Initial Casting Announced for Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan’s The Producers at Menier Chocolate Factory

The Menier Chocolate Factory has unveiled the initial casting for its upcoming production of The Producers, the musical comedy by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan. As public booking opens, the highly anticipated production will be directed by Tony Award-winning director Patrick Marber (Leopoldstadt) and will star a talented ensemble of actors.

Leading the cast is Andy Nyman (Fiddler on the Roof – Menier, Hello Dolly! – London Palladium), who takes on the role of Max Bialystock. Nyman, an award-winning actor and writer, has previously performed in several Menier Chocolate Factory productions, including Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins and Fiddler on the Roof. Joining him is Marc Antolin (The Band’s Visit – Donmar Warehouse, Romantics Anonymous), who will play Leo Bloom. Antolin’s theatre credits span a wide range of productions, from Shakespeare’s Globe to the National Theatre.

Also joining the cast is Harry Morrison (Beetlejuice – International Tour, Assassins – Menier), who returns to the Menier as Franz Liebkind. Completing the leading roles is Joanna Woodward (The Time Traveller’s Wife: The Musical – Apollo Theatre), who will play Ulla.

The ensemble cast includes Charis Alexandra, Michael Franks, Matt Gillett, Leah Harris, Hana Ichijo, Esme Kennedy, Josh Kiernan, Alex Lodge, Kelsie-Rae Marshall, and Chloe Saunders.

The production is set to open on December 9, 2024, with previews beginning on November 26, and it will run through to March 1, 2025. Full casting details will be announced soon.

Creative Team

The Producers will be directed by Patrick Marber, who recently won the Tony Award for Best Director of a Play for his work on Leopoldstadt. Choreography will be handled by Broadway veteran Lorin Latarro (Waitress, Mrs. Doubtfire), with set design by Scott Pask and costume design by Paul Farnsworth. The lighting design will be provided by Richard Howell, and the sound design will be crafted by Niamh Gaffney and Terry Jardine for Autograph. Musical supervision is by Gareth Valentine, with musical direction by Matthew Samer, and orchestrations by Larry Blank and Mark Cumberland.

A London Revival of a Cult Classic

The Menier Chocolate Factory’s production of The Producers marks the first major London revival of the musical in years. The show, which originally debuted on Broadway in 2001, is an adaptation of Mel Brooks’ 1967 film of the same name. The original production became a Broadway sensation, winning a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Set in 1959, the story follows down-on-his-luck producer Max Bialystock and nervous accountant Leo Bloom as they hatch a scheme to create the worst musical ever made in an effort to make a fortune from its failure. However, things don’t go quite as planned when their outrageous show, Springtime for Hitler, turns into an unexpected hit. With its irreverent humour and satirical take on Broadway, The Producers is known for pushing boundaries and delivering laughs.

Mel Brooks, who wrote the music and lyrics, is renowned for his sharp wit and no-holds-barred comedy style. The show, described as an “equal opportunity offender,” skewers Broadway conventions and celebrates the absurdity of show business with infectious songs and over-the-top characters.

With this latest revival directed by the award-winning Patrick Marber and featuring a dynamic cast, Menier Chocolate Factory’s production of The Producers promises to deliver a fresh and lively take on the beloved musical.