| The Producers | |
|---|---|
 Original BroadwayPlaybill | |
| Music | Mel Brooks |
| Lyrics | Mel Brooks |
| Book | Mel Brooks Thomas Meehan |
| Basis | The Producers by Mel Brooks |
| Productions | 2001Broadway 2002 US tour 2003 Second US tour 2004West End 2007 UK tour 2015 UK andIreland tour 2025 West End revival International productions |
| Awards | Tony Award for Best Musical Tony Award for Best Book Tony Award for Best Score Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical |
The Producers is amusical comedy with music and lyrics byMel Brooks and a book by Brooks andThomas Meehan. It is adapted from Brooks's1967 film of the same name. The story concerns two theatrical producers who scheme to get rich by fraudulently overselling interests in aBroadway musical designed to fail. Complications arise when the show is a surprise hit. The humor ofThe Producers draws on exaggerated accents, caricatures ofJews,gay people andNazis, and manyshow businessin-jokes.
After 33 previews, the originalBroadway production opened at theSt. James Theatre on April 19, 2001, starringNathan Lane andMatthew Broderick, andran for 2,502 performances, winning a record-breaking 12Tony Awards. It spawned a successfulWest End production running for just over two years, national tours in the US and UK, many productions worldwide and a2005 film version.
David Geffen persuaded Mel Brooks to turn his film into a stage musical. When Brooks met withJerry Herman[1] 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 persuadedMike Ockrent and his wifeSusan Stroman to join the creative team as director and choreographer. After Ockrent's death in 1999, Stroman agreed to continue as both director and choreographer.[2]
In New York in 1959, theatre producerMax Bialystock opensFunny Boy, a musical version ofHamlet. Reviews are overwhelmingly negative, and the show closes after one performance ("Opening Night"). Max, who was once called the King of Broadway, tells a crowd of down-and-outs of his past achievements and vows to return to form ("King of Broadway").
The next day,Leo Bloom, a mousy accountant, comes to Max's office to audit his books. When one of Max's elderly female "investors" arrives, Max tells Leo to wait in the bathroom until she leaves. She plays a sex game with Max, who persuades her to give him a check to be invested in his next play, to be called "Cash". Leo reveals his lifelong dream to be a Broadway producer. After recovering from a panic attack caused by Max touching his blue blanket, Leo tells Max that he has found an accounting error in his books: Max raised $100,000 forFunny Boy, but the play only cost $98,000. Max begs Leo to cook the books to hide the discrepancy; Leo reluctantly agrees. After some calculations, he realizes that, by bilking investors, a producer could profit more from a flop than from a hit. Inspired, Max proposes a scheme to find the worst musical ever written, hire the worst director and actors in New York, raise $2 million of investment from elderly women, produce the work on Broadway, close it after one night, and escape toRio de Janeiro with the money. However, Leo refuses to help Max with his scheme ("We Can Do It").
Leo's antagonistic boss, Mr. Marks, reprimands him for arriving at work six minutes late and calls him a nobody. While he and his miserable co-workers toil over accounts, Leo daydreams of becoming a Broadway producer ("I Wanna Be a Producer"). He realizes that his job is terrible, quits, and returns to Max ("We Can Do It" (reprise)). The next day, they search for the most offensive play they can find and discoverSpringtime for Hitler: A Gay Romp with Adolf and Eva atBerchtesgaden, an admiring tribute toAdolf Hitler written by ex-Nazi soldierFranz Liebkind. They go to the playwright's home inGreenwich Village to get the rights to the play, where Franz is on the roof of his tenement with hispigeons reminiscing about life back in Germany ("In Old Bavaria"). The producers get him to sign their contract by joining him in singing Hitler's favorite tune ("Der Guten Tag Hop Clop") and reciting the Siegfried Oath, under penalty of death, promising never to dishonor Hitler's spirit or memory. In doing so, Franz gives Hitler's middle name as "Elizabeth", explaining that his ancestors include "a long line of Englishqueens".
