A Mel Brooks Comedy
Mesa Community College’s Act I Musical Productions presents “The Producers,” opening Oct. 10 at MCC’s Southern and Dobson Campus. The comedy is produced by SueAnne Lucius, Chair of the Music Department at MCC.
The show runs Oct. 10-19 in the Theatre Outback, 1833 W. Southern Avenue in Mesa. Performances are Oct. 10-12 and 16-18, at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 12 and 19 at 2 p.m.
Based on the hit 1968 film of the same name, this Mel Brooks masterpiece chronicles the hilarious adventures of washed-up Broadway producer Max Bialystock and his mild-mannered accountant Leo Bloom, as they scheme to get rich quick by producing the most notorious flop in the history of showbiz. It's a comic tour-de-force that spoofs the big, old-fashioned Broadway musical while paying tribute to it at the same time.
"You can always count on Mel Brooks to give us tap-dancing storm troopers, gorgeous showgirls, and hundreds of little old ladies all on the same stage,” said Producer SueAnne Luicus. “This show will have you laughing until you cry, and we are thrilled to be adding this title to our production.”
The classic score contains such gems as "I Wanna Be a Producer," "When You Got It, Flaunt It," "Springtime for Hitler," and "Prisoners of Love."
The comedy stars Jere Van Patten as down-and-out producer Max Bialystock, Jesse Thomas Foster as Max's timid accountant Leo Bloom and Megan Farinella as Ulla, the Swedish bombshell. Most recently, Van Patten has appeared in “The 39 Steps,” and in “Forever Plaid,” both at the Hale Centre Theatre in Gilbert.
Jesse Thomas Foster returns to MCC’s Act I Musical Productions after appearing in Phoenix Theatre’s “RENT” and Lyric Opera Theatre’s “Little Women.” Megan Farinella makes her debut with MCC’s Act I Musical Productions after last being seen in Mesa Encore’s “Grease” and the title role in “Aida” for Actor’s Youth Theatre.
The cast of THE PRODUCERS also features Chris Dane Burk (Roger DeBris), Tyler Higginbotham (Franz Liebkind), Anthony Felix (Carmen Ghia), and resident Musical Director Catherine Hauan in the role of “Hold Me-Touch Me.” The ensemble includes Kat Abruzzese, Amanda Albretsen, Aaron Ford, Paula Gray, Korbin Heronema, Micheal Jones, Patti Jones, Stefan Jorgensen, Matt Lambert, Angelica McGrew, Victoria Onyeabor, Laynee Overall, Kinsey Peotter, Sunny Price, Heather Ramsey, McKenna Seckman, Conner Shumway, Viva Valdez, Sammi Wilkins, and Jordan Woollen.
The creative team has received numerous AriZoni Awards for Excellence in Theatre in their respective fields and includes SueAnne Lucius (Producer) who also serves as the MCC Music Department Chair, husband and wife team Jere and Allyson Van Patten (Directors), Resident Musical Director Dr. Catherine Hauan (Musical Director), Cambrian James (Choreographer), Dori A. Brown (Scenic Designer), Troy Buckey (Lighting Designer), Lois K. Myers (Costume Designer), Gary Towne (Sound Designer), Cambrian James (Hair & Makeup Designer), Brian Daily (Master Carpenter/Scene Shop Foreman), Sean Meshew (Production Stage Manager), and Thor Mikesell (Assistant Stage Manager).
TICKET PRICES: General Public: $15; Staff/Faculty/Alumni: $12; Seniors and Students: $10. Call the Box Office at (480) 461 – 7172, or pick your seats online at www.eztickelive.com/mcc.
Group rates are available as well.
Contact: Jere Van Patten at (480) 461 – 7894
About Mesa Community College
Mesa Community College provides outstanding transfer and career and technical programs, workforce development, and life-long learning opportunities to residents of the East Valley area of Phoenix, Arizona. MCC excels in teaching, learning and empowering its more than 40,000 students who attend annually to succeed in a local and global community. Mesa Community College is one of ten colleges that comprise the Maricopa County Community College District. Please direct media inquiries to Sally Mesarosh at sally.mesarosh@mesacc.edu or the Office of Institutional Advancement at 480-461-7445. IA website: www.mesacc.edu/ia.