'Hitler' Play Needs Producer

By Stephen M. Silverman

09/28/1998 at 12:00 AM EDT

Producer David Geffen has stepped out of the eagerly awaited Broadway musical version of the Mel Brooks 1968 cult movie favorite "The Producers," reports The New York Times -- which goes on to say that other producers are scrambling to replace him. The satirical show is set to star Nathan Lane and Martin Short as two flea-bitten impresarios who undertake to produce a sure-fire Broadway flop, a musical called "Springtime for Hitler," so they can pocket their investors' money. Only "Hitler" proves to be a hit. (Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder starred in the movie.) No reason for Geffen's departure has been reported.