The Producers - Theatre Three | 5.19.24

Full Company: 'The Producers' at Theatre Three

Theatre Three Productions in Port Jefferson is currently presenting the Mel Brooks musical, “The Producers” featuring another all-star cast of Long Island talent we’ve honored for years. The musical is based on the 1967 film that originally opened to mixed reviews, but found a cult following of sorts in later years. The musical was massively successful on Broadway - so much so, that a film was made of the musical version - and this production demonstrates how comedy can be found and executed with content not generally associated with humor.

The Producers is about a theater producer named Max Bialystock who is looking to produce a show that is sure to fail. (Sounds counter productive, doesn’t it?) After his most recent show flopped, he owed a lot of people money and his accountant Leo Bloom discovered funds that were unaccounted for. In jest, he mentions how a show that flops could technically make more money than a success because there would be no proper investigation following a failed production - so one could feasibly take the investors money and run off once it closed. Max loves the idea and insists that Leo help him to pull things off!

Max and Leo are hilariously played by Scott Hofer and Tony Butera - and the chemistry between the two is undeniable. From what I understand, they have performed in these roles previously and just 15 minutes in you can easily see why. Hofer’s comedic timing is unparalleled. I don't fancy myself a laugh-out-loud at the theater kind of person, but he made a liar out of me! The energy and enthusiasm he brings to this role was a wonderful watch and while I am not well-versed in his extensive theater resume - I'm a new fan. This does not take anything away from Butera, however. The way these two move through a scene feels like you’re watching old pros and you knew you were in for a treat when Butera delivered the showstopper “I Wanna Be a Producer” in Act 1. Every single person hit their mark and this number was incredible! It made me lean forward in my seat because I wanted to take in every single movement and note.

Tony Butera during “I Wanna Be a Producer”

This is also a good time to mention Director Jeffrey Sanzel’s attention to detail. Sanzel has always been one to focus on the little things because as we all know, the little things are larger than we give them credit for and his attention to scene transitions has always been something that separates Theatre Three from the rest of the pack. However, I am most impressed with the transitions that happen *within* a scene - “I Wanna Be a Producer” is a moment that occurs in Leo’s head and Making this happen on stage is no small feat. I am still thinking about how the company moved in and out of this sequence seamlessly and it was no doubt largely due to Sanzel’s creativity and experience.

Max and Leo work to find the most poorly written and offensive script possible to be sure their production fails. They decide on Franz Liebkind's "Springtime for Hitler: A Gay Romp with Adolf and Eva at Berchtesgaden” which is basically an ode to - you guessed it - Adolf Hitler. It is always uncomfortable to see Nazi imagery in any setting, but depicting Hitler as a gay, silly, dancing character provided more than a few laughs. Franz is played by Evan Teich, who is also no stranger to the Theatre Three stage. Teich maneuvered around the subject matter wonderfully - funny when he needed to be and sounded fantastic in numbers such as “In Old Bavaria” and “Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop”. On another note, I understand that Teich is also Jewish himself, so additional credit to him for playing a character that celebrates somebody who committed such atrocities - that must have been a challenge on a level I will never see.

Finding the worst script they could find is not the only challenge Max and Leo were tasked with. After finding the script, they also needed to find the worst director available *and* a terrible cast! Max knows exactly where to go and heads over to see Roger De Bris, a flamboyant, over the top gay director and his partner Carmen Ghia. Roger and Carmen are delightfully played by Ryan Nolin and Jim Sluder, who also share a unique chemistry. Roger is initially uninterested in working on the project until they agree to make some changes to the script by making it more gay than originally written, which is the theme around Act 1 standout “Keep It Gay”. Nolin isn’t new to this role either and moved through the show with intention, highlighting his skills in comedy, singing, and dancing! The number “Springtime for Hitler” in Act 2 was a clear standout and he sang and tapped with precision - a bonafide showstopper!

