How the producers of The Producers (the musical) topped The Producers (the movie) - Don't Miss Today's Weekly Blast!

Improving on a Mel Brooks cinematic classic

Jan 19

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Shalom!

This week, The Broadway Maven looks at Mel Brooks musicals and The Little Mermaid. And we kick off our first Sondheim boot camp!

• On Sunday, January 22 at Noon ET and Monday, January 23 at Noon and 7 pm ET we’ll have a FREE class exploring the musicals - and movies with music - by comedic legend Mel Brooks. Register here.

• On Sunday, January 22 from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm we’ll have a three-hour Introductory Sondheim boot camp. $12. Register here.

• On Tuesday, January 24 at Noon ET we’ll have a class exploring the first major musical of the Disney Renaissance, The Little Mermaid. $5. Register here.

• This Weekly Blast includes:

A) an ESSAY about the ways the Producers musical outshines the original film (included here FREE in this preview issue);

B) a Broadway Maven YouTube GEM with surprisingly funny Broadway jokes written by ChatGPT;

C) a SURVEY about the best Disney musical;

D) a Broadway Maven YouTube GEM about how A Chorus Line moves us; and

E) LAST BLASTs about West Side Story, Into the Woods, and South Pacific (included here FREE as always).

The 1967 Mel Brooks comic movie The Producers had a lot going for it. Well-drawn characters, zany plot, and uproariously funny. So how did Brooks and his colleagues top his own work in the 2001 Broadway adaptation of The Producers?

Here are four ways:

Invent a new opening. The movie started in Max Bialystock’s office, a funny set-up but not nearly as theatrical as the musical, which starts with the closing of Max’s most recent flop.
Include an “I Want” song. A key difference between movies and Broadway shows is the inclusion of an “I Want” song, often in one of the early song slots. It’s a genre that identifies the goal of (usually) the main character that we will (usually) follow in the rest of the show. In the Broadway version of The Producers, the fourth song is, well, “I Want to Be a Producer,” in which Leo Bloom taps out his fantasy of creating Broadway shows.
Keep it gay…. friendly. The original version had its cringe-y moments, including an uncomfortable elevator ride with the flamboyant Carmen Ghia. The humor in the “Keep it Gay” song in the musical plays with gay stereotypes, yes, but in a loving way. It’s hard to be offended by it, which makes it a more pleasant experience than the earlier work.
GET NATHAN LANE. Yes, Zero Mostel was over-the-top, larger-than-life hilarious. He was an absolute treasure in the original film. But Nathan Lane completely makes the musical (and subsequent 2005 film) with his vivid imagination and relentless pursuit of a quick buck through his fraudulent scheme. He’s an unqualified musical comedy genius.
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Famed funnyman of TV and film Mel Brooks created two Broadway shows: The Producers and Young Frankenstein, as well as including show tunes in some of his movies.

We'll analyze some of his best numbers, and speculate why they're both funny and apt for the stage.

In this class, we will dive into the world of Disney's The Little Mermaid, exploring the music and story of the beloved animated film and the Broadway musical based on that film. We will analyze the musical's score, written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, and discuss the various musical styles and themes present in the songs. We will also delve into the characters and plot of the musical, examining the story's themes of love, identity, and the power of friendship.

The Introductory Boot Camp will unveil nine of Sondheim's most prominent shows. We'll discuss the plot, music, and lyrics of: West Side Story, Gypsy, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, and Into the Woods. We'll also look at Sondheim's life and why he's considered such a towering figure in musical theater.

For your Mel Brooks homework, watch the video below with beloved Mel Brooks lines. Which is your favorite? Explain your answers in the comments.

"Mel Brooks musicals" Homework

For your Little Mermaid homework, which performance of “Poor Unfortunate Souls” impresses you the most? Explain your answers in the comments.

"The Little Mermaid" Homework

For your Introductory Sondheim Boot Camp homework, watch the video below introducing nine of Sondheim’s most popular shows. Which are you most interested in seeing — or seeing again? Explain your answers in the comments.

"Introductory boot camp" Homework

Note: links to register for ALL classes are ALWAYS available at TheBroadwayMaven.com.

• Sunday, January 22 Mel Brooks musicals (Noon ET, FREE)

• Sunday, January 22 Introductory Sondheim Boot Camp (1:30 pm to 4:30 pm ET, $12)

• Monday, January 23 Mel Brooks musicals (Noon and 7 pm ET, FREE)

• Tuesday, January 24 The Little Mermaid (Noon ET, $5)

• Sunday, January 29 The Rocky Horror Show (Noon ET, FREE)

• Sunday, January 29 Intermediate Sondheim Boot Camp (1:30 pm to 4:30 pm ET, $12)

• Monday, January 30 The Rocky Horror Show (Noon and 7 pm ET, FREE)

• Tuesday, January 31 Dear Evan Hansen (Noon ET, FREE)

Note: Students may attend up to 12 FREE classes a year. After that it’s $5 a class.

Reminder: ALL-ACCESS Passholders do not need to sign up or pay for anything. Just show up!

LAST BLAST: A common horror-movie trope is that young people exploring their sexuality often get killed as implied punishment. (“Sex equals death.”) There are many similar examples in the Broadway musical tradition. For example, Lt. Joe Cable in South Pacific dies in combat soon after deflowering a young Tonkinese girl. Tony in West Side Story dies by violence soon after he consummates his commitment to Maria. And in Into the Woods, the Baker’s Wife suffers her untimely death very soon after her tryst with Cinderella’s prince.

The Broadway Maven, David Benkof, helps students further their appreciation of musical theater through his classes, his YouTube Channel, and his Weekly Blast. Contact him at DavidBenkof@gmail.com.

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How the producers of The Producers (the musical) topped The Producers (the movie) - Don't Miss Today's Weekly Blas…