*ABOUT THE PLAY*

The Producers is a wonderful show for a variety of reasons.

One of the best things about this show is that it’s a glittering tribute to the golden age musicals of the mid 20th Century. There are fantastic melodies and lavish dance numbers that would make Busby Berkeley feel right at home. The Producers shows us that there’s still a lot to be discovered and cherished about the delightful style of the classic musical.

Beyond its style, The Producers is wonderful because of its incredible sense of humor. Mel Brooks has given this show his own special brand of comedy that’s alternately high-brow, low-brow, and downright shocking. When the original film version of The Producers came out in 1968, many were shocked by the way that Brooks joked about Hitler and the Nazi party. However, Brooks’ response to this criticism has always been fascinating. He believes that the best way to  destroy an image is to hold it up to ridicule. Brooks is quoted as saying,”by using the medium of comedy, we can try to rob Hitler of his posthumous power and myths.” In other words, if you can hold something up, ridicule it,and laugh at it, you can tear it down.

I think that’s a valuable lesson for all of us about how powerful comedy can be in our own lives. Sometimes the only thing you can do is laugh, and sometimes that’s the very best thing for you.

As I’ve worked with our very talented cast and crew on The Producers, we’ve experienced a great deal of fun and laughter. My sincere hope is that the fun we’ve had together working on this delightful show will carry right over to all of you watching the show tonight!

Enjoy the show!

JASON POORMAN DIRECTOR