The Producers (musical)

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Broadway Show

The cover of the Playbill magazine issue about the musical.
The Producers
Theatre St. James Theatre
Opening night April 19, 2001
Tony nominations 15
Tony awards 12
Author(s) Music & lyrics by Mel Brooks; book by Mel Brooks and
Thomas Meehan
Director Susan Stroman
Leading original cast members Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick
Closing night April 22, 2007

The 1968 film The Producers was adapted as a critically acclaimed Broadway musical by Mel Brooks in 2001. It originally starred Nathan Lane (who reprised that role during the show's first few months on London's West End) and Matthew Broderick (incidentally, he and Lane provided the voices of adult Simba and Timon in Disney's 1994 film The Lion King) and won 12 Tony Awards, breaking the record held for 37 years by Hello Dolly! which had won 10. The replacement cast starred Richard Kind and Steven Weber in Lane and Broderick's respective roles and had a detrimental effect on the success of the show, prompting the show's producers to briefly re-hire Lane and Broderick for another run. Although the musical has many scenes and jokes taken directly from the film, there are still many differences. Ulla has a much larger role, as does Springtime for Hitler director Roger DeBris. The character Lorenzo St. Dubois (LSD), a hippie who played Hitler in the 1968 movie, does not appear in the new version. Overall the musical is much more upbeat and ends more happily, with even the Nazi character Franz Liebkind being portrayed more sympathetically and getting a happy ending.

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 showbusiness in-jokes. The Producers is closing on April 22, 2007 at the St.James Theatre. Young Frankenstein, another Mel Brooks movie turned musical, will open there.[1]

Contents

[edit] Plot Summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] Act One

New York, 1959. It's the opening of a new Max Bialystock play called "Funny Boy", a musical version of Hamlet. Everyone ends up hating it and the show closes on opening night (Opening Night). Max, who was once called the King of Broadway, sings to a crowd of down-and-outs of his past achievements and that he will return to form (King of Broadway).

The next day Leo Bloom, a mousy PA from the accounting firm Whitehall and Marks, arrives in Max's office to look at his books. However, a couple of seconds later, one of Max's "investors" arrives, and he tells Leo to go wait in the bathroom until she leaves. His investor, a little old lady who constantly repeats the phrase, "Hold Me, Touch Me" starts playing a sex game with Max (The virgin milkmaid and the well-hung stableboy) which he later pauses and she gives him a check for his next play (which he hasn't yet produced and calls "Cash"). Leo comes out of the bathroom and reveals his lifelong dream to Max: he's always wanted to be a Broadway Producer. After a serious panic attack when Max touches his blue blanket, Leo calms down enough to give Max the news that he has found an accounting error in his books: Max raised $62,000 for "Funny Boy", but the play only cost $60,000. There's $2,000 unaccounted for. Max begs Leo to cook the books. "Look at me", he pleads. Once the King of Broadway, now reduced to romancing little old ladies to back him and wearing cardboard belts. Leo reluctantly agrees and returns to Max's books. After some calculations, he realizes that "under the right circumstances, a producer could actually make more money with a flop than he can with a hit." Max sits up, an idea forming in his unscrupulous head.

Leo explains. The IRS isn't interested in a show that flopped, so a producer could raise a million dollars, put on a $100,000 flop and keep the rest. Max proposes the ultimate scheme:

"Step 1: We find the worst play ever written. Step 2: We hire the worst director in town. Step 3: We raise two million dollars...One for me, one for you. There's a lot of little old ladies out there! Step 4: We hire the worst actors in New York and open on Broadway and before you can say Step 5, we close on Broadway, take our two million and go to Rio."

However, Leo refuses to help Max with his scheme and returns to work the books at Whitehall and Marks, even after much pleading (We Can Do It). When he gets back to work, he daydreams of becoming a Broadway producer and "driv[ing] those chorus girls insane." (I Wanna Be a Producer). He realizes that his job is terrible, quits his job, and returns to Max (I Wanna Be A Producer Reprise/We Can Do It - Reprise). Overnight, they look for the worst play ever written without much luck. Finally, Max finds the sure-fire flop: "Springtime for Hitler, A Gay Romp with Adolf and Eva at Berchtesgaden" written by Franz Liebkind. They head down to his home in Greenwich Village to get the rights to the play. They discover Franz on the roof of his tenement with his birds: Hilde, Heidi, Hans, Heidrich and Adolf, reminiscing about the grand old days In Old Bavaria. After listening to Franz rave, Leo and Max are only able to get their contract signed after singing Adolf Hitler's favourite tune, Der Guten Tag Hop Clop, and saying the Siegfried Oath, promising never to dishonour "the spirit and the memory of Adolf Elizabeth Hitler."

