Old hand steps into Hasselhoff’s high heels

Thursday, May 31, 2007 | 7:23 a.m.

What: Mel Brooks' "The Producers"

When: 8 p.m., Mondays through Fridays; 6 and 9 p.m. Saturdays

Where: Paris Las Vegas' Le Theatre des Arts

Tickets: $69 to $143.50; 946-4567

Some of the audience left with David Hasselhoff when he left the Las Vegas cast of "The Producers."

But the musical lost none of its pizzazz when Broadway veteran Lee Roy Reams took over as flamboyant director Roger DeBris.

Nothing official about the numbers, but one observer said attendance was "way down" immediately after Hasselhoff's departure May 6. But the room was back up to three-quarters full at a recent performance.

Word is getting out that the show, even without Hasselhoff's star power, is worth seeing.

The former "Baywatch" and "Knight Rider" hunk was a good marketing tool for the Las Vegas opening. But in the end, it was a novelty act.

Reams is just as much fun as Hasselhoff and not as much of a distraction - while you were laughing, in the back of your mind you were always aware that it was The Hoff.

Reams squeezed into Hasselhoff's high heels and sequined gown without missing a step. Makes sense because he played the DeBris character for four years in national touring companies and on Broadway.

He says the faster pace of the Las Vegas production doesn't bother him.

"I just don't have conversations in the dressing room and watch TV between scenes," Reams says.

He is surrounded by familiar faces onstage, including Brad Oscar as Max and Bill Nolte (the new Franz).

"We are all reunited," Reams says. "Bill and I just left the Broadway company after it closed and came out here, so we kind of know everybody. It's like belonging to a fraternity."

Reams is also familiar with Las Vegas, having started his career in 1965 as a dancer at the Flamingo with Juliet Prowse's production. After a year, he left for Broadway, where he has spent most of his career.

"I loved Juliet," Reams says, "but I really was a singer and an actor and I only danced here, so I wanted to go back to New York to do roles on Broadway."

His first job: "Sweet Charity" starring Gwen Verdon. The musical opened on Jan. 29, 1966 , and ran for 608 performances.

After that, Reams stayed busy singing, dancing, choreographing and directing.

"I danced with all the great star ladies," he says. "Cyd Charisse. Mitzi Gaynor ... My first role was in 'Applause' with Lauren Bacall."

His resume includes "Hello, Dolly!" (1978), "La Cage aux Folles" (1983) and "Beauty and the Beast" (1994). And of course "The Producers."

Reams says he hadn't been back to Las Vegas since he left in the '60s until he flew out a couple of years ago to see "O" at the Bellagio.

"It's just a whole other world," he says. "I didn't recognize anything."

He says he misses the glamour of old Las Vegas and the simpler life.

But nothing is simple anymore. The world is changing, even Broadway.

"The industry has changed," Reams says. "It's difficult to find jobs. Now you have to sing, dance, play a musical instrument, act and play different parts - be a man, be a woman - what ever it is. You just have to be more versatile."

Including donning a sequined dress and high heels.