Music Theater Works, currently presenting its second production in the 2023 season, Pippin, through June 25, is proud to announce the cast and creative team for its third production in the 2023 season, THE PRODUCERS A Mel Brooks Musical in the Center Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts In Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, August 10 - 20. The twelve time Tony Award-winning musical comedy with book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, music and lyrics by Mel Brooks, directed by L. Walter Stearns, choreographed by Darryl K. Clark, assistant choreographed by Nick Johnson and music directed by Eugene Dizon.
The performance schedule includes a preview performance Thursday, Aug. 10 at 1 p.m. with press opening Friday, Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. The performance schedule is Wednesdays at 1 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. with a Saturday matinee, Aug. 19 at 2 p.m. Complete performance schedule is included at the end of this release. Tickets are now on sale from $39 to $106 with tickets for guests 25 years old and younger available at half-price at MusicTheaterWorks.com or by calling the Music Theater Works box office at the North Shore Center, 847.673.6300. Group discounts are available for groups of 10 or more by contacting 847.920.5360.
Launching in 1981 with H.M.S. Pinafore at Cahn Auditorium in Evanston, Music Theater Works’ 39th season continues with its 150th production, the multi-Tony Award-winning, THE PRODUCERS A Mel Brooks Musical. If Bialystock and Bloom come to you with a sure thing, run the other way! A big, bawdy and brilliant Broadway show based on Mel Brooks’ classic film, THE PRODUCERS sets the standard for giant production numbers and modern, outrageous, in-your-face humor. This musical which debuted in 2001 became the record holder for the most Tony Awards ever received by a single production with 12 awards, including Best Musical.
The cast of The Producers includes Thomas M. Shea (Max Bialystock); David Geinosky (Leo Bloom); Kelsey MacDonald (Ulla); Sam Nachison (Franz Liebkind); Steve McDonagh (Roger de Bris) and Eustace J. WIlliams (Carmen Ghia).
The Producers ensemble includes Andrew John Baker (ensemble); David Blakeman (ensemble/Franz Leibkind and Roger DeBris U/S); Anna Brown (ensemble); Jack Bowes (ensemble/Leo U/S); Alexander Christie (ensemble); Renée Dwyer (ensemble); Erol Ibrahimovic (ensemble); Lacey Jack (ensemble); Nick Johnson (ensemble); Katie Kotila (ensemble); Rachel Livingston (ensemble); Kelly Lohrenz (ensemble); Ethan Lupp (ensemble); Justin Payton Nelson (ensemble/Carmen Ghia U/S); Caitlyn Porayko (ensemble); Palash Ranjit (ensemble); Melody Rowland (ensemble), Karylin Veres (ensemble/Ulla U/S) and Alex Villasenor (ensemble).
The Producers creative team is L. Walter Stearns (director); Darryl K. Clark (choreographer); Eugene Dizon (music director); Nick Johnson (assistant choreographer); Anita Silvert (dramaturg); Nick Sandys (fight choreographer); Allison Gonzales (stage manager); Anna Vu (assistant stage manager); Jonathan Berg-Einhorn (scenic designer); Noah Elman (props designer); Rachel M. Sypniewski (costume designer); Kristen Brinati (assistant costume designer); Keith Ryan (hair, wig, and makeup designer); Andrew Meyers (lighting designer); Chelsea Lynn (me/lighting programmer); Matthew R. Chase (sound designer); Will Hughes (scenic shop technical director), Jennifer King Russell (company manager) and Chris Chase (production manager).
Health Safety Procedure:
All guests are recommended to wear face masks during the performance regardless of vaccination status.
ABOUT L. WALTER STEARNS, DIRECTOR
L. Walter Stearns is a champion for Chicago artists and has overseen the physical and cultural revival of the beautiful Mercury Theater Chicago. He has directed over 40 musicals including his Jeff Award-winning productions of Spamalot, The Addams Family and Ragtime as well as the Jeff Award nominated productions of Mary Poppins, The Producers, The Addams Family, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Barnum-The Circus Musical, The Christmas Schooner, Nine the Musical, Ragtime, Gypsy, The Secret Garden, Sweeney Todd, Company, A New Brain, Into the Woods, Merrily We Roll Along and Falsettos. He was pleased to produce The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes, which was awarded the Jeff Award for New Work. He opened the new Venus Cabaret Theater with Stephen Sondheim’s Company and Stephen Schwartz’s Pippin. Stearns has received Jeff Awards, BroadwayWorld Awards, After Dark Awards, the Larry Sloan Advocate Award (for his support of Season of Concern), the first Guy Adkins award for his contributions to the art of musical theatre and the Franny Award as a distinguished alumnus of the University of Illinois at Chicago.
