook, Annie, Something's Afoot, 1776 as well as Sweet Adeline for Encores! Brad Musgrove also joins The Producers Sept. 6, in the role of Carmen Ghia.

Currently in its fifth smash year at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street), The Producers won the 2001 Tony Award for Best Musical and is the recipient of the most Tony Awards in theatre history.

Based on Brooks' Academy Award-winning 1968 film of the same name, The Producers "is the story of down-on-his-luck theatrical producer, Max Bialystock, and Leo Bloom, a mousy accountant. Together they hatch the ultimate scam: raise more money than you need for a sure-fire Broadway flop and pocket the difference."

The Producers currently stars Brad Oscar (as Max Bialystock), Hunter Foster (Leo Bloom), John Treacy Eagan (Franz Liebkind) and Angie Schworer (Ulla).

Brad Oscar has been announced to play Applegate in Arena Stage's Damn Yankees in Washington, D.C., during the holidays. A new Max has not yet been announced.

For more information, call Tele-charge.com at (212) 239-6200 or visit www.producersonbroadway.com.