Michael Kostroff & Jason Graae to Headline Olney Theatre Center's THE PRODUCERS

Olney Theatre Center, a Mid-Atlantic destination for extraordinary theater performance and education, brings Mel Brooks' The Producers to the Washington DC region for the first time in a professional production since the 2004 National Tour. Broadway veterans Michael Kostroff (Max Bialystock) and Jason Graae (Roger de Bris) headline the cast, running June 24 - July 26, 2015 on the Mainstage.

Based on the hit 1968 film of the same name, this Mel Brooks comedic masterpiece follows the hilarious adventures of washed-up Broadway producer Max Bialystock and his mousy accountant Leo Bloom, as they scheme to get rich quick by producing the most notorious flop in the history of show biz! The Producers won a record twelve Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Musical Score.

"Some days, I feel like Max Bialystock," says Olney Theatre Center Artistic Director Jason Loewith. "Except I have the heart of an accountant, so I'm more like Leo Bloom. And I know The Producers will be a smash hit!"

The cast is led by Michael Kostroff and Jason Graae, making their Olney Theatre Center debut, as Max Bialystock and Roger de Bris. Mr. Kostroff is best known locally for his five seasons on HBO's The Wire, as well as his appearances on The Good Wife, Louie, and The Black List. He was also on the first National Tour of The Producers as well as the National Tour of Les Miserables. Mr. Graae has starred on Broadway in many shows, including Stardust,Snoopy!, A Grand Night For Singing, and Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? and has been nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

They are joined by Michael Di Liberto as Leo Bloom, Stephen F. Schmidt as Franz, and Robert Mintz as Carmen Ghia. The ensemble features Olney Theatre Center veterans Jennifer Cordiner, Lance Hayes, Ethan Kasnett, Nurney, Natalie Perez-Duel, and Derek Tatum, as well as Brandon Ambrosino, Jennifer Cameron, Gabriella DeLuca, John Jeffords, Amanda Kaplan, and Vicky Winter making their Olney Theatre Center debuts.

The award-winning design team lead by Director Mark Waldrop includes Choreographer Tara Jeanne Vallee, Music Director Darius Smith, Scenic DesignerJames Fouchard, Lighting Designer Andrew Griffin, Costume Designer Seth Gilbert, and Sound Designer Max Krembs.

Photo by Walter McBride