At the townhouse of the flamboyanttransvestite and failing directorRoger De Bris, Roger and his domestic partnerCarmen Ghia initially decline the offer to direct because of the serious subject matter. After much persuading and invoking the possibility of a Tony Award, Roger relents and tells the producers that the second act must be rewritten so the Germans winWorld War II while also insisting that the play be more "gay" ("Keep It Gay"). Max and Leo return to the office to meetUlla, a beautiful Swedish woman who wants to audition for their next play ("When You've Got It, Flaunt It"). The producers are impressed, mostly by her sex-appeal, and hire her as a clerical worker. Max leaves to raise $2 million to produceSpringtime for Hitler by calling on elderly women from all over New York ("Along Came Bialy"), and succeeds at raising the money ("Act I Finale").
Leo and Ulla are left alone in Max's office, which she has "redecorated", and they start to fall in love ("That Face"). Max walks in and sees the tempting form of Ulla's covered behind ("That Face" (reprise)).
At the auditions for the role of Hitler, Roger rejects one actor after another in summary fashion. Finally, a frustrated Franz performs his own jazzy rendition of "Haben Sie Gehört Das Deutsche Band?", at the end of which Max approves Franz's audition. Opening night arrives ("Opening Night" (reprise)), and after Leo curses the production by wishing everyone "good luck" rather than the traditional "break a leg" ("You Never Say 'Good Luck' on Opening Night"), Franz literally breaks his leg falling down the stairs. Roger is the only one other than Franz who knows the part of Hitler, and he rushes to the dressing room to get ready. The curtain rises, and Max and Leo watch the opening number ("Springtime for Hitler"), which shocks the audience, before sneaking away. Unfortunately, Roger plays Hitler so flamboyantly that the audience mistakes the show for satire, and it becomes a surprise smash.
Back at the office, Max and Leo are horrified that theIRS will learn of their actions as they read positive critical reviews forSpringtime ("Where Did We Go Right?"). Roger and Carmen come to congratulate them, only to find them fighting over the accounting books. Franz bursts in, waving a pistol, outraged by Roger's portrayal of Hitler. Fearful for his life, Max suggests that Franz shoot the actors instead of the producers as a way to close the show. The police are summoned by the commotion and arrest Franz, who breaks his other leg while trying to escape. They also arrest Max and take the books. As Leo hides, Ulla finds him and persuades him to take the $2 million and run off to Rio with her.
In jail awaiting trial, Max receives a postcard from Leo, now living in Rio and havingeloped with Ulla. Feeling betrayed, he recounts the events of the story ("Betrayed"). At his trial, Max is found "incredibly guilty", but Leo and Ulla arrive in the nick of time. Leo turns in the stolen money and tells the judge that Max is a good man who has never hurt anyone despite his swindling, and the only man he has ever called a friend ("'Til Him"). Touched by their friendship, the judge decides not to separate the partners, sending them and Franz toSing Sing prison together for five years. In prison, they write a new musical entitled "Prisoners of Love", and they are pardoned by the governor of New York for bringing joy into the lives of their inmates by having them act in the play. Soon after takingPrisoners of Love to Broadway, with Roger and Ulla in the main roles, Leo and Max become successful producers and walk off into the sunset ("Leo & Max"). Everyone comes back for one last song, telling the audience to leave ("Goodbye!").
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| Character | Broadway | U.S. tour[4] | U.S. tour[5] | West End | UK tour[6] | UK tour | West End revival[7] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2007 | 2015 | 2025 | |
| Max Bialystock | Nathan Lane | Lewis J. Stadlen | Brad Oscar | Nathan Lane | Cory English | Andy Nyman | |
| Leopold "Leo" Bloom | Matthew Broderick | Don Stephenson | Andy Taylor | Lee Evans | John Gordon Sinclair | Jason Manford | Marc Antolin |
| Ulla Bloom | Cady Huffman | Angie Schworer | Ida Leigh Curtis | Leigh Zimmerman | Emma-Jayne Appleyard | Tiffany Graves | Johanna Woodward |
| Roger De Bris | Gary Beach | Lee Roy Reams | Conleth Hill | Peter Kay | David Bedella | Trevor Ashley | |
| Carmen Ghia | Roger Bart | Jeff Hyslop | Rich Affannato | James Dreyfus | Robert Sebastian | Louie Spence | Raj Ghatak |
