The Producers

The Producers  is a musical adapted by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan from Brooks’s 1967 film of the same name, with lyrics written by Brooks and music composed by Brooks and arranged by Glen Kelly and Doug Besterman.  As in the film, the story concerns two theatrical producers who scheme to get rich by overselling interests in a Broadway flop.  Complications arise when the show unexpectedly turns out to be successful.  The humor of the show draws on ridiculous accents, caricatures of homosexuals and Nazis, and many show business in-jokes.  After 33 previews, the original Broadway production opened at the St. James Theatre on April 19, 2001, starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, and ran for 2,502 performances, winning a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards.  It spawned a successful London production running for just over two years, national tours in the US and UK, many productions worldwide, and a 2005 film version.  (More from Wikipedia)