'The Producers' Comes To NSMT 5/13-6/1

 "I wanna be a Producer…"  That's what everyone will be singing after experiencing North Shore Music Theatre's New England Regional Premiere of Mel Brooks' 12-time Tony® Award winning hit THE PRODUCERS.  Kicking off NSMT's 2008 season, THE PRODUCERS runs May 13 - June 1, 2008 and Press Night is scheduled for May 15 at 7:30pm.  

"What better way to begin this spectacular season than with the musical that has won more Tony® Awards than any other show in history," said Barry Ivan, NSMT's new Artistic Director and Executive Producer.  "We are also paying tribute this season to the legendary Tony® Award-winning Susan Stroman who originally directed and choreographed THE PRODUCERS for Broadway, making it a perfect fit."

Based on the hit 1968 film of the same name, this Mel Brooks masterpiece chronicles the hilarious adventures of washed-up Broadway producer Max Bialystock and his mild-mannered accountant Leo Bloom, as they scheme to get rich quick by producing the most notorious flop in the history of showbiz. What they don't know is that after all their hard work, the musical ends up being a smash hit!  It's a comic tour-de-force that spoofs the big, old-fashioned Broadway musical while paying tribute to it at the same time. The classic score contains such gems as "I Wanna Be A Producer," "When You Got It, Flaunt It," "Springtime for Hitler," and "Prisoners of Love."  With a book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan and music and lyrics by Mel Brooks, THE PRODUCERS will have audiences laughing out loud.

"The Producers unites the audience with its jokes, sight gags and over-the-top musical numbers," remarked Ivan.  "Leave it to Mel Brooks to create an outrageous musical comedy featuring tap dancing old ladies, a kick line of German soldiers, and leggy show girls- all on one stage!"

This uproarious comedy stars Scott Davidson as down-and-out producer Max Bialystock, Jim Stanek as Max's timid accountant Leo Bloom and Amy Bodnar as Ulla, the Swedish bombshell that Bialystock and Bloom hire as their receptionist.  Most recently, Davidson has appeared on Broadway in Hairspray and in the roles of Franz Liebkind and Roger Debris in the national touring companies of The Producers.  The 'Bloom' to Davidson's 'Bialystock,' Jim Stanek comes to NSMT fresh off his featured role in I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change at New York's Westside Theatre.  Stanek also originated the role Louis de Pointe Du Lac in Elton John's musical Lestat, and was featured in the Broadway revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, in Indiscretions with Kathleen Turner, and in the off-Broadway production of Frankenstein.  Amy Bodnar has appeared on Broadway in Ragtime and Oklahoma and has appeared in the national tour of The Scarlet Pimpernel.

The cast of THE PRODUCERS also features Stuart Marland (Roger DeBris), Patrick Wetzel (Frank Liebkind), and Fred Berman (Carmen Ghia).  The ensemble includes Noah Aberlin, Kristi Ambrosetti, Gale Bennett, Joel Briel, Kyle Brown, Jameson Cooper, Ashley Dezeeuw, Veronica DiPerna, Madeleine Doherty, C.K. Edwards, Valerie Fagan, Tim Falter, Leslie Flesner, Alexa Glover, Shari Jordan, and Robin Lewis.

The creative team includes Bill Burns (Director/Choreographer) who served as Resident Director and Choreographer for a U.S. national tour and Las Vegas company of The Producers, NSMT Resident Musical Supervisor Dale Rieling (Musical Director), Campbell Baird (Scenic Designer), Jack Mehler (Lighting Designer), John A. Stone (Sound Designer), Gerard Kelly (Wig Designer), Mungioli Theatricals/Arnold J. Mungioli, C.S.A. (Casting), Michael Gacetta (Assistant Musical Director), Laurie Silipigno (Production Stage Manager), and Alicia Reese (Assistant Stage Manager).

Tickets for THE PRODUCERS are priced from $79 to $42: Senior & Youth Discounts and Rush Tickets are Available. Performances are May 13 – June 1, 2008, Tue – Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri & Sat at 8 pm, matinees Wed, Sat and Sun at 2 pm. There will be an ASL interpreted performance on May 31 at 2pm.  For tickets: www.nsmt.org, (978) 232-7200, or in person at 62 Dunham Rd. Beverly, MA 01915.

THE PRODUCERS is recommended for theatergoers 16 years and over. When it comes to outrageous comedy, Mel Brooks is a self proclaimed equal opportunity offender. This musical is not recommended for audience members who are easily offended by bawdy comedy based on race, religion and sexuality. Contains strong language and adult humor.

During THE PRODUCERS, NSMT is introducing a new Kids Club program for parents and kids.  With the purchase of an adult ticket to the Sunday, May 25 production of THE PRODUCERS, parents are invited to enroll their children in a special free theater workshop on site at NSMT while they attend the show.  NSMT's qualified and experienced teaching staff will lead classes in acting, dancing, and singing at the theater.  The Kids Club is open to children ages 4-11.  This program is free of charge but advanced reservations are required by the Friday before the Sunday show.  The Kids Club will have a designated date for each mainstage musical production in the 2008 season.

Additional Free Audience Enrichment events: Meet the Theatre:  post show audience discussion with the artists on 5/20 after the 2 pm performance and 5/31 after the 7:30 pm performance; Spotlight on History, a free pre-show discussion focusing on historical issues related to the performance on 5/25; Out at the North Shore, an evening for the Gay and Lesbian Community with a post show reception on 5/29.

Operating since 1955, NSMT has evolved into the largest non-profit producing theater in New England, with approximately 300,000 patrons annually.  NSMT has gained a national and regional reputation for artistic achievement, specifically in the areas of developing new works and providing outstanding theater arts and education programs.  NSMT has received numerous industry awards including The Elliot Norton Award, The Rosetta Le Noire Award from Actors' Equity, and The Moss Hart Award.  NSMT annually produces a six musical subscription series and an acclaimed concert series. With its celebrated Theatre for Young Audiences program, a school touring program, and year-round classes for children, NSMT has become one of the region's leading providers of theater arts and education.

 

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