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There may be only one play in all of showbiz history in which the opposite of the old maxim holds true: the show mustn't go on--at least not if the scam dreamed up by the titular backers in The Producers is to succeed.
American Musical Theatre of San Jose opens its new season with comic writer Mel Brooks' award-winning musical about two men who seek their fortune in a show's failure. The Producers opens on July 6 in downtown San Jose.
Over the years, C-list Broadway producer Max Bialystock has consistently backed shows that have bombed. When accountant Leo Bloom arrives to do Bialystock's books, he makes an intriguing discovery about the potential profitability of failed shows, which inspires Bialystock to hatch a plan that will bilk investors by staging a guaranteed flop. He drags Bloom along for the ride.
The two go in search of a big dose of box-office poison and are sure they have found it in Springtime for Hitler, a musical penned by a neo-Nazi. Bialystock and Bloom oversell interests in their almost certainly doomed production by a few thousand percent and then eagerly wait for it to fail miserably on opening night. But as any producer should know, once the curtain goes up, everything is in the hands of the audience.
The Producers may be all about losers, but the musical has become the most awarded show in the history of Broadway. In 2001, the original Broadway production garnered 12 Tonys, a record number of awards. Brooks wrote the lyrics and the music and co-wrote the book.
The theatrical musical was based on a 1968 movie that marked Brooks' debut as a feature film writer and director. When it was released, the movie (also called The Producers) wasn't well received by critics, but as time has passed, the film has grown in popularity and standing.
American Musical Theatre of San Jose presents "The Producers" July 625 at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd., San Jose. Tickets are $50$77. For more information, call 888.455.SHOW or see www.amtsj.org.
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