Leo and Max then go down to the townhouse of Roger De Bris, the worst director in New York and a flamboyant homosexual to boot. At first, Roger and his "common law-assistant" Carmen Ghia decline the offer to direct because of the serious subject matter. Shows should be more happy, bythe, bonney...gay, Roger avers. (Keep It Gay) Finally, after much persuading (and Tony-name dropping), Roger agrees to do it, but only if the ending is changed so the Germans end up winning World War II. A celebratory Conga Line ensues. Leo and Max finally return to the office where they meet a Swedish bombshell who wants to audition for their next play. Her name is Ulla Inga Hansen Benson Yansen Tallen Hallen Svaden Swanson. That's her first name. Ulla for short. She auditions for them. (When You Got It, Flaunt It) Bialystock and Bloom are floored, to say the least. They hire her to be their secretary/receptionist. Max then goes off to raise two million dollars for "Springtime for Hitler" by calling on all the little old ladies in New York. (Along Came Bialy) Finally, after shtupping every little old lady in the greater Broadway area, Max has raised the two million. (Finale)

[edit] Act Two

Scene from the London version of "the Producers", Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, April 2006
Scene from the London version of "the Producers", Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, April 2006

Leo and Ulla are left alone for a little while in Max's redecorated office (redecorated by Ulla during the intermission; See Photo right) and they start to fall in love. (That Face) Leo, who has always decided to stay away from any relationship, breaks his own rule and starts to go out with Ulla.

The auditions for finding a terrible Hitler go unsuccessfully. One terrible actor after another is shooed away by Roger. After Franz is outraged by one auditioner's rendition of Haben Sie Gehört Das Deutsche Band, he performs his own jazzy version and he is given the part. Opening night for "Springtime for Hitler" arrives (It's Bad Luck to Say Good Luck on Opening Night) and everyone is ready, until Franz falls down the stairs and ironically breaks his leg. Roger is the only one who knows the part of Hitler and he rushes to the dressing room to get ready.

The Curtain rises, and Max and Leo watch their failure unfold (Springtime for Hitler). Unfortunately, Roger's performance is so campy and so Garland-esque, the audience mistakes the show for a comedy and it becomes the talk of the town.

Back at the office, Max and Leo are near-suicidal. (Where Did We Go Right?) Roger and Carmen come to congratulate the Producers of the new smash, only to find them fighting over the accounting books. Just then, Franz bursts in, outraged by Roger's portrayal of his beloved Fűhrer and wielding a pistol. The police hear the commotion and arrive, taking away Franz, Max and the accounting books. However, Leo hides and Ulla finds him and convinces him to take the two million dollars and run off to Rio as Max had planned (That Face (reprise)).

In prison, Max receives a postcard from Leo and feels (Betrayed) and, in his big eleven o'clock number recounts the whole show (including intermission). At his trial Max is found "incredibly guilty", but then Leo and Ulla arrive and tell the judge that Max is a good man who would never hurt anyone. ('Til Him) The judge is touched by this and decides not to separate the two, instead sending both to Sing Sing prison for 5 years, along with Franz. In prison, they write a new musical entitled "Prisoners of Love" which goes to Broadway (Prisoners of Love) (starring the stars of Springtime, Roger and Ulla) when they are pardoned by the Governor. Leo and Max continue to produce Broadway musicals and, at the end, the two fully-fledged kings of Broadway walk off into the sunset. (Leo & Max) After the curtain call, there is one last song, with the cast telling the audience to leave. (Goodbye)

[edit] List of Songs

ACT ONE

  • Opening Night
  • King of Old Broadway
  • We Can Do It
  • I Wanna Be a Producer
  • We Can Do It (Reprise)
  • In Old Bavaria
  • Der Guten Tag Hop Clop
  • Keep It Gay
  • When You've Got It, Flaunt It
  • Along Came Bialy

ACT TWO

  • That Face
  • Haben Sie Gehört Das Deutsche Band?
  • Opening Night (Reprise)
  • It's Bad Luck to Say Good Luck on Opening Night
  • Springtime for Hitler
  • Where Did We Go Right?
  • That Face (Reprise)
  • Betrayed
  • 'Til Him
  • Prisoners of Love
  • Leo and Max
  • Goodbye

[edit] Awards

The Producers was nominated for the following Tony Awards in 2001:

[edit] The London Production

The Producers at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Producers at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

The London production of the hit Broadway show got off to a complicated start with the late withdrawal of Richard Dreyfuss briefly before its opening on the 9 November 2004. However, these problems were quickly forgotten after the announcement that Nathan Lane, the creator of the role in the New York production, would be stepping in for a limited run with a salary of what is thought to be significantly higher than £30,000 per week.

