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‘The Producers’ coming to MSMT |
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BRUNSWICK - Maine State Music Theatre continues its 50th anniversary season this summer with the most award-winning musical ever, The Producers. The twelve-time Tony Award-winning musical chronicles the comic adventures of Broadway producer Max Bialystock (Ed Romanoff) and mousy accountant Leo Bloom (Chuck Ragsdale) as they scheme to hit it rich by over-investing in a sure-fire flop. The production runs from June 25 to July 12 at the Pickard Theater on the campus of Bowdoin College. Tickets range from $29 to $51 and can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 725-8769 or by visiting the MSMT website at www.msmt.org.
Many contemporary audiences are familiar with The Producers from the 2001 Broadway musical and the 2005 Susan Stromberg-directed film, both starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. MSMT's 50th anniversary production of the show, however, harkens back to the original1968 Mel Brooks film of the same name. “The heart of this is much closer to the first movie,” explains The Producers’ director, Marc Robin, who recently directed the show at the Marriott Theatre in Chicago.
Co-stars of The Producers, Ed Romanoff and Chuck Ragsdale, share Robin's vision and draw upon the original film for inspiration in shaping their characters. Romanoff recalls enjoying the Mel Brooks film as a child and he channels the film in his portrayal of the hapless producer, Max. “Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder were heroes of mine,” he notes. “Those are the voices that I hear in my head.” Ragsdale, who plays the stage-struck accountant Leo, shares Romanoff's sentiments. “I come from the South where there's a saying: 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it,'” he quips. “Gene Wilder gave such an iconic performance. He was so brilliant in what he brought to the role.”
For many audience members, this season offers the first chance to see The Producers live for the first time. Robin believes that Pickard Theater audiences will not be disappointed. “An audience is going to go out smiling,” he promises.
MSMT's production of The Producers also features several stars from past seasons, including Amy Bodnar as Ulla, Curt Dale Clark as Franz Liebkind, Stuart Marland as Roger De Bris, and Raymond Dumont as Carmen Ghia.
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