| Franz Liebkind | Brad Oscar | Fred Applegate | Bill Nolte | Nicolas Colicos | Alex Giannini | Phill Jupitus | Harry Morrison |
Source:[8]
The Producers had a pre-Broadway tryout atChicago'sCadillac Palace from February 1 to 25, 2001, starringMatthew Broderick as Leo Bloom andNathan Lane as Max Bialystock.[12][13]
The production opened on Broadway with the same cast at theSt. James Theatre on April 19, 2001. It ran for 2,502 performances, closing on April 22, 2007. The director and choreographer wasSusan Stroman.Glen Kelly was the musical arranger and supervisor.[1][2] The production won 12Tony Awards, breaking the record held for 37 years byHello, Dolly! which had won 10.[14]
After the opening,The Producers broke the record for the largest single day box-office ticket sales in theatre history, taking in more than $3 million.[15] The loss of the original stars later in the run had a detrimental effect on the success of the production, prompting the return of Broderick and Lane for a limited run from December 2003 to April 2004. The show's sales then broke its own record with over $3.5 million in single day ticket sales.[16]
From September 2002 to July 2005, there were two touring companies that played 74 cities across theUnited States, grossing over $214 million.[17] The first tour began on September 10, 2002, and starredDon Stephenson as Leo andLewis J. Stadlen as Max. They were replaced during theLos Angeles engagement in 2003 byMartin Short andJason Alexander for the duration of the show's run in that city, as well as inSan Francisco.[18]Michael Kostroff, who had several supporting roles in that production and understudied Max, published a 2005 memoir of his touring experience,Letters from Backstage.[citation needed]
A second national tour opened on June 17, 2003, at the Colonial Theatre inBoston, Massachusetts, starring Andy Taylor as Leo and Brad Oscar as Max. The cast also featuredLee Roy Reams as Roger andBill Nolte as Franz. This company toured the US for two years before playing in Tokyo, Japan.[19]
A Toronto production opened in December 2003 and closed in July 2004 atThe Canon Theatre. The cast includedMichael Therriault andSeán Cullen as Leo and Max,Juan Chioran as Roger,Paul O'Sullivan as Franz,Sarah Cornell as Ulla and Brandon McGibbon as Carmen Ghia. Stroman also directed and choreographed this production with the same designers as the Broadway production.[20]
The Producers opened in London'sWest End at theTheatre Royal, Drury Lane, on November 9, 2004 and closed on January 6, 2007, after 920 performances.[21] The production starredNathan Lane, reprising the role of Max afterRichard Dreyfuss was "let go" by the producers after finding that he was unable "to fulfil the rigours of the role", with four days to go before first previews.[22]Lee Evans played Leo (Lane and Evans had worked together in the 1997 movieMouseHunt), withLeigh Zimmerman as Ulla, Nicolas Colicos as Franz Liebkind,Conleth Hill as Roger De Bris, andJames Dreyfus as Carmen Ghia.[23]
The show enjoyed excellent box office success as it had in New York. Despite the departure of Lane from the show, it continued to enjoy strong sales. Leo Bloom was later played byJohn Gordon Sinclair[9] andReece Shearsmith.[10] Max Bialystock was then played byBrad Oscar,[11]Fred Applegate,[9] andCory English.[10]
A United Kingdom tour opened inManchester on February 19, 2007, where it played for three months before moving on. English and Sinclair reprised their roles of Max and Leo, respectively, andPeter Kay was cast in the role of Roger.[24] For the majority of the tour, which ran until early 2008,Joe Pasquale andReece Shearsmith took over the role of Leo andRuss Abbot played Roger.[25][26]
A new production began a UK and Ireland tour at theChurchill Theatre inBromley on March 6, 2015,[27] starringCory English as Max,Jason Manford as Leo,[28]Phill Jupitus (until May 16) andRoss Noble (from May 18 onwards) as Franz Liebkind,[29]David Bedella as Roger De Bris andLouie Spence as Carmen Ghia (until May 2).[30] The tour continued until July 2015 in Dublin.[31]
AnOff West End revival at theMenier Chocolate Factory, London, directed byPatrick Marber, began previews on November 26, 2024, with an opening night on December 9, and ran until 1 March 2025.Andy Nyman starred as Max, with Marc Antolin as Leo,Trevor Ashley as Roger,Raj Ghatak as Carmen, andJoanna Woodward as Ulla. Choreography was byLorin Latarro.[32]
The production transferred to theGarrick Theatre for a West End run with the same principal cast. The production began previews on August 30, 2025, with an opening on September 15.[33]