With Lane cast in the role once again, alongside the equally strong team of Lee Evans as Leo Bloom, Leigh Zimmerman as Ulla, George Arau as Roger De Bris and James Dreyfus as Carmen Ghia with Nicolas Colicos as Franz Liebkind, the show got off to a tremendous start and had similar box office success as that seen in New York.

Despite the departure of Lane from the show, audience numbers did not dwindle, with it remaining strong to date. The show recently moved into the black, financially, and has survived through numerous cast changes.

On 23 June 2006, it was announced that the show would close on 6 January 2007, to make way for the European premiere of The Lord of the Rings musical.

[edit] Cast Changes

  • Max Bialystock played by:
    • Nathan Lane (09/11/2004-08/01/2005)
    • Brad Oscar (10/01/2005-23/04/2005)
    • Fred Applegate (25/04/2005-18/03/2006)
    • Tony Danza (19/12/2006-11/3/2007)
    • Cory English (20/03/2006-06/01/2007)
  • Leo Bloom played by:
  • Ulla played by:
    • Leigh Zimmerman (09/11/2004-18/03/2006)
    • Rachel McDowall (20/03/2006-06/01/2007)
  • Roger De Bris played by:
    • Conleth Hill (09/11/2004-27/08/2005)
    • Don Gallagher (29/08/2005-July 2006)
    • Matthew Rixon (July 2006-October 2006)
    • George Arau (October 2006-present)
  • Carmen Ghia
    • James Dreyfus (09/11/2004-27/08/2005)
    • Stephen Matthews (29/08/2005-October 2006)
  • Franz Liebkind
    • Nicolas Colicos (09/11/2004-06/01/2007)

[edit] UK Tour

On 10 November 2006, it was announced that the show would open in Manchester for 3 months, commencing 19 February 2007. Peter Kay was cast in the role of Roger De Bris, with Cory English and John Gordon Sinclair reprising their roles of Max Biyalistock and Leo Bloom, respectively. The tour then progresses around the country, with Joe Pasquale taking the role of Leo Bloom.

UK Tour Cast:

  • Max Bialystock - Cory English
  • Leo Bloom - John Gordon Sinclair
  • Ulla - Emma Jane Appleyard
  • Franz Liebkind - Alex Giannini
  • Roger DeBris - Peter Kay (Manchester Only), Russ Abbot (Rest of Tour)
  • Carmen Ghia - Robin Sebastian

Peter Kay in The Producers in Manchester (left) and Cory English and Reece Shearsmith in London (right)

[edit] International Productions

The musical was separately cast and launched in other cities:

