Editor's note: After this article was published, the Fox Theatre posted the following message on its website: "Due to an emergency health issue, Gary Beach will not be performing in THE PRODUCERS. The role of Roger DeBris will instead be played by David de Vries." The show still opens Jan. 25 at the Fox.
Openly gay performer Gary Beach estimates he has played the role of Roger DeBris in the musical “The Producers” somewhere around 1,700 times — not consecutively, but here and there over the years. He reprises the role again for a special Atlanta engagement, courtesy of Theater of the Stars, beginning next week.
Mel Brooks’ comedy, last staged in Atlanta eight years ago, is adapted from his 1968 film. In it, Broadway producer Max Bialystock – fresh off of an unsuccessful production – comes up with a scheme with his sidekick, laid back accountant Leo Bloom.
They plan to intentionally stage the biggest stage flop of all time and bilk millions out of their financial backers, using the worst director in New York. Said director is flamboyant, gay Roger DeBris, who wants to camp up the show and rewrite history so that Germans win WWII. What Max and Leo don’t anticipate is that the new production is a huge success.