Tony Tuesday: THE PRODUCERS

At West End Best Friend, we’ve had the pleasure of delving into many of Broadway’s greatest musicals as part of our Tony Tuesday segment, so it’s about time we looked at the musical with the most Tony Award wins ever. No, it’s not Hamilton (Broadway’s most nominated show) but Mel Brooks’ production of The Producers.

34 years after the release of Brooks’ film of the same name, a musical stage adaptation opened on Broadway. The film and the musical follow the same story: Broadway theatre producer, Max Bialystock, and accountant and aspiring theatre producer, Leo Bloom, conspire together to create the worst musical ever written and pocket the cash investments when the show flops. They hire the worst creative team, the worst actors and fill their show with offensive content, naming it Springtime for Hitler. Much to their dismay, their show is a certified hit. 

With satirical characterisations of Nazis, accents and gay people, the film initially received mixed reviews, however developed a cult following and Brooks was convinced by producer and DreamWorks founder, David Geffen, to create a stage musical of the show which opened in 2001. Brooks wrote the musical and lyrics for the show and was joined by Thomas Meehan in writing the book. Susan Stroman directed and choreographed, roles she initially was due to share with her husband Mike Ockrent, until he sadly passed away in 1999. 

Despite the mixed public reception for the film, the musical, just like Springtime For Hitler, was met with great critical acclaim. At the 2001 Tony Awards, it became one of the few musicals to have won awards in every one of its nominated categories. The Producers received 15 nominations, with multiple nominations for leading actor and featured actor, and took home 12 awards. It held the title of the most nominations, until Billy Elliot the Musical matched these and Hamilton overtook. However, the show still reigns as having the most Tony Award wins for any show ever to this day, including Best Musical, Best Book, Best Direction, Best Orchestrations and many more. 

Alongside its Tony Award success, The Producers won 11 Drama Desk Awards from its 14 nominations, in almost entirely the same categories. The show also earned Mel Brooks the rare and prestigious EGOT status, thanks to his many Tony Award wins in 2001. 

Within the original cast was Nathan Lane (Max Bialystock), Matthew Broderick (Leo Bloom), Cady Huffman (Ulla), Gary Beach (Roger De Bris), Roger Bart (Carmen Ghia) and Brad Oscar (Franz Liebkind). Lane, Broderick, Beach and Bart reprised their roles for the 2005 film adaptation of the musical, joined by Uma Thurman and Will Ferrell. Nathan Lane also joined the cast of the West End production of the show, which opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in 2004. The Producers in London was met with a similar positive reaction to New York, winning three Olivier Awards for Best Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (Nathan Lane) and Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical (Conleth Hill).

In addition to Broadway, the film and the West End, The Producers has been seen on tour in the US and the UK, as well as in cities in Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Brazil, Sweden, Czech Republic, France and Norway, to name a few. 

Will any show in future ever gather as much Tony Award success? It seems very unlikely, but the prospect of individuals out in the world now writing and creating something that could is a very exciting one for musical theatre fans everywhere!

FACTS:

Music and Lyrics: Mel Brooks

Book: Mel Brooks

Original Broadway Theatre: St. James Theatre

Original Production Run: 19 April 2001 - 22 April 2007

TONYS:

WON: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Actor in a Musical - Nathan Lane, Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Gary Beach, Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Cady Huffman, Best Direction of a Musical - Susan Stroman, Best Choreography - Susan Stroman, Best Orchestrations - Doug Besterman, Best Scenic Design - Robin Wagner, Best Costume Design - William Ivey Long, Best Lighting Design - Peter Kaczorowski

NOMINATED: Best Actor in a Musical - Matthew Broderick, Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Roger Bart, Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Brad Oscar

Original Broadway performance at the Tony Awards: