Reams and Nolte to Join Vegas 'The Producers,' May 7

Paris Las Vegas announced today Lee Roy Reams and Bill Nolte will join the cast of the Las Vegas production of the Mel Brooks musical comedy The Producers, direct from Broadway, Monday, May 7. Lee Roy Reams will play the outrageously flamboyant Roger DeBris and Bill Nolte will play Playwright Franz Liebkind. Both performers join the Las Vegas cast from the Broadway production continuing their tenure with the most critically acclaimed show in Broadway history in the new 90-minute Las Vegas production that opened to sold-out houses on January 31, 2007. 
 
Reams joins the Las Vegas cast of The Producers direct from Broadway after receiving the Helen Hays and Carbonell Awards for his portrayal of Roger DeBris in the First National Co.  He has played leading roles in 42nd Street (Tony & Drama Desk nominations), Applause, Lorelei, Hello, Dolly!, La Cage aux Folles, Beauty and the Beast, Oklahoma, An Evening With Jerry Herman and Sweet Charity. Television, concerts and cabaret (NY Bistro Award) have taken him to the White House and around the world. He's resident director of The Theatre Guild's Theatre at Sea and has a M.A. & Honorary Doctorate from CCM/ University of Cincinnati.
 
Nolte joins the Las Vegas production from the Broadway cast after touring the U.S. and Japan with the Leo and Max Companies of The Producers. Other Broadway credits include: Amour (Boss), Jane Eyre (Mason), 1776 (McKean), King David (Goliath), A Christmas Carol (Gravedigger), Joseph...Dreamcoat (The Baker), The Secret Garden, Me and My Girl and Cats (Old Deuteronomy). Regionally he has been seen at Goodspeed Opera (Sweeney Todd, Man of La Mancha), Pittsburgh Public (Pirates of Penzance, HMS Pinafore), Alley Theatre (Jekyll & Hyde), Grand Teton Music Festival, Cincinnati Playhouse (A Tuna Christmas). An accomplished watercolorist, he is a "Distinguished alumnus" from the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. 
 
"I'm overjoyed Lee Roy and Bill are joining the Las Vegas production of The Producers," said Mel Brooks. "Both Lee Roy and Bill are superb actors that have perfected their roles. They will both be a great asset to the Vegas company," he continued. 
 
The Producers had its gala premiere at Paris Las Vegas on February 9, 2007.The production opened on Broadway on April 19, 2001 to unanimous rave reviews and is the recipient of the most Tony Awards in Broadway History (12, including Best Musical). "Based on Mel Brooks' Academy Award-winning 1968 film of the same name, the show tells the story of down-on-his-luck theatrical producer, Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, a mousy accountant. Together, with the help of their flamboyant director, Roger DeBris, they hatch the ultimate scam: raise more money than you need for a sure-fire Broadway flop and pocket the difference. Their "sure-fire" theatrical fiasco?....None other than the musical Springtime for Hitler!," state press notes.
 
The show has a Tony Award-winning book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, Tony Award-winning music and lyrics by Mel Brooks and Tony Award-winning direction and choreography by Susan Stroman. The musical also has scenic design by Robin Wagner, costume design by William Ivey Long and lighting design by Peter Kaczorowski (Tony winners all for their work).   It was originally produced on the New York stage by Rocco Landesman, Live Nation, The Frankel-Baruch-Viertel-Routh Group, Bob and Harvey Weinstein, Rick Steiner, Robert F.X. Sillerman and Mel Brooks in association with James D. Stern and Douglas Meyer and by special arrangement with StudioCanal. 
  
Beginning, May 7th tickets prices will be $69, $99 and $143.50 (price includes taxes and service charges.) Show schedule will change to: Monday - Friday 8 pm, Saturday 6 pm & 9 pm, and Dark Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online at www.parislasvegas.com or by calling the Paris Las Vegas Box Office at 877-374-7469.  Group tickets can be purchased for groups of 15 or more by calling 800-828-3830.

Photo of Lee Roy Reams by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.