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'The Producers' losing money?

NEW YORK, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Mel Brooks' Broadway show, "The Producers," is making only $450,000 a week -- and could be in danger of closing, it was reported Wednesday.

The half-empty houses are a far cry from the $1 million a week it made after opening in 2001, and not enough money is coming in to cover the costs of the musical, a source told The New York Post.

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The source said there is "real concern" for the show's future and said it could be closed by the year's end if business does not pick up.

"The Producers" is playing at the St. James Theatre, which is being eyeballed by both "Grease" and "The Wiz," the Post said.

However, "The Producers" producer Richard Frankel said the show was not closing and dismissed the talk as "gossip and lust after our theater."

"Could the grosses be higher? Sure. But we are not losing that much money, and for the year 2006, we will show a seven-figure profit," he said. "To say we are struggling or floundering would be a distortion."

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