Who Will Replace Nathan Lane???

The countdown is on to 8 January 2005, the last day of Nathan Lane’s contract for the West End production of The Producers. Who can replace the Tony Award-winning Max Bialystock? Big British hitters such as Michael Crawford and Robert Lindsay were ruled in and out when the show was first slated for its West End premiere, while Henry Goodman’s sacking from the Broadway production suggests he won’t be a top choice either. Amongst the other names that have been bandied about in the West End – and on the Whatsonstage.com Discussion Forum! - in recent weeks are: Ken Stott, Roger Allam, Roy Hudd, Desmond Barrit, Clive Rowe (a vote for colour blind casting), comedian Peter Kay and even Conleth Hill, who’s currently playing alongside Lane as camp director Roger De Bris. Producers of The Producers at Clear Channel have previously told Whatsonstage.com that they definitely want to secure home-grown talent for the London production. However, given the timescales, an American already familiar with the role, at least temporarily, may be the solution. Brad Oscar, who was Lane’s original Broadway understudy and who took over after Goodman’s departure, seems a likely candidate. Another American whose name has been mentioned is Jason Alexander. Although he’s now best known internationally as George Costanza from TV sitcom Seinfeld, Alexander is also an accomplished Broadway actor whose musical credits include Merrily We Roll Along, The Rink and Jerome Robbins’ Broadway.

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