THE PRODUCERS, the new MEL BROOKS musical, will make its Baltimore premiere at The Hippodrome Theatre at The France-Merrick Performing Arts Center for a limited 5 week engagement beginning February 10, 2004 through March 14, 2004. Tickets go on sale Sunday, October 19 at 10:00 am.

Everything you’ve heard is true! “Mel Brooks has put the comedy back into musical comedy. THE PRODUCERS is the funniest, most fearlessly irreverent thing ever seen on stage!” (USA Today). And now you can experience the biggest Tony Award winner in Broadway history when it comes to Baltimore! Directed and choreographed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (Crazy for You, Contact, The Music Man, Oklahoma), The New York Times raves “THE PRODUCERS is a blissful spectacle that will leave you delirious!”

Based on Mr. Brooks’ Academy Award-winning 1968 film of the same name, THE PRODUCERS, the new MEL BROOKS musical is the story of down-on-his-luck theatrical producer Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, a mousy accountant. Together they hatch the ultimate scam: raise more money than you need for a sure-fire Broadway flop and pocket the difference. Their “sure-fire” theatrical fiasco? None other than the musical Springtime for Hitler. Starring in THE PRODUCERS, the new MEL BROOKS musical are Bob Amaral as Max Bialystock and Andy Taylor as Leo Bloom.

Bob Amaral (Max Bialystock) was the last “Pseudolus” in the Broadway revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Other credits include Guys and Dolls, Annie Get Your Gun with Cathy Rigby, Phantom of the Opera, The Wizard of Oz and Anything Goes. Television credits include “N.Y.P.D. Blue”, “Son of the Beach”, “Mad About You”, “ Empty Nest” and Eddie Hayes in “Morton & Hayes”.

Andy Taylor originated the roles of Howard in Moon Over Buffalo with Carol Burnett, and J.H. Rodgers in the Tony Award winning Titanic on Broadway. He also played the villain Ernst in the national tour of Cabaret. He has also been seen on television in “Law and Order,” “C.S.I.” and “As the World Turns.”

THE PRODUCERS, the new MEL BROOKS musical has a Tony Award-winning book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, Tony Award-winning music and lyrics by Mel Brooks, and is directed and choreographed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman.

Mel Brooks, director, producer, writer and actor, began his distinguished career during television’s “Golden Age” as a writer for Sid Caesar on “Your Show of Shows” in 1951. In 1955 and in 1957, Brooks received Emmy Award nominations (with others) for best comedy writing for “Caesars Hour” and in 1956, he was nominated (with others) for best writing for a variety or situation comedy.

After writing and directing his first feature film in 1968, The Producers, which earned him an Academy Award for the best original screenplay written directly for the screen, he went on to create a remarkable string of hit comedies, including: The Twelve Chairs, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and History of the World, Part 1, among others. His visionary film company, Brooksfilms Limited, founded in 1980, has produced some of America's most distinguished films, among them: David Lynch's The Elephant Man, David Cronenberg's The Fly, Frances, Richard Benjamin's My Favorite Year, and 84 Charing Cross Road, starring Anthony Hopkins and Mr. Brooks’ wife, Anne Bancroft.

Thomas Meehan received his first Tony Award in 1977 for writing the book of Annie, which was his first Broadway show, and has since written the books for the musicals I Remember Mama, Ain't Broadway Grand, Annie Warbucks and Hairspray. In addition, he is a long-time contributor of humor to The New Yorker, an Emmy-award winning writer of television comedy, and a collaborator on a number of screenplays, including Mel Brooks' Space Balls and To Be or Not to Be.

Susan Stroman is currently represented on Broadway by THE PRODUCERS, the new MEL BROOKS musical, Contact and Oklahoma. Ms. Stroman is the recipient of 5 Tony Awards, 2 Olivier Awards, 4 Drama Desk Awards, 7 Outer Critics Circle Awards, a record 3 Astaire Awards and the Lucille Lortel Award. Other Broadway credits include Crazy for You, Showboat, Big, Steel Pier, Picnic, Music Man and Thou Shalt Not. She also choreographs Madison Square Garden's annual spectacular event A Christmas Carol, directed by Mike Ockrent.

The creative team for THE PRODUCERS, the new MEL BROOKS musical is comprised of Robin Wagner (sets), William Ivey Long (costumes), Peter Kaczorowski (lighting), Steve Kennedy (sound), Glen Kelly (musical arrangements and supervision), Patrick Brady (musical direction/vocal arrangements) and Doug Besterman (orchestrations).

THE PRODUCERS, the new MEL BROOKS musical swept the 2001 Tony Awards, receiving the most Awards in Broadway history. Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical (Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan), Best Original Score (Mel Brooks), Best Scenic Design (Robin Wagner), Best Costume Design (William Ivey Long), Best Lighting Design (Peter Kaczorowski), Best Orchestrations (Doug Besterman), Best Choreography and Best Direction of A Musical (Susan Stroman).

THE PRODUCERS, the new MEL BROOKS musical received a record eleven 2001 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Director of a Musical, Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Book of a Musical, Outstanding Lyrics, Outstanding Orchestrations, Outstanding Set Design of a Musical, and Outstanding Costume Design.

THE PRODUCERS, the new MEL BROOKS musical received eight 2001 Outer Critics Awards, including Outstanding Broadway Musical, Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Scenic Design, and Outstanding Costume Design.

THE PRODUCERS, the new MEL BROOKS musical also received the 2001 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Musical, The 2001 Drama League Award for Best Musical, and an Astaire Award for Ms. Stroman’s choreography.

THE PRODUCERS, the new MEL BROOKS musical, produced by Rocco Landesman; Clear Channel Entertainment; The Frankel · Baruch · Viertel · Routh Group; Bob and Harvey Weinstein; Rick Steiner; Robert F.X. Sillerman and Mel Brooks, in association with James D. Stern/Douglas Meyer and by special arrangement with StudioCanal, opened on Broadway on Thursday, April 19, 2001.

THE PRODUCERS, the new MEL BROOKS musical will be at The Hippodrome Theatre at The France-Merrick Performing Arts Center from February 10, 2004 to March 14, 2004. Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster (410)-481-SEAT.

Performance Times:

• Tuesday-Saturday, 8:00 pm
• Saturday Matinee, 2:00 pm
• Sunday Matinee & Evening, 1 & 6:30 p.m.

Ticket Price Range: $34.00 - $79.00

Visit THE PRODUCERS, the new MEL BROOKS musical web site by logging on to www.producersontour.com.

Local Press Representative:
Marilyn Waranch
(410) 625-4230 x 623