STAGE: THE PRODUCERS
January 26/February 2, 2001

Picture Editor: Denise Sfraga


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Springtime regained: Jeffry Denman, Broderick, Ray Wills, Abe Sylvia.


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From left, co-book writer Thomas Meehan, Stroman, Brooks.

Mel Brooks puts on the show of shows

The classy class of Broadway 2001 includes productions from Stoppard, Coward ...and the man behind the fart scene in Blazing Saddles. Mel Brooks is mounting a musical version of his 1968 comedy The Producers, with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick leading the swasti-kicklines as a theatrical duo planning a surefire flop (Springtime for Hitler) to bilk investors. Teaming with Contact's Tony award‑winning choreographer‑director Susan Stroman, Brooks has written 17 new songs and set the play in 1958‑nixing Swedish secretary Ulla's go‑go‑ing. "It was a little '60s," says Broderick, "her dancing and shaking her ass all the time." But a good Luftwaffe joke never gets old.

(Opens April 19)

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