The Producers

Venue: the St. James Theatre

April 19, 2001 - April 22, 2007

Mel took a long break between theatre projects, and all the while getting more and more famous for film and comedy. But when he came back, he came back with a vengeance. The Producers may well be the best show that Broadway has ever seen. Certainly the best in decades.

The Producers was written by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, Mel wrote all the songs and lyrics. Ronny Graham was supposed to collaborate, but died too soon.

The Producers was nominated for 14 Tony Awards, and won a record 12. I, personally, can watch that year's Tony award show over and over.

I've got some clips related to the show in it's many incarnations below:

Clip One - This is a segment of 'Broadway American Musical' that featured clips and

interviews for The Producers. Warning: the picture quality is quite poor.

Clip Two - This is the performance from the 55th Annual Tony Awards, in it the cast

performs 'Along Came Bialy'.

Clip Three - This is a montage of the '07-'08 Producers Nation Tour.

Clip Four - This one is great, it's video from an open rehearsal for the original production

of The Producers. Includes some blurb interviews with cast memebers,

crew, and Mel.

From Wikipedia:

The Producers is a comedy-musical adapted by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan from Brooks' 1968 film of the same name, with lyrics by Brooks and music by Brooks and Glen Kelly. As in the film, the story concerns two theatrical producers who scheme to get rich by overselling interests in a Broadway flop. Complications arise when the show unexpectedly turns out to be successful. The humor of the show is accessible to a wide range of audiences, and draws on ridiculous accents, caricatures of homosexuals and Nazis, and many show business in-jokes. The musical was a hit in New York, spawning national tours and successful productions in London and internationally.

The musical opened on April 19, 2001 and ran for 2,502 performances, winning a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards. It spawned a successful London production, running for three years, and a 2005 film. The film reunited original stars Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick.

David Geffen persuaded Mel Brooks to turn his movie into a stage musical. When Brooks met with Jerry Herman to discuss their working together, Herman declined, telling Brooks that he should do the job himself, as he was a good songwriter. Brooks then asked Thomas Meehan to join him in writing the book for the stage. Brooks persuaded Mike Ockrent and his wife Susan Stroman to join the creative team as director and choreographer. After Ockrent's death on December 2, 1999, Stroman agreed to continue as both director and choreographer. The last addition to the creative team was Glen Kelly as the musical arranger and supervisor.

The Producers' original Playbill.

Photo from the London production of The Producers.

If you have any information to contribute about this play, or maybe photos or videos, please contact me.