Nathan Lane Giving Up Musical Theater?

In an interview in today's LA Times, Broadway vet Nathan Lane confided in theater critic Charles McNulty that at the age of 57, he is through with musicals. "You reach a certain point in this life and say, 'I can't do this anymore. I think I've covered that,' revealed Lane. "Perhaps if some tremendous thing came along, but I would really think twice about it."

Best known for his starring role as Max Bialystock in the Broadway hit, The Producers, Lane shared that he does not want to be defined by one memorable role, nor does he want to be typecast as one particular character. "Everyone should have that kind of success in their lives, but there was a backlash," said the actor of his Tony Award winning role. "They want you to continue doing what they just loved you in. When I did 'Butley' after 'The Producers,' people were shocked that I was using a British accent even though I had made my debut in an old [Noel] Coward play."

The two-time Tony winner also spoke about experiencing a fan 'backlash" once he exited the hit Mel Brooks production. "You'd hear, 'Oh, it wasn't that good.' It was like they had awakened with a very expensive hooker and were ashamed that they had given away so much."

The actor recently received a Tony Nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for The Nance.

To read the interview in full, click here!

Lane has appeared on Broadway in The Producers, Guys and Dolls, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Addams Family and more. His film credits include The Birdcage, The Lion King and he has appeared on TV's Modern Family and The Good Wife.