The Producers

After long and dreary years in the comedy wilderness, inflicting duds like like Life Stinks and Robin Hood: Men in Tights on innocent moviegoers, Mel Brooks went back to square one. He took his 1968 cult classic (and still best) film and rewrote it as a Broadway musical; nicely ironic considering it’s about two schlemiel impresarios and a get-rich-quick scheme to stage a deliberately disastrous Broadway flop. Packed with gags, Borscht-Belt quippery, and a vastly expanded set of musical numbers, the result was a less acidulous, more loving send-up of old-time vaudeville, and proof that Brooks hasn’t lost his touch after all. In fact, The Producers was the surprise Broadway sensation of 2001, nabbing a record 12 Tony awards, near-unanimous critical raves, and more sellout crowds than even Springtime For Hitler ever got. Be warned that you won’t be seeing Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, stars of the original New York run; the traveling show features non-household names Lewis J. Stadlen and Don Stephenson. The reviews have been no less ecstatic, though. Orpheum Theatre, (612) 339-7007, www.hennepintheatredistrict.com