
Written by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, with songs arranged by Glen Kelly and Doug Besterman, the original Broadway production of THE PRODUCERS (which opened at the St. James Theater on April 19, 2001 and starred Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick) won an unprecedented 12 Tony Awards, running for 2,502 performances. It spawned a successful London production running for just over two years, US national tours, many productions worldwide, and a 2005 film version.
THE PRODUCERS is about two wily theatrical producers who cook up a scheme to get rich by overselling interests in a Broadway flop. The humor of the show draws on ridiculous accents, homosexual stereotypes, and Nazis, along with many show business in-jokes. It is a satirical comedy that is deep enough for both insiders and outsiders of the theatre industry.