Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Nathan Lane and "The Producers" Rule Broadway
Aired May 30, 2001 - 11:41 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: It's been a while since Broadway has been the focus of any kind of "Showbiz" action.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, especially the hot place to be. And Laurin Sydney is going to look at the hottest show in town -- Laurin.
FRAZIER: Hey, Laurin.
LAURIN SYDNEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The show I can't get tickets for.
KAGAN: Oh, you're kidding. Even you?
SYDNEY: Still going to keep trying.
Even me, Daryn.
KAGAN: Oh, my goodness.
SYDNEY: But come on up anyway and see Broadway, because it is booming. The Great White Way's 2000-2001 season ended Sunday after setting a box office record. Ticket sales were up 10.4 percent from last season. And that increase is in no small part due to this year's runaway smash hit, Mel Brooks' "The Producers."
It is sold out for months. And it is up for a record 15 Tony awards. The show's two co-stars, Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, are not only nominated, but are hosting this Sunday's award ceremony at Radio City Music Hall.
Our Jodi Ross sat down with the irrepressible Lane to talk Tonys and the success of "The Producers."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JODI ROSS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm here with Nathan Lane at the Tony Award nominees luncheon. "The Producers" -- what can I say about "The Producers," Nathan? Fifteen nominations.
NATHAN LANE, ACTOR: Where is the food if this a luncheon, by the way? Where is the food?
ROSS: It's in the back. LANE: Oh, great.
ROSS: Fifteen nominations: That's record-breaking.
LANE: Yes.
ROSS: Are you pleased? Are you surprised?
LANE: I'm drunk with power. I'm the king of the world!
You know, who could have predicted anything like this? It's -- we are all very, very grateful and a little overwhelmed by the reception.
ROSS: You are, of course, competing against your co-star, Matthew Broderick, in the category.
LANE: Yes. Oh, yes.
ROSS: Is that some friendly competition?
LANE: Well...
(LAUGHTER)
LANE: Of course.
No, we're -- he's -- yes -- no, he's plotting to have me killed. We -- one of the nicest parts of this has been -- Matthew has made this one of the best experiences I have ever had, personally and professionally. And one of the best parts has been becoming friends. So it's all great. It is wonderful to be invited to the party. And we are just -- we are having just a great time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE PRODUCERS")
LANE: Never put your own money in the show.
MATTHEW BRODERICK, ACTOR: Until...
LANE: Never put your own money in the show!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROSS: How about Mel Brooks, working with him? Was that a pleasure for you?
LANE: Well, it's -- he is -- it's one of the reasons I wanted to do it, was to make this journey with him and be able to tell people I once worked with Mel Brooks. He is a legend and a comic genius and someone who has been hero of mine forever. And it was just great to be able to work together and go to dinner and laugh. And we have had the best time.
ROSS: OK, now the one most important question: How do I get tickets? You can't get tickets for the show for, like, months. (LAUGHTER)
LANE: Don't make me laugh, missy. Perhaps you will see the film version. I don't know. It's a tough one. You know. You have to...
(LAUGHTER)
LANE: It is a tough one. You know. You have to -- I don't know. I have heard many interesting stories of sexual favors being exchanged depending on the row. So -- I don't know.
ROSS: I'm on my own.
LANE: I wish everybody luck in that area.
ROSS: Thank you. Congratulations, Nathan.
LANE: Thank you.
ROSS: Nice to meet you.
LANE: Nice to meet you.
ROSS: OK.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SYDNEY: Now I know I why I don't have tickets. It is certainly springtime for him.
Now, if you want to hear Tom Jones, Barry White and Luciano Pavarotti sing together, stick around and we will tell you how this supergroup got together.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SYDNEY: Opera great Luciano Pavarotti got together with a couple of friends Tuesday to come to the aid of Afghani child refugees.
Tom Jones, Barry White, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones all joined the tenor in Modena, Italy for his annual charity concert. The $1.5 million dollars raised by the concert will go to the U.N. High Commission for Refugees to aid women and children in refugee camps.
The master of love, Barry White, said he was happy to lend his name to the cause.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARRY WHITE, SINGER: That is a powerful tool, to affect people emotional like that all over the world. So when you say Pavarotti and Barry White is on the same bill, are doing a concert together, oh, it fits. It fits like a glove.
(END VIDEO CLIP) SYDNEY: And more on music that is changing the world a little later today when our "Showbiz Today Report" looks at booming sales for Christian rock.
Until then, in New York, I'm Laurin Sydney.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
