The Producers Film Available on DVD, May 16

By: May. 16, 2006
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The film version of The Producers is available on DVD today, May 16th; it is released by Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

The DVD of the movie musical, which was released in theaters nationwide on January 18th after a limited release, features a number of bonus features--including over 30 minutes of additional footage, including never-before-seen musical numbers (such as "King of Broadway," which was cut from the film) and outtakes. One "Analysis of a Scene" feature includes a never-before-seen extended version of the musical number "I Wanna Be A Producer" with exclusive behind the scenes footage of rehearsals and production. In addition, the DVD includes director's commentary from Susan Stroman.

The DVD is available at a retail price of $29.98.  The film earned a domestic box office gross of $19,377,727.

The Producers, which was released by Universal Pictures and Columbia Pictures and produced by Mel Brooks and Jonathan Sanger, stars its original Broadway bonanza team of Lane as amoral producer Max Bialystock and Broderick as Leo Bloom, Max' partner in theatrical crime. Based on the classic 1968 comedy-with music, The Producers finds Leo and Max in search of the show that most has "flop" written all over on it (they choose Springtime for Hitler, of course). Once the show bombs, they can pocket the money to Rio, but they don't pause to wonder...what if the flop is a hit? The film features a new song--"There's Nothing Like a Show on Broadway"--by Mel Brooks; it is heard over the end credits.
 
Joining Lane and Broderick in the film are original stars Gary Beach as director Roger De Bris and Roger Bart as his slinky assistant Carmen Ghia, as well as Uma Thurman as Swedish sexpot Ulla and Ferrell as Nazi playwright Franz Liebkind. Debra Monk and Andrea Martin play two Little Old Lady Investors, and John Barrowman, Brad Oscar and Jon Lovitz also have small roles in the film.

As with the Broadway musical, The Producers features a score by Brooks and a book by Brooks and Thomas Meehan. Stroman made her feature film debut with the movie musical. All won Tonys for the show, which swept the Tony Awards in 2001 and won 12 awards, including Best Musical. Currently starring John Treacy Egan as Max and Hunter Foster as Leo, The Producers has so far chalked up a run of over 2,000 performances. It opened at the St. James Theatre (246 W. 44th St.) on April 19th, 2001. The Producers also features costumes by William Ivey Long, sets by Robin Wagner, and lighting by Peter Kaczorowski, as well as musical direction by Patrick S. Brady and orchestrations by Douglas Besterman.

For more information, visit www.theproducersmovie.com.
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