Sam Harris will be wearing black this summer when he slips into the hip-hugging trousers of Carmen Ghia in Broadway's The Producers beginning July 2 at the St. James Theatre.

Harris takes over for Roger Bart, who left the show June 30 and heads to Los Angeles to join a new CBS sitcom, "Bram and Alice." Harris' Broadway credits include Grease! and The Life. He was Tony Award-nominated for the latter, in which he played a Times Square hustler. He found early fame as a vocally-potent "Star Search" contestant who sang "Over the Rainbow." On tour, he appeared in the souped-up Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, memorably stepping in for an ailing Donny Osmond.

Harris is expected to be with the Tony Award-winning Mel Brooks musical for four months, according to his official website.

Carmen Ghia is the bizarre, lisping manservant and companion of the richly effeminate theatrical director, Roger DeBris, played by Tony Award-winning Gary Beach. Together, they tell producers Max and Leo that in order to have a hit show, they must "Keep It Gay."

The cast includes Steven Weber, Brad Oscar, Cady Huffman and Gary Beach.