Revival of ‘Nutty Professor’ headed to Broadway

Wednesday, June 7, 2006 | 7:40 a.m.

If a nightly crush of French tourists begins descending on Broadway in several years, there will be a logical explanation - they will be on their way to see "The Nutty Professor."

Jerry Lewis revealed Tuesday that he plans to direct a musical version of his popular 1963 film, in which he starred, co-wrote and directed.

"We have to begin right now to be ready for an April 2008 opening," Lewis said at a press conference in which he also discussed an upcoming engagement at the Orleans (July 13-16).

Another topic was the return of the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon to Las Vegas - where it will air from the South Coast on Labor Day weekend. Las Vegas had been the telethon's home for 20 years before it moved to Los Angeles in 1995.

But it was the thought of the Nutty Professor treading the boards of Broadway that created the most buzz at the press conference at the Orleans.

Lewis said the musical is still in the planning stage.

"It's premature to discuss which theaters it might play at," he said.

Lewis said he is putting together a writing crew.

"We haven't hired a choreographer yet," he said.

About the only things that are definite at this point are that Lewis will direct and newcomer Michael Andrews will star.

"I saw him perform at a couple of private shows, and I had all kinds of film and video of him," Lewis said.

But having an unknown in the lead doesn't concern the 80-year-old Lewis.

"The show is the star," he said.

Lewis said he expects to premiere "The Nutty Professor: The Musical" at the Globe Theatre in San Diego in January rather than taking the show on the road in advance of a Broadway debut.

New life was breathed into the classic movie in 1996 when it was remade, starring Eddie Murphy as the professor.

That was followed in 2000 by "The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps," also featuring Murphy in the lead.

Lewis compared the move from film to stage to that of "The Producers," a 1968 film by Mel Brooks that became a Broadway hit in 2001 and was remade into another movie in 2005.

He said he will faithfully follow his original film script.

"You can't re-invent the character," Lewis said. "The dual role of 'Jekyll and Hyde' is what made the film.

"(The lead) has to bring to the role what I tell him to bring. I don't need another character development. I know the character."

He said he has had inquiries over the years about possibly turning the film into a musical.

"I didn't pay much attention," he said. "But then I saw this kid (Andrews) perform and I thought I would give it a shot. They didn't have to talk me into it."

Lewis admitted, though, that he was a bit concerned about toying with his movie.

"It was one of the 100 best films of the century," he said. "How much better can it get?"