ABOUT EUGENE DIZON, MUSIC DIRECTOR
Eugene Dizon is currently the executive director at Mercury Theater Chicago with his
husband L. Walter Stearns. He has been musical directing for over two decades garnering six Jeff Awards while at Porchlight Music Theatre (Ragtime, Sweeney Todd, Amadeus, Company, Into the Woods, Merrily We Roll Along), as well as Jeff nominations for A Grand Night for Singing (Mercury); Candide, Nine the Musical, Closer Than Ever, A Little Night Music, Passion, Colette Collage and Falsettos; four After Dark Awards (Ragtime,Sweeney Todd, A New Brain, Merrily We Roll Along (Porchlight), a BroadwayWorld Award for Mercury’s Avenue Q and BroadwayWorld nominations for Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Little Shop of Horrors Hair, Mary Poppins and The Color Purple, all at the Mercury. Additionally at the Mercury, he has musical directed Spamalot, Pippin, Company, The Producers and Barnum. He has been inducted into the Chicago Filipino Hall of Fame (class of 2004) and has co-produced six “Season of Carols” CDs for which Season of Concern awarded him the 2013 Larry Sloan Advocate Award and the Season of Concern 2018 Larry Sloan Legacy Award for “consistently and passionately being a trailblazer on behalf of Season of Concern.” Dizon most recent projects included Avenue Q (Music Theater Works), TO BE (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre) and Mr. Burns – a post-electric play (Theater Wit). Next up for Dizon is Young Frankenstein at Mercury Theater Chicago, October 13 - December 31.
ABOUT MUSIC THEATER WORKS
Music Theater Works is a resident professional not-for-profit music theater founded in 1980. During its 43-year history it has presented more than 150 productions and intimate presentations. Music Theater Works is a professional theater company whose mission is to present works for the musical stage including historic repertoire, revitalizing the Golden Age of Broadway and earlier works, celebrating the Great American Songbook and introducing modern classics.
Music Theater Works, currently presenting its second production in the 2023 season, Pippin, through June 25, is proud to announce the cast and creative team for its third production in the 2023 season, THE PRODUCERS A Mel Brooks Musical in the Center Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts In Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, August 10 - 20. The twelve time Tony Award-winning musical comedy with book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, music and lyrics by Mel Brooks, directed by L. Walter Stearns, choreographed by Darryl K. Clark, assistant choreographed by Nick Johnson and music directed by Eugene Dizon. The performance schedule includes a preview performance Thursday, Aug. 10 at 1 p.m. with press opening Friday, Aug. 11 at 8 p.m.
The performance schedule is Wednesdays at 1 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. with a Saturday matinee, Aug. 19 at 2 p.m. Complete performance schedule is included at the end of this release. Tickets are now on sale from $39 to $106 with tickets for guests 25 years old and younger available at half-price at MusicTheaterWorks.com or by calling the Music Theater Works box office at the North Shore Center, 847.673.6300. Group discounts are available for groups of 10 or more by contacting 847.920.5360.
JOYCE SAXON is the 2023 Music Theater Works Season Sponsor.
Music Theater Works presents
The Producers
Center Theatre
North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie
9501 Skokie Blvd.
Skokie, IL 60077
Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks
Directed by L. Walter Stearns
Choreographed by Darryl K. Clark
Music Directed by Eugene Dizon
- Preview: Thursday, Aug. 10 at 1 p.m.
- Press Performance: Friday, Aug. 11 at 8 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 12 at 8 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 13 at 2 p.m.
- Wednesday, Aug. 16 at 1 p.m.
- Thursday, Aug. 17 at 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, Aug. 18 at 8 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 19 at 2 and 8 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 20 at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $39 to $106, tickets for guests 25 years old and younger are available for half-price.
Music Theater Works Box Office: (847) 673-6300
Website: MusicTheaterWorks.com
Run Time (currently): 2 hours and 50 minutes including the 15-minute intermission