Lyric Stage presents THE PRODUCERS
Book by Mel Brooks + Thomas Meehan
Music + Lyrics by Mel Brooks
Production Crew
Brandon Mason Director and Choreographer
Bruce Greer Music Director
Maya Hernandez-Pearson Asst Choreographer
Jason Foster Lighting Designer
Scott Guenther Sound Designer
Tricia Guenther Costume Designer
Michael B. Moore Wig Designer
Evelyn Dumeer Audio Asst
Breianna Bairrington Costume Coordinator
Alexis Moorer Stage Manager
Kennedy Smith Asst Stage Manager
Ben Doan-Stevens Asst Stage Manager
Orchestra
Bruce Greer Music Director and Piano
Christian Gonzalez Reed 1
Steve Bunch Reed 2
Kristen Thompson Reed 3
Catherine Conlin Reed 4
Miles Johnson Trumpet 1
Jeremy Hunt Trumpet 2
Paul Birk Trombone 1
Marty Kobuck Trombone 2
Katrina Glaze Violin 1
Frederick McKee Violin 2
Benjamin Brown Bass
Michael Ptacin Drums
Megan VonDreau Percussion
Cast
B. J. Cleveland
Brandon Wilhelm
Jeff Wells
Micah Green
Julia Rose Hartman
Ryan Michael Friedman
Keith J. Warren
Sarah Floyd
Maya Hernandez-Pearson
Jacob Sewell
Antavius Draughn
Emily Dye
Paulette Cocke
Martin Vershel
Will Shafer
Alex D. Sutherland
My thoughts on The Producers or… Politically Incorrect Broadway Babies Mel Brooks style.
Lyric Stage is starting 2024 off with a rip roaring, one heck of a sensational production of Mel Brooks’ The Producers. It may be below freezing outside, but inside the Moody Performance Hall, it’s springtime, and not only for Hitler. This tale of Broadway bunglers and conmen Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom has laughs as plentiful as Texas bluebonnets in April.
Hard to believe it has been 24 years since I saw The Producers in New York and, although almost a quarter of a century has passed, those bawdy, pre-political correctness jokes and songs still bring all the guffaws and howls they did as I sat there on my mother’s lap watching Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick.
Mounting a production of a show that has iconic performances etched in the memory of so many people is a tough task, but Director and Choreographer Brandon Mason and Music Director Bruce Greer have met the challenge with A plus results. The show looks and sounds terrific with Greer’s 14-person orchestra producing some really lush music and the superior production values we have come to associate with Lyric Stage are evident here as well. However, it’s Mason’s casting that is what really makes this Producers soar.
At the center of the show is DFW superstar B.J. Cleveland as Max Bialystock. This is smart casting, replacing one icon with another and Cleveland makes Max his own without even a whiff of Nathan Lane coming through. Cleveland is in his wheelhouse here, singing and dancing like the musical comedy genius he is and tossing out those naughty Brooks one liners like he just thought of them. Not to mention managing all those sex starved grannies! Bravo, sir.
No less impressive are the talents of Brandon Wilhelm as Leo Bloom, the accountant who longs to be a Broadway producer. Wilhelm, a fine singer and wonderful comedic actor, takes Leo from quiet, unassuming, shy guy who carries a security blanket (security towel?) to smart, self-confident schemer. The sheltered Leo is unprepared for the advances of Ulla, the blonde bombshell who is the office “secretary” and Wilhelm really shines in the scenes as this awkward romance begins.
And who wouldn’t shine a bit from being next to the glorious aura of Julia Rose Hartman? Hartman is simply stunning as the Swedish sex goddess Ulla and gets every last bit of sexy comedy out of her solo, “When You’ve Got It, Flaunt It.” In a beautiful blonde wig by Michael B. Moore and dresses and gowns by Tricia Guenther, Hartman’s Ulla is a dazzler.
Also dazzling in one of Guenther’s gowns is Micah Green as the flamboyant Roger De Bris, the director of Springtime for Hitler who must go on as the Fuehrer at the last minute. Green is terrific as the over-the-top egotistical director and his solo in the “Springtime for Hitler” number is a showstopper. De Bris lives on the Upper East side with his eccentric “common-law assistant” Carmen Ghia played by Ryan Michael Friedman. I don’t know if there is such a thing as understated campiness, but if there is, that’s what Friedman is doing in this part. His quiet, deadpan delivery is hysterical, and he gets a laugh every time he opens his mouth. De Bris and Ghia have no problem trying to “Keep It Gay.”
Is it possible to have a favorite Nazi? That’s just what Jeff Wells is as Franz Liebkind, the pigeon keeping German expat who has written the play Springtime for Hitler. Wells, who was an amazing scene stealer as the dentist in Lyric Stage’s Little Shop last year, is even better as the lederhosen wearing goose stepping “ex-Nazi” and what a voice this man has. Wells could play this part on any stage anywhere.
Speaking of spectacular voices, Keith J. Warren who plays I believe five or more parts in the show and is constantly changing costumes, has one of those thrilling musical theater voices that fill an auditorium. Warren’s voice and excellent comic timing make him a standout in the show.
Sarah Floyd, who is featured as one of the aged cougars in the production is excellent as are Maya Hernandez-Pearson, Jacob Sewell, Antavius Draughn, Emily Dye. Paulette Cocke, Martin Vershel, Will Shafer, and Alex D. Sutherland who make up the incredible always singing, always dancing ensemble.
The Producers at Lyric Stage produces sheer joy. From the big production numbers to the quietly comic moments, it constantly entertains. Congratulations to the cast, crew, and creatives. You have set the bar very high for 2024 theater in DFW. Now, excuse me please. I have a craving for wiener schnitzel.
