New Cast Announced for London's The Producers, Show Recoups Investment Too

CASTING FOR THE SMASH HIT NEW Mel Brooks MUSICAL "THE PRODUCERS" AT THE THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE 29 AUGUST 2005 - 18 MARCH 2006

The London cast for the smash hit new Mel Brooks musical "THE PRODUCERS" at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane for the period 29 August 2005 - 18 March 2006 will be headed by Fred Applegate starring as 'Max Bialystock' and John Gordon Sinclair starring as 'Leo Bloom'. Nicolas Colicos will continue to play 'Franz Liebkind', Don Gallagher will take over the role of 'Roger De Bris', Stephen Matthews will take over the role of 'Carmen Ghia' and Leigh Zimmerman will continue to play 'Ulla'. Don Gallagher has appeared in many London stage productions including "His Dark Materials" and "Stuff Happens" at the Royal National Theatre, "Back To Methuselah" and "Henry IV Parts I and II" at the Royal Shakespeare Company and his musical roles include 'Pierre Guerre' in "Martin Guerre" and 'Javert' in "Les Misérables". Stephen Matthews has played leading roles in the London stage productions of "Disney's Beauty and the Beast", "Les Misérables", "Lady in the Dark" and "Oliver!".

The cast will feature Will Barratt, Hadrian Delacey, Jeremy Finch, Kate Graham, Amanda Minihan and Sherrie Pennington. Also in the cast will be Caroline Barnes, Leigh Constantine, Heather Douglas, Candice Evans, ChristIan Gibson, Kelly Homewood, David Hulston, Luke Jackson, James Le Feuvre, Rachel McDowall, Helen Otway, Gavin Staplehurst, Luzahnn Taylor, Ben Tribe and Desi Valentine.

"THE PRODUCERS" has just recouped its £5,500,000 capitalisation and the musical has now been seen by well over 550,000 people in London since it started performances on 25 October last year. The show has taken in excess of £20 million at the London Box Office.

"THE PRODUCERS" opened in London on 9 November 2004 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane to unanimously stunning reviews, a record advance and sell-out business. The show is now booking until 1 April 2006. Since opening in the West End, "THE PRODUCERS" has won the Olivier, the Evening Standard and the Critics' Circle Awards for 'Best Musical'.

"THE PRODUCERS" opened on Broadway in March 2001, winning an unprecedented 12 Tony Awards, including 'Best Musical'. The show also received a record 11 Drama Desk Awards (including 'Outstanding Broadway Musical'), 8 Outer Critics Awards (including 'Outstanding Broadway Musical'), the 2001 New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for 'Best Musical', and the 2001 Drama League Award for 'Best Musical'.

"THE PRODUCERS" has a Tony Award-winning book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, Tony Award-winning music and lyrics by Mel Brooks, and is directed and choreographed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman. Scenic design is by Robin Wagner, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting by Peter Kaczorowski, sound by Steve C. Kennedy and orchestration by Doug Besterman. The West End production of "THE PRODUCERS" is staged by the entire original Broadway creative team.

The film "THE PRODUCERS" was released in 1968. Written and directed by Mel Brooks, it won him an Academy Award for 'Best Original Screenplay Written Directly For The Screen'.

"THE PRODUCERS" is presented at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane by Rocco Landesman, David Ian for Clear Channel Entertainment, The Frankel Baruch Viertel Routh Group, Bob and Harvey Weinstein, James R. Jundt, Robert FX Sillerman and Mel Brooks in association with James D. Stern/Douglas Meyer.

Performances times are Monday-Saturday at 7.30pm, with Wednesday & Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets, priced from £10.00 - £49.00, are available from the Box Office on 0870 890 1109.

Visit "THE PRODUCERS" website at www.theproducersmusical.co.uk