The Producers Fun Facts
Detailed Synopsis | Awards | Fun Facts | Songs
The Producers
New York, 1959. It’s the opening of a new Max Bialystock play called Funny Boy, a musical version of Hamlet. Everyone hates it and the show closes after one performance. Max, who was once called the King of Broadway, vows to return to form.
The next day, Leo Bloom, a mousy accountant, comes to Max’s office to audit his books. After some calculations, Leo realizes that under the right circumstances, a producer could actually make more money with a flop than with a hit. He explains that the IRS isn’t interested in shows that fail. A producer could raise $1 million, put on flop that only costs $100,000, and keep the rest.
Max proposes the ultimate scheme: Find the worst play ever written, raise $2 million, open and close quickly on Broadway and then head to Rio with the extra cash. They soon find the sure-fire flop: Springtime for Hitler.
Max goes off to raise the money by calling on all the little old ladies in New York. Opening night for Springtime for Hitler arrives. The curtain rises, and Max and Leo watch their failure unfold. Unfortunately, the audience mistakes it for satire and the show becomes the talk of the town. Max and Leo wonder “Where did we go right”and now what?
Photo by Squid Ink, courtesy of Music Theatre of Wichita
2001 Tony® Awards
15 Nominations, 12 Wins
Best Musical (Winner)
Best Book of a Musical (Winner)
Best Original Score (Winner)
Best Performance by a Leading
Actor in a Musical (Winner and additional Nominee)
Best Performance by a Featured Actor
in a Musical (Winner and two additional Nominees)
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in
a Musical (Winner)
Best Scenic Design (Winner)
Best Costume Design (Winner)
Best Lighting Design (Winner)
Best Choreography (Winner)
Best Direction of a Musical (Winner)
Best Orchestrations (Winner)
2001 Drama Desk Awards
14 Nominations, 11 Wins
Outstanding New Musical (Winner)
Outstanding Book of a Musical (Winner)
Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Winner and additional nominee)
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Winner and additional nominee)
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Winner)
Outstanding Choreography (Winner)
Outstanding Director of a Musical (Winner)
Outstanding Orchestrations (Winner)
Outstanding Lyrics (Winner)
Outstanding Set Design of a Musical (Winner)
Outstanding Costume Design (Winner)
Outstanding Lighting Design (Nominee)
1. Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder starred in the 1968 film version as Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, respectively, while Nathan Lane originated the role of Max and Matthew Broderick starred as Leo in the 2001 Broadway production and the subsequent film remake in 2005.
2. Other “Max” performers on Broadway included Tony Danza while other “Leo” characters included CLO alumnus Hunter Foster and Alan Ruck, who coincidentally played Matthew Broderick’s best friend in the hit film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
3. In addition to “The Producers,” Mel Brooks wrote and directed “Blazing Saddles” and “Young Frankenstein.” All are ranked in the Top 20 on the American Film Institute’s list of the Top 100 comedy films of all-time.
4. The Producers and Billy Elliot hold the record for most Tony® nominations with 15 and The Producers is first all time with 12 wins.
5. Thomas Meehan co-wrote the book with Mel Brooks. Meehan also wrote the book for Annie, Hairspray and Young Frankenstein.
6. On the television show “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” The Producers was featured in almost every episode of season four. In the storyline, Larry David was cast as Max by Mel Brooks and the part of Leo Bloom was played by Ben Stiller.
