I'm cautiously optimistic about Kind actually being case (only becuase Broadway.com has jumped the gun before) -- there have been rumors about his taking over for quite some time, but the latest rumors were that the creative team was not happy with his audition...so who knows...I hope he DOES do it...I think he'd be a great Max.
Great casting. Kind is a real pro and Mel Brooks was raving about Ruck in an interview not too long ago, saying he might be the best Leo he's ever seen (including Broderick).
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
i'm still pulling for kelsey grammer as max but i'd love to see this pair
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
I saw Ruck as Leo Bloom at the Kennedy Center a little over a week ago. He was absolutely wonderful. I own the cast recording, and I think Matthew is amazing. But, seeing Alan Ruck perform Bloom in person was really enjoyable and I think the two (Kind & Ruck) will work really well together.
"It does what a musical's supposed to do. It takes you to another world, and it gives you a little tune to carry with you in your head for when you're feeling blue."
I was in a small Shakespeare group that was performing at the Theater Lab at the Kennedy Center so we were using the rehersal rooms upstairs RIGHT NEXT TO the Producers. We saw all the cast, and I almost died. Wow, I'm really too obsessed for my own good. I'll just stop now. Sigh
Keep the peace, take care of each other, and may you find your promised land.
-TJST
DARN! My friend's mom went to high school with 'Al' (what she calls him) in Cleveland. The Producers is coming in January to Cleveland and we were planning on hanging out with him.
David walked into the valley
With a stone clutched in his hand
He was only a boy
But he knew someone must take a stand
There will always be a valley
Always mountains one must scale
There will always be perilous waters
Which someone must sail
-Into the Fire
Scarlet Pimpernel
This is news I have long been awaiting (and boy, do I hope it is true). I love Richard Kind, and have always hoped he would eventually play Max. I have heard many good things about Ruck as well.
Nice that the powers-that-be have decided that the show doesn't have to be a 'star' vehicle and they can safely cast cast with with talented less-well-knowns, and let great word-of-mouth do their advertising for them.
AHH! SO EXCITED!!! Perfect casting! Perfect! I never thought I'd go back after finally seeing Lane/Broderick, but I cannot pass that up. I will go Roger Bart-less just to see that pair.
In regard to margochanning's post. This is something Mel Brooks does a lot. When he was here in Melbourne last April he raved about members of the cast, in particular the guy playing Franz as "the best Franz we have ever had"(the others couldn't have been too good). A couple of weeks later he was in Washington DC banging the drum for the touring cast. In an interview in the Washington Post he said Fred Applegate"was the best Franz we have ever had". So I wouldn't put too much faith in these announcements.
Cameron Frye on stage. So there. And I dislike The Producers greatly, but this is incredible news.
"SUNY Binghamton, yes. I'm sure getting a degree from SUNY Binghamton is very useful. Normally to get a degree with that kind of credibility you'd have to study in Guatemala or Haiti."