The Producers (musical)

The Producers
Original Broadway Playbill
Music	Mel Brooks
Lyrics	Mel Brooks
Book	Mel Brooks Thomas Meehan
Basis	The Producers by Mel Brooks
Productions	2001 Broadway 2002 US Tour 2003 Second US Tour 2004 West End 2005 Film 2007 UK Tour 2015 UK and Ireland tour International productions
Awards	Tony Award for Best Musical Tony Award for Best Book Tony Award for Best Score Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album Olivier Award for Best New Musical

The Producers is a musical adapted by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan from Brooks' 1968 film of the same name, with lyrics written by Brooks and music composed by Brooks and arranged by Glen Kelly and Doug Besterman. As in the film, the story concerns two theatrical producers who scheme to get rich by overselling interests in a Broadway flop. Complications arise when the show unexpectedly turns out to be successful. The humor of the show draws on ridiculous accents, caricatures of homosexuals and Nazis, and many show business in-jokes.

After 33 previews, the original Broadway production opened at the St. James Theatre on April 19, 2001, starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, and ran for 2,502 performances, winning a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards. It spawned a successful London production running for just over two years, national tours in the US and UK, many productions worldwide and a 2005 film version.

David Geffen persuaded Mel Brooks to turn his movie into a stage musical. When Brooks met with Jerry Herman to discuss their working together, Herman declined, telling Brooks that he should do the job himself, as he was a good songwriter. Brooks then asked Thomas Meehan to join him in writing the book for the stage. Brooks persuaded Mike Ockrent and his wife Susan Stroman to join the creative team as director and choreographer. After Ockrent's death in 1999, Stroman agreed to continue as both director and choreographer.