June
7 Say Farewell to Frau Blucher

A heartbroken Cloris Leachman says she's not to play Frau Blucher in Mel Brooks' musicalized "Young Frankenstein."

Cloris  reports she was given that word in a letter from director Susan Stroman ("The Producers"). "I was told they don't want to go like the movie" -- in which Cloris created the Frau Blucher character in 1974. At her 60th anni-in-the-biz party, Oct.5, 2006 at the Fogo de Chao resaurant, Mel Brooks said of the musical, "Cloris is going to steal the show -- all she has to do is walk on the stage -- she'll bring the house down." Mel even warbled a few bars from the upcomng show.

Cloris was invited to N.Y. to audition. She thought they loved her. Then came the note from Stroman. Cloris asked me to look at a "Save Frau Blucher" website: "The producers want to keep the film and the Broadway project separate and have told Cloris her services were not long needed. Are they kidding?! Cloris Leachman IS 'Frau Blucher!." I couldn't reach Mel Brooks today -- he's in Vegas checking out his "The Producers" troupe playing there.