Village Theatre's The Producers a Feel-Good Crowd Pleaser

If you're a Mel Brooks fan, there's little doubt that you will enjoy 

The ensemble cast doesn't overdo it, but the Mel Brooks-isms, if you will, come through just enough in the play's dialogue to give audience members an instant sense of the consummate funnyman.

Combine that with a delightful cast, including Jessica Skerritt as the vivacious Ulla Inga Hansen Benson Yansen Tallen Hallen Svaden Swanson, Richard Gray as down-on-his luck producer Max Bialystock, Brian Earp  as timid accountant Leo Bloom, and Nick DeSantis  as "the worst director whoever lived," Roger Debris, and you have a recipe for fun and antics.

Despite solid performances by all, Nick DeSantis as the flamboyantly gay Debris, who ends up playing the lead in the expected flop devised by Bialystock, steals the show with his outrageously campy and delightful protrayal of the Fuhrer in the play-within-a-play. It's Brooks at his finest, and Village Theatre at its best--simply pure fun.

At the 2001 Tony Awards, The Producers won 12 out of its 15 nominations, including Best Musical with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick playing the leading roles of Bialystock and Bloom, respectively, and making it one of the few musicals to win in every category for which it was nominated.

Village Theatre’s production is directed by local veteran and artistic director, Steve Tomkins, recently named “Most Influential” by Seattle Magazine. Tomkins has teamed up once again with Seattle-gone-New York choreographer Kristin Hollard Bohr (previously Kristin Culp;choreographer for 42nd Street; Annie Get Your Gun) to take The Producers to the next level,complete with tap dance numbers, and, of course, a coop full of singing and dancing pigeons!

Village Theatre’s original production of The Producers is co-music directed by Tim Symons (Jesus Christ Superstar) and Bruce Monroe (42nd Street); scenic design by Steven Capone (The Full Monty; Meet Me in St. Louis); lighting design by Aaron Copp (Anne of Green Gables; 42nd Street); sound design by Brent Warwick (It Shoulda Been You; Annie Get Your Gun).

The Producers plays May 9-July 1 in Issaquah, and if you miss it here, you can catch it from July 6-29 in Everett. Tickets for the show are on sale in Issaquah (general seating starting at $43) and in Everett (general seating starting at $38).

If you go

The Producers is through July 1 in Issaquah and from July 6 to July 29 in Everett. Tickets for the show are on sale in Issaquah (general seating starting at $43) and in Everett (general seating starting at $38).

The Village Theatre is at 303 Front Street North  Issaquah, WA 98027.