Mario Lopez to Bloom in Broadway's The Producers?

The New York Post's Michael Riedel reports that Mario Lopez, of "Saved by the Bell" and "Dancing with the Stars" fame, may be the next star to join the cast of Broadway's The Producers.

"The pursuit of Lopez is part of a big push to keep The Producers, which had some shaky weeks at the box office earlier this year, on the boards until Young Frankenstein, Mel Brooks' next show, moves into the St. James in the fall of 2007," he writes.

If cast (producers are looking at him for the role of Leo Bloom), Lopez would be the second TV star to perform in The Producers this year.  Tony Danza, as previously announced, starts performances as Max Bialystock this month.  Roger Bart will also re-join the show on December 19th, as Bloom.

Lopez, who originally soared to fame as the brawny A.C. Slater on "Saved by the Bell," recently placed second on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" (Emmett Smith won this season's competition).  His other credits include "Nip/Tuck" and "The Bold and the Beautiful."

Riedel writes that, with the popularity of the reality dance show, producers have started wooing "Dancing with the Stars" alumni.  Barry and Fran Weissler, Chicago's producers, are reportedly interested in both Lopez and Harry Hamlin as possible future Billy Flynns, while Joey Lawrence, Lisa Rinna, Drew Lachey and John O'Hurley (who has already played Billy and who, says Riedel, is expected to return next year) are also "being eyed by theater producers."

Based on Brooks' Academy Award-winning 1968 film of the same name, "The Producers 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," according to press notes.

The musical, which originally starred Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, features a Tony Award-winning book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, Tony Award-winning music and lyrics by Brooks, and Tony Award-winning direction and choreography by Susan Stroman.

An abridged Las Vegas production of The Producers, starring David Hasselhoff and Brad Oscar, will begin January 31st, 2007.

Visit www.producersonbroadway.com for more on The Producers.