VOICE ONE:
A new musical play opened a few months ago on Broadway in NewYork City. It is called “The Producers.”
“The Producers” was first seen as a movie in NineteenSixty-Eight. It was written by Mel Brooks. But it was not a musical.A few years ago, Mister Brooks decided to write the story again as amusical for the stage. He also wrote all the songs.
I’m Sarah Long. Today, Shirley Griffith and I report about “TheProducers” on the VOA Special English program, THIS IS AMERICA.
((CUT ONE: MUSIC FROM OVERTURE TO “THE PRODUCERS”))
VOICE TWO:
Mel Brooks says the musical show “The Producers” is his way tohonor the Broadway shows he loved in the past. He calls it atraditional musical comedy.
That is true in one way. The show presents a funny story toldthrough songs and dances performed by actors in beautiful clothes.But the story of “The Producers” is very different from otherBroadway shows. That is because its songs and dances are aboutGermany and the Nazis in the Nineteen-Thirties. The show makes funof German dictator Adolph Hitler and his followers.
Mel Brooks has said that the best way to defeat an enemy is tomake fun of him by showing him as stupid. That is what he has donein “The Producers.” And audiences are loving the show. All thetickets have been sold until next year.
VOICE ONE:
“The Producers” takes place in New York City inNineteen-Fifty-Nine. It involves two men, Max Bialystock and LeoBloom. Nathan Lane plays the part of Max. Max is a theatricalproducer. He organizes shows on Broadway. But his latest show was afailure.
Leo Bloom is an accountant. He arrives at Max’s office to recordthe show’s losses. Matthew Broderick plays Leo. Leo tells Max how aproducer could make more money with an unsuccessful show than with asuccessful one. For example, a producer could get one-milliondollars from investors. He could produce a bad show that only costsone-hundred-thousand dollars. When the show fails, the producercould keep the rest of the money. Max immediately decides to do it.He asks Leo to join him in the plot in the song “We Can Do It.”
((CUT TWO: WE CAN DO IT))
Leo hates his accounting job. He wants a more exciting life. Heimagines himself as a famous Broadway producer surrounded bybeautiful girls as he sings “I Wanna Be a Producer.”
((CUT THREE: I WANNA BE A PRODUCER))
VOICE TWO:
Leo quits his job and decides to work with Max. The first step intheir plan is to find the worst play ever written, so it will besure to fail. They choose a musical called “Springtime For Hitler.”They are sure it will be so bad that it will close after oneperformance.
The writer of “Springtime For Hitler” is a former Nazi namedFranz Liebkind. He gives Leo and Max permission to produce his show.The two producers then hire the worst director, worst actors andworst production team they can find. Max gets two-million dollars toproduce the show from rich old ladies he knows.
Finally, “Springtime For Hitler” opens on Broadway. It includes ahuge production number with beautiful dancing girls. Men dressed asNazi soldiers sing about the glories of Adolph Hitler and NaziGermany. The song is “Springtime For Hitler”:
((CUT FOUR: SPRINGTIME FOR HITLER))
VOICE ONE:
But Max and Leo’s plan fails. The worst thing happens. Theaudience loves the show. They think it is supposed to be funny. Theshow is a huge success.
Soon, Max is arrested for stealing the investors’ money. Leotakes the two-million dollars and flees to Brazil with their officesecretary. Alone in jail, Max sings angrily about his situation inthis song, “Betrayed.”
((CUT FIVE: BETRAYED))
VOICE TWO:
Max is found guilty and is about to be sentenced when Leo returnsto admit his part in the plot. Max finally recognizes what Leo meansto him. The two men express their feelings of friendship in the song”‘Til Him.”
((CUT SIX: ‘TIL HIM))
Leo and Max go to prison. But the governor pardons them. Theybegin producing successful Broadway shows, for real this time.
((CUT SEVEN: PRISONERS OF LOVE–LEO AND MAX))
VOICE ONE:
Each year, Broadway shows compete for Tony awards. This year “TheProducers” won twelve Tony awards. That is the most Tony awards evergiven to one show. “The Producers” won the award for Best Musical onBroadway. Nathan Lane won best actor in a musical for playing MaxBialystock. Cady Huffman was named best actress in a musical for herwork as the secretary. Mel Brooks won the Tony for best music andlyrics written for the theatre. “The Producers” also won Tony awardsfor best direction, best dancing, best lighting, best costume designand best sets.
People who have seen “The Producers” say it is great fun. Theshow’s producers reportedly are considering making the musical intoa movie. That way even more people will be able to enjoy it.
((TAPE CUT EIGHT: INSTEAD OF CLOSING THEME, OVERTURE TO “THEPRODUCERS”))
VOICE TWO:
This program was written by Nancy Steinbach. It was produced byPaul Thompson. Our studio engineer was Keith Holmes. I’m ShirleyGriffith.
VOICE ONE:
And I’m Sarah Long. Join us again next week for another reportabout life in the United States on the VOA Special English program,THIS IS AMERICA.