ALos Angeles, California, production ran from May 2003 to January 2004 at thePantages Theatre. Co-starring wereJason Alexander as Max Bialystock andMartin Short as Leo Bloom. TheLas Vegas, Nevada production ran for a year in 2007 to 2008 at the Paris Hotel & Casino. It starredBrad Oscar as Bialystock, Larry Raben as Bloom andLeigh Zimmerman as Ulla, withDavid Hasselhoff receiving top billing as Roger De Bris. Once Hasselhoff left the production, top-billing went toTony Danza, who stepped in as Bialystock. The production was a 90-minute version.[34] In 2007, the first U.S.regional theater production played inLincolnshire,Illinois at theMarriott Theatre from September to November 2007 and starred Ross Lehman as Bialystock and Guy Adkins as Bloom.[35]
In 2009, the show played at theWalnut Street Theatre inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania and at theDiablo Light Opera Company in California, starring Ginny Wehrmeister as Ulla,Ryan Drummond as Leo, and Marcus Klinger as Max. This production received the 2009 Shellie Award for Best Production. Oscar and Bart reprised their roles as Max and Leo, respectively, in a production atStarlight Theatre inKansas City, Missouri in August 2010.[36] A production at theHollywood Bowl, with Richard Kind, Roger Bart, and Gary Beach reprising their roles as Max Bialystock, Carmen Ghia and Roger DeBris from the original Broadway production, ran July 27–29, 2012. The cast also starredJesse Tyler Ferguson as Leo Bloom and featuredDane Cook as Franz Liebkind andRebecca Romijn as Ulla.[37]
The Producers has been presented professionally in cities around the world, includingToronto,[38]Berlin,Breda,Melbourne,Brisbane,Cairns,Sydney,Christchurch,Tel Aviv,Seoul,Buenos Aires, Tokyo,Osaka,Nagoya,Copenhagen,[39][40]Milan,Budapest,Madrid,[41]Halifax,Manchester,[42]Mexico City,Prague,Stockholm, Panama,[43]Bratislava,Vienna,Helsinki,Athens,Rio de Janeiro,[44]São Paulo,Caracas,Lisbon,Gothenburg,Oslo,Oradea,Paris,[45]Varde, Moscow,[46]Ghent, Manila,[47] andBelgrade.[48]
In 2005, the musical was adapted into amusical film. It was directed by Stroman and starred most of the original Broadway cast, except for Brad Oscar – who was unable to reprise the role of Franz because he had signed on to play Max on Broadway and, instead, had a brief cameo as the cab driver – and Cady Huffman. Their roles were played byWill Ferrell andUma Thurman, respectively. The songs "King of Broadway", "In Old Bavaria", and "Where Did We Go Right?" were not in the theatrical release of the film but were included in the extended cut; "King of Broadway" and "In Old Bavaria" appear on the DVD as deleted scenes. The movie opened on December 16, 2005, and received mixed reviews.
The fourth season of the TV seriesCurb Your Enthusiasm, parodiesThe Producers in the form of ametareference. Mel Brooks offersLarry David the part of Max, withBen Stiller as Leo. When Larry and Stiller have a falling out, Stiller is replaced byDavid Schwimmer. On opening night, Larry forgets his lines, but instead of causing the play to bomb, his ad-libs keep the audience laughing. Brooks reveals he purposely cast Larry, believing he would fail, to end the show and "free" Brooks of its success. Brooks and his real-life wife,Anne Bancroft, laugh at Larry's performance, but to their dismay, Larry makes the play a hit once again. Huffman and Lane appear as themselves.[49]
At the2001 Tony Awards,The Producers won 12 out of its 15 nominations, breaking the record of 10 wins set byHello, Dolly! in 1964.[50] It was one of the few musicals to win in every category for which it was nominated, receiving two nominations for leading actor and three for featured actor.[14][51] Its record for most nominations was tied in 2009 byBilly Elliot the Musical and broken in 2016 whenHamilton received 16 nominations,[52] but its record number of wins still stands, as of 2025;Hamilton is second, with 11 wins.[53]
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best New Musical | Won | |
| Best Actor in a Musical | Nathan Lane | Won | ||
| Lee Evans | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress in a Musical | Leigh Zimmerman | Nominated | ||
| Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Conleth Hill | Won | ||
| Best Director | Susan Stroman | Nominated | ||
| Best Theatre Choreographer | Nominated | |||
| Best Costume Design | William Ivey Long | Nominated | ||
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