In 1968, Mel Brooks opened the hit movie "THE PRODUCERS" staring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder. It is the story about two broadway producers trying to become rich by overselling shares of stock on a show they feel certain will close on opening night. The central character of this movie, Max Bialystock, is loosely based on a real Broadway producer who mel Brooks worked with hoever Mel Brooks refuses to name the real-life producer he took this inspiration from. That secret will follow him to his grave.
This movie was such a hit that Richard Geffin of DREAMWORKS persistantly approached Mel Brooks claining that it was crying to be made into a Broadway musical.
After initially saying no to Geffins idea, He finally relented and wrote the stage play THE PRODUCERS - THE MUSICAL.
When he was committed to the project, he began toseek out an accomplished broadway composer to write additional songs for his show. He visited the famous composer, Marvin Hamlisch, who graciously invited him into the home. Hamlisch told mel Brooks that he was too busy to help but he knew exactly who the right man was for the job. He invited Mel into the music room and began to play the song "Springtime For Hitler" from the original movie THE PRODUCERS. Mel Brooks said "Hey, I wrote that!" and marvin hamlisch said, "That's right. that is why you are the best man for the job!". Mel Brooks wrote all the songs ion his show (as he has done for most of his movies, as well).
The show opened in New York and it starred Nathan Lane as Max Bialystock and Mathew Broderick as Nathan Lane. It was sold out for the first two years!
The Producers is currently playing all across the United States and in London, too (probably in most English speaking countries!)
For those of you who have not seen the old movie (which can be rented) and have not seen the play, fear not - Universal Studios has recently announced that THE PRODUCERS - THE MUSICAL will be brought to the silver screen and might be released as early as Christmas, 2005.
The three stars already signed to this movie are:
NATHAN LANE as Max Bialystock
MATHER BRODERICK as Leo Bloom
NICOLE KIDMAN as Miss Ulla Inga Hansen Bensen Yonsen Tallen-Hallen Svaden-Svansen
I looko forwand to adding it to my DVD library!
(Rumor also has it that Mel Brooks is considering trying his luck at bringing another of his comedy hits to broadway... YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - THE MUSICAL!)
This movie was such a hit that Richard Geffin of DREAMWORKS persistantly approached Mel Brooks claining that it was crying to be made into a Broadway musical.
After initially saying no to Geffins idea, He finally relented and wrote the stage play THE PRODUCERS - THE MUSICAL.
When he was committed to the project, he began toseek out an accomplished broadway composer to write additional songs for his show. He visited the famous composer, Marvin Hamlisch, who graciously invited him into the home. Hamlisch told mel Brooks that he was too busy to help but he knew exactly who the right man was for the job. He invited Mel into the music room and began to play the song "Springtime For Hitler" from the original movie THE PRODUCERS. Mel Brooks said "Hey, I wrote that!" and marvin hamlisch said, "That's right. that is why you are the best man for the job!". Mel Brooks wrote all the songs ion his show (as he has done for most of his movies, as well).
The show opened in New York and it starred Nathan Lane as Max Bialystock and Mathew Broderick as Nathan Lane. It was sold out for the first two years!
The Producers is currently playing all across the United States and in London, too (probably in most English speaking countries!)
For those of you who have not seen the old movie (which can be rented) and have not seen the play, fear not - Universal Studios has recently announced that THE PRODUCERS - THE MUSICAL will be brought to the silver screen and might be released as early as Christmas, 2005.
The three stars already signed to this movie are:
NATHAN LANE as Max Bialystock
MATHER BRODERICK as Leo Bloom
NICOLE KIDMAN as Miss Ulla Inga Hansen Bensen Yonsen Tallen-Hallen Svaden-Svansen
I looko forwand to adding it to my DVD library!
(Rumor also has it that Mel Brooks is considering trying his luck at bringing another of his comedy hits to broadway... YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - THE MUSICAL!)
