Norm! column

May 30, 2007

'The Producers' Pursuing Danza

[hear the whole show on which we discuss Mel Brooks here]

Producer Mel Brooks has confirmed he's in talks with Tony Danza to bring him to the Las Vegas version of "The Producers." "We're working on him," Brooks told Steve Friess of thestrippodcast.com.

Danza, who recently played Max Bialystock in "The Producers" on Broadway, would take over for Brad Oscar, Brooks indicated. "Brad would be leaving. Tony would take over, and Tony would set the town on its ear," said Brooks. "He's a Vegas guy. He could've been a Vegas singer and dancer. He could've been a Vegas prize fighter. He could've been a Vegas emcee. He could've been part of the Rat Pack. He just belongs in Las Vegas. If we can get Tony Danza to do it, I think it would literally be fabulous."

Even with Danza's name appeal, Brooks didn't sound optimistic that the show was going to last more than a year at Paris Las Vegas, where it opened in March. "I think it'll run through the year." And if Danza leaves, "we'd have to get a new star and maybe go on into '08."

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