Oscar Plays 1000th Producers Performance as Max, Sept. 1

By: Aug. 31, 2005
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Brad Oscar will celebrate his 1,000th performance as Max Bialystock in The Producers at tomorrow evening's (Thursday, September 1st) performance. Oscar, who originated the role of Franz Liebkind (for which he received a Tony Award nomination), took over the role of Max on April 16, 2002. He also recently reprised his performance in the smash London production.

Oscar won a Best Actor Award from the Independent Reviewers of New England for his performance as Max. An original cast member of Jekyll & Hyde, Brad also performed in the show's national tour. He made his Broadway debut in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Aspects of Love and later toured with the show. From 1992 to 1994, he played a variety of colorful characters in Gerard Alessandrini's long-running musical revue Forbidden Broadway, both Off-Broadway and in Los Angeles. His other theatre credits include the Encores! production of Do Re Mi and The Radio City Christmas Spectacular in Los Angeles and Branson (he played Santa). He will appear in the upcoming films The Producers (as a taxi driver), Building Girl, and Rydal Park. Oscar will also perform in the upcoming Actors' Fund benefit concert of On the Twentieth Century and in Arena Stage's winter production of Damn Yankees (as Mr. Applegate).

The Producers opened on Broadway on Thursday, April 19, 2001 (previews began March 21, 2001). Currently in its fifth smash year at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44 Street), the show, the 2001 Tony Award winning Best Musical, is the recipient of the most Tony Awards in theater history--twelve. Based on Brooks' Academy Award-winning 1968 film of the same name, the show is the story of down-on-his-luck theatrical producer, Max Bialystock, and Leo Bloom, a mousy accountant. Together they hatch the ultimate scam: raise more money than you need for a sure-fire Broadway flop and pocket the difference. Their "sure-fire" theatrical fiasco? . . . None other than the musical Springtime for Hitler.

The Producers also stars Hunter Foster (Leo Bloom), Jonathan Freeman (Roger De Bris), John Treacy Eagan (Franz Liebkind), Brad Musgrove (Carmen Ghia) and Angie Schworer (Ulla).

The show features a book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, music and lyrics by Mel Brooks, and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman; all won Tonys. The musical also boasts set design by Robin Wagner, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Peter Kaczorowski, and sound design by Steve Kennedy. The show is produced by Rocco Landesman, Clear Channel Entertainment, The Frankel · Baruch · Viertel · Routh Group, Bob and Harvey Weinstein, Rick Steiner, Robert F.X. Sillerman and Mel Brooks, in association with James D. Stern and Douglas Meyer and by special arrangement with StudioCanal.

The show's playing schedule is Tuesday evening at 7 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., Wednesday & Saturday matinees at 2 p.m., and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. Tickets for The Producers, which are scaled at $31.25 - $101.25, are on sale by phone through Tele-charge at (212) 239-6200 and in-person at The St. James Theatre, 246 West 44th Street.

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