  • The LA production, with actor Jason Alexander playing the role of Bialystock, and Martin Short playing the role of Bloom.
  • Toronto, Canada, with actor Sean Cullen playing the role of Bialystock and Michael Therriault as Bloom. Unfortunately, due to low ticket sales, the musical was closed only months after opening.
  • Melbourne, Australia with Reg Livermore as Bialystock and Tom Burlinson as Bloom. Television veteran Bert Newton plays Liebkind and is a major drawcard. It also feature Chloe Dallimore as Ulla and Tony Sheldon as Roger DeBris. The show played in Melbourne for 8 months, Brisbane for 7 weeks and for 6 months in Sydney.
  • Tel Aviv, Israel has a version of the musical, translated into Modern Hebrew, starring Shlomo Bar Abba as Bialystock. The Nazi references in the show have been modified to account for local sensitivities. Hitler is portrayed as morbidly obese, and whenever the actors mention his name it is followed by 'Yimach shemo vezichro' (may his name and memory be obliterated); then they spit.
  • Seoul, South Korea
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina The stage version ran on the Lola Membrives Theater from March 29, 2005 to August 27, 2006, starring Enrique Pinti as Max Bialystock, Guillermo Francella as Leo Bloom (both renowned Argentinian comediants) and María Rojí as Ulla.
  • Tokyo, Japan. Japanese translated production at Aoyama Theatre in August 2005 (13th-31 August). Starring Yoshihiko Inohara as Max Bialystock and Hiroshi Nagano as Leo Bloom - both members of popular Japanese band, V6.
  • Copenhagen, Denmark's production had its Scandinavian premier at Det Ny Teater on January 26, 2006. The Danish language production starring Preben Kristensen as Max Bialystock and Mads Knarreborg as Leo Bloom has garnered critical acclaim and plays to packed houses. The run for the musical has been extended twice. The first extension was made less than two weeks after the premier with ticket sales topping 50,000. The show is also known as "Forår for Hitler" ("Springtime for Hitler"), after the Danish-language translation of the original movie title.
  • Milan, Italy. Premiere at Teatro della Luna on January 27, 2006. Starring Enzo Iacchetti as Max Bialystock, Gianluca Guidi as Leo Bloom and Simona Samarelli as Ulla.
  • Madrid, Spain. Premiere at Teatro Coliseum on September 14, 2006. Starring Santiago Segura as Max Bialystock, José Mota as Leo Bloom and Dulcinea Juárez as Ulla. Closing on May 20, 2007.
  • Mexico City, Mexico. Produced by OCESA teatro Premiere at Centro Cultural Telmex on December 13, 2006. Starring Pedro Armendáriz and Alejandro Calva alternating as Max Bialystock, Adal Ramones and Juan Manuel Bernal alternating as Leo Bloom and Natalia Sosa as Ulla.
  • Las Vegas, USA. Premiere at Paris Casio-Hotel on February 09, 2007. Starring Brad Oscar as Max Bialystock, Larry Raben as Leo Bloom and Leigh Zimmerman as Ulla. The cast also includes David Hasselhoff as Roger De Bris. Las Vegas production is a 90-minute version of the Original Broadway Musical.
  • New Zealand Premiere will be at the Court Theatre in Christchurch and will run from the 24th November 2007-16 February 2008 it is yet to be cast

[edit] Movie adaptation

See also: The Producers (2005 film)

In 2005, the musical was adapted into a musical film, becoming a movie based on a musical based on a movie about a musical. It was directed by Susan Stroman and starred most of the original Broadway cast, except for Brad Oscar and Cady Huffman. Their roles were instead played by Will Ferrell and Uma Thurman, respectively. The songs "King of Broadway", "In Old Bavaria" and "Where Did We Go Right?" were not in the theatrical cut of the movie, although "King of Broadway" and "In Old Bavaria" appeared on the DVD as deleted scenes. To compensate, two original songs, "You'll Find Your Happiness In Rio" and "There's Nothing Like A Show On Broadway" were added to the film. It opened on December 16, 2005 in select cities, and on December 25 everywhere. The film received mixed reviews from critics. Most negative reviews cited the fact that the performances were tuned for the theatre rather than film ('selling it to the highest balcony').

[edit] School adaptation

The very first school adaptation of the musical is currently underway at Mazenod College, A Catholic school in Lesmurdie, Western Australia. It will preimere on the 9th of May 2007 and will run until the 13th. The cast consists of school students around the area as well as professional actors.

[edit] Non-Professional Productions

[edit] Follow-Ups

After the success of the show, Mel Brooks reportedly is considering turning his movie Young Frankenstein into a similar musical. No deadline has been set for the work's completion, but after it is finished Brooks will begin fundraising and production.[5]

In a Premiere Magazine interview, Broderick and Lane announced that the success of The Producers has inspired them to re-unite on stage as Felix Ungar and Oscar Madison, respectively, in The Odd Couple.

[edit] Popular culture

  • On the TV show Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Producers was featured in almost every episode of season four. Larry David played Max Bialystock. Ben Stiller and David Schwimmer played Leo Bloom and Mel Brooks played himself. The story took a unique turn when Larry David's attempt to play the part is marred by his missing lines. However, he makes up some ad-lib comedy that keeps the audience laughing. In a "life imitating art" twist, it's revealed that Brooks cast David specifically so he would fail, end the show and "free" Brooks of its success. Brooks is seen at the theater bar with wife Anne Bancroft, both laughing at how bad David is and they no longer have to travel to every city for a premiere. Of course, David ends up being a hit and Mel leads Anne out, both weakly muttering "no way out..." This was Bancroft's final filmed appearance before her death.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Producers to End April 22; Young Frankenstein Is Booked Into St. James", Playbill, 2006-02-22. Retrieved on 2007-02-23.

[edit] External links

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