‘Producers’ to end LV run in February

Broadway West is going south.

Mel Brooks' Broadway hit "The Producers" is closing Feb. 9 at Paris Las Vegas, after a one-year run.

The announcement, which came late Wednesday, also included news that Tony Danza has extended his contract another month to remain with the musical comedy to the end.

Las Vegas was labeled Broadway West about two years ago, when "Avenue Q," "Hairspray" and "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular" arrived on the Strip. But "Hairspray" lasted only four months at Luxor, "Avenue Q" closed at Wynn Las Vegas after nine months and "Mamma Mia!" is calling it quits in the summer of 2008, after 51/2 years at Mandalay Bay.

Danza joined the Paris Las Vegas show in August as one of the leads, theatrical producer Max Bialystock.

"The Producers" opened in February featuring David Hasselhoff as cross-dressing director Roger Debris. Hasselhoff left in May.

The 12-time Tony Award-winning Broadway edition closed April 19 after six seasons, a run that included 33 preview performances and 2,502 regular performances at Broadway's St. James Theatre.

DOUBLE JEOPARDY

Local producer Trent Othick is taking a double hit from the continuing Broadway stagehands strike and the Writers Guild of America stoppage.

"A Bronx Tale," one of Othick's projects, opened on Broadway last month only to be among 27 shows closed by the stagehands strike.

Negotiators are meeting again Sunday.

"We have refunded over $1 million dollars in tickets so far due to lost performances and have lost another $1 million in future sales based on our daily averages (because no one is buying tickets due to the strike)," Othick said in an e-mail.

Chazz Palminteri portrays 18 people in the one-man show about growing up in the Bronx. Robert De Niro was among a celebrity-studded turnout for the premiere. De Niro starred in the 1993 film of the same name.

"We hope to get the sales back when we reopen as losing the holidays may not effect us as much as others," Othick said.

The WGA strike chilled a deal Othick had to sell a TV show loosely based on the life of local poker star Phil Ivey. It is being written by Wayne Powers, who wrote the screenplay for the 2003 version of "The Italian Job."

Also affected by the stagehands strike is Sierra Boggess, who played Christine in "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular." She and Reno's Sean Palmer have lead roles in "Mermaid."

The show was to open Dec. 6 on Broadway, but will instead remain in previews.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

There are rumblings the Las Vegas Tenors, who recently shot a live performance at the Las Vegas Hilton, are shopping it to a cable network. ...

Fox has a casting call on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at Tuscany Resort and Casino, 255 E. Flamingo Road, for a new game show called "The Moment of Truth," which premieres Jan. 23 after "American Idol." The show's premise: Contestants must answer 21 increasingly personal questions honestly, as determined by a polygraph, for a shot at up to $500,000. For more information: Truth@theconlincompany.com.

MAY I RECOMMEND ...

Hans Klok, star of "The Beauty of Magic," will transform Opportunity Village's Magical Forest into a land of illusions on Sunday as part of opening weekend festivities. The Magical Forest runs through Dec. 30.

SIGHTINGS

Grammy award-winning artist Pink and husband Carey Hart, dining at Social House (Treasure Island) on Wednesday. ... At LAX nightclub (Luxor) on Wednesday: Former NBA pro Walter McCarty and members of the Louisville Cardinals basketball team, toasting shots of Patron tequila and glasses of Veuve Clicquot champagne after their win over UNLV. ... Tony Award winner Patti LuPone, at the early show of "O" (Bellagio) on Wednesday. ... Steve Harwell of Smash Mouth, at a birthday party in the VIP bowling suite at Red Rock Lanes at Red Rock Resort on Wednesday night. ... The UFC's Wanderlei Silva, at Pure (Caesars Palace) on Tuesday, taking a break from training for his upcoming battle with Chuck Liddell.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Superman star Brandon Routh will marry Courtney Ford Saturday at the Santa Barbara ranch of producer Jon Peters, and Governor Schwarzenegger closed the airspace over the ranch. That's how tough it is to travel on the holidays. Even Superman's grounded." -- Argus Hamilton

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.