After Broadway and Hollywood Bowl, Richard Kind Will Bring His Max Bialystock to The Producers in London

Stage and screen star Richard Kind, who played Max Bialystock in Mel Brooks' The Producers on Broadway in 2004 and in the 2012 Hollywood Bowl production, will reprise that role opposite Marc Antolin’s Leo Bloom in the current West End revival of The Producers at the Garrick Theatre.

Kind will begin a seven-week engagement March 23, temporarily replacing Andy Nyman, who will be seen in the world premiere of The Psychic (co-written with Jeremy Dyson) at York Theatre Royal. Nyman will return to The Producers May 11.

Kind said in a statement, “Mel Brooks is a genius. Every time I come back to The Producers, I’m reminded what a comic masterpiece it is—the jokes, the infectious energy of the story, the sheer audacity of it all—it still feels as fresh as ever. I’m so thrilled to be returning to the iconic role of Max Bialystock; this is a hat trick for me—they just can’t keep me away! I’ll be sure to keep Andy’s fedora warm for his return, and I’m excited to dive into rehearsals. It’s good to be back.”

Brooks added, “When I learned we needed an actor to briefly fill Andy’s nearly unfillable shoes, only one name came to mind. Richard Kind is a true force of nature—he’s got enough talent and energy to fill two stages! I am beyond thrilled for audiences at The Garrick to experience his Max Bialystock. London, get ready; you’re in for a hilarious ride!"

Kind previously appeared on the London stage as Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls at the Phoenix Theatre. His other theatre credits include The Big Knife (Tony nomination), The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, Candide, Bounce, and All In: Comedy About Love. His numerous screen credits include Mad About You, Spin City, Only Murders in the Building, Curb Your Enthusiasm, East New York, The Watcher, Argo, A Serious Man, The Visitor, The Station Agent, tick, tick… BOOM!, Obvious Child, Auggie, Andover, All We Had, and The Lennon Report.

The cast is currently led by Nyman (Fiddler on the Roof) as Max Bialystock, Antolin (I Wish You Well) as Leo Bloom, Trevor Ashley (Diamonds Are for Trevor) as Roger de Bris, Raj Ghatak (The Father and the Assassin, Life of Pi) as Carmen Ghia, Harry Morrison (Come from Away, The Third Man) as Franz Liebkind, and Joanna Woodward (The Time Traveller’s Wife, Merrily We Roll Along) as Ulla.

The company also includes Alex Lodge, Kelsie-Rae Marshall, Nolan Edwards, Michael Franks, Esme Kennedy, Sinead Kenny, Josh Kiernan, Kate Parr, Emma Robotham-Hunt, Pierce Rogan, Hollie Jane Stephens, Jermain Woods, and Ryan Pidgen, who are joined by Megan Armstron, Gabrielle Cocca, Olly Christopher, and Matt Gillett, and Liam Wrate.

The Producers, which won a record-breaking 12 2001 Tony Awards, features music and lyrics by Brooks and a book by Brooks and Thomas Meehan. Based on Brooks' 1967 film, the musical follows two theatrical producers who scheme to get rich by overselling interests in a Broadway flop. Complications ensue when the show unexpectedly turns out to be successful. Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, and Cady Huffman opened the original Broadway production. The production transferred to London's West End in 2004, with Lane reprising his Tony-winning role opposite Lee Evans as Leo.

Patrick Marber directs the London revival with choreography by Lorin Latarro, set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Paul Farnsworth, lighting design by Tim Lutkin, sound design by Paul Groothius, wigs, hair, and makeup design by Betty Martini, musical supervision and dance arrangements by Gareth Valentine, musical direction by Matthew Samer, and orchestrations by Larry Blank and Mark Cumberland.

Patrick Molony and Chris Easton are the production managers.

David Babani, Nica Burns, Max Weitzenhoffer, Kevin Salter, Seaview, Creative Partners Productions, and 2ontheaisleBDWY are producing.

Visit TheProducersMusical.com.