Ryan Nolin and Scott Hofer

After getting Roger on board to direct the show, the guys head back to the office and meet Ulla, a beautiful young Swedish woman who wants to audition for the show. “When You’ve Got It, Flaunt It” serves as her audition and Long Island Theater veteran Brittany Lacey hits all the right notes. She is hired to work in the office and later in the production itself, but we can leave her story there for now. 

Brittany Lacey as Ulla with Scott Hofer & Tony Butera

I don’t like giving *too* much of the plot away - this isn’t Cliff’s Notes. Go see the show!

Anyhoo - The Producers at Theatre Three is full of wonderfully hysterical moments. It has some of the cleanest and precise choreography I’ve seen with superb harmonies and vocals on the musical numbers. I can’t wrap things up without mentioning The Usherettes, played by Rachel Greenblatt and Rachel Geiser. These two ladies sounded as one when they sang together and were cute as a button! As always, much credit is due to resident Music Director Jeffrey Hoffman for his attention to detail as well as leading a live band which continues to elevate productions at Theatre Three. We were once again dazzled by the work of Ronald Green III’s costuming; and I’m still thinking of the unbelievably cute bows on the girls' tap shoes. They were so precious I want to take tap classes myself just to have a reason to wear them! 

(Or at the very least, just walk around the house? Just wait until you see them…you’ll cheer!)

All of the technical aspects complemented each other as well. I’ve always been a fan of the set design and lighting at Theatre Three as it has always been consistent, but kudos to Lighting Designer Steven Uihlein for creating moments where I actually said “wow” out loud!

The Producers is running until June 22nd and tickets can be purchased at the door, by calling the box office, or by visiting their website at www.theatrethree.com - you won’t be disappointed!

Full Company: 'The Producers' at Theatre Three

Cast:

(In order of appearance)

THE USHERETTES - RACHEL GREENBLATT, RACHEL GEISER

VIOLINIST, SCOTT, o’houlihan - BRIAN FRANK

WORKMAN, BRYAN, foreman of the jury - RYAN VAN NOSTRAND

MAX BIALYSTOCK - SCOTT HOFER

LEO BLOOM - TONY BUTERA

HOLD-ME TOUCH-ME, SHIRLEY, fdr - LINDA MAY

MR. MARKS, KEVIN, JACK LEPIDUS, churchill, sergeant, judge, trustee - JASON ALLYN

FRANZ LIEBKIND - EVAN TEICH

CARMEN GHIA - JIM SLUDER

ROGER DE BRIS - RYAN NOLIN

SPARTACUS, DONALD DINSMORE, o’rourke, guard/bailiff - EDDIE MARTINEZ

ULLA - BRITTANY LACEY

LICK-ME BITE-ME - CASSIDY ROSE O’BRIEN

KISS-ME FEEL-ME - LOUISA BIKOWSKI

JASON GREEN, o’ riley - SEAN AMATO

LEad tenor - liam marsigliano

stalin, defense attorney - will logan

OPENING NIGHTERS, NEW YORKERS, SHOWGIRLS, SPRINGTIME COMPANY, PRISONERS, AND MANY OTHERS - MELANIE ACAMPORA, JASON ALLYN, SEAN AMATO, LOUISA BIKOWSKI, MARYNE CONNER, BRIAN FRANK, RACHEL GEISER, RACHEL GREENBLATT, KAITLYN JEHLE, MICHELLE LABOZZETTA, WILL LOGAN, LIAM MARSIGLIANO, EDWARD MARTINEZ, LINDA MAY, CASSIDY ROSE O’BRIEN, ISABELLA SCARPA, JILLIAN SHARPE*, RYAN VAN NOSTRAND

*Dance Captain

Creative Team:

DIRECTOR - JEFFREY SANZEL

Music Director - JEFFREY HOFFMAN

Stage Manager - MELISSA TROXLER

Choreographer - JOSIE MCSWANE

Sound Designer - TIM HAGGARTY

Scenic Designer - randall parsons

Lighting Designer - steven uihlein

COSTUME & WIG DESIGN - RONALD GREEN III

technical direction - steve barile jr.