Never Forget:
New Holocaust Books 70
Remedy For
Your Ears
74
Master Puppeteers
Visit Detroit
76
PRODUCING 'THE PRODUCERS'
GRAD IM STERN IS ONE OF THE PRODUCING
U-M
RSION OF
PARTNERS BRINGING THE MUSICALSTAGE
S CLASSIC FILM TO BROADWAY.
K
MEL BROO
ALICE BURDICK SCHWEIGER
Special to the Jewish News
by the venerable Brooks, who also co-wrote the book,
with Tom Meehan.
It's the story of Max Bialystock, a seedy, down-
on-his-luck theatrical producer, played by Lane
(Zero Mostel in the film), who finances his shows
with the money he scrapes up romancing lonely old
women, and Leo Bloom, the mousy accountant
who reviews his books. Broderick takes the role
Gene Wilder originated in the film.
Together, the two come up with a scam: They'll
PRODUCERS on page 68
n t, 11 1 , 1 ): 1 11 1 K1 1 11 1 1 1(
nce again, producer Jim Stern knows
what it's like to have a hit on Broadway.
After 12 successful New York plays, his
newest venture, The Producers, has been
hailed as possibly the best new show to hit the
Great White Way in decades.
Opening next week at New York City's St. James
Theatre following several weeks of sold-out previews
and starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, -
it's the musical version of Mel Brooks' 1968 criti-
cally, acclaimed comic film of the same name.
"I believe it will go down in history as the funni-
est musical ever written," says Stern, a 1981
University of Michigan graduate. "Personally, I don't
think there has ever been such a hysterical Show."
Stern could be right. After an out-of-town run in
the Windy City, the Chicago Tribune raved: "It's
endless in its invention, relentless in its energy,
extravagant in its design, witty in its silliness and
shameless in its show bizziness ...it's an absolutely
socko monster hit."
Advance ticket sales for the Broadway run have
climbed well past the $7-million mark and are
expected to soar. The show, directed and choreo-
graphed by three-time Tony winner Susan Stroman
(The Music Man, Contact), features music and lyrics
I')orho •':-
waftwormame -
Bialystock in
o Bloom in "Th's:,
fel Brooks musical'.