Musical Theater West Announces Cast Of 'THE PRODUCERS'

Musical Theatre West is delighted to announce the principal cast for its upcoming Southern California regional premiere of The Producers. Michael Kostroff, best known as Maurice Levy in the HBO series The Wire will play conniving theatrical producer Max Bialystock. Michael traveled the U.S. in the first national tour of The Producers, playing twelve roles a night and understudying both Max Bialystock and Roger De Bris, and toured again in Les Misérables, as the comically evil innkeeper, Monsieur Thénardier.

Larry Raben will portray nervous accountant/aspiring producer Leo Bloom, a role he has played both on Broadway and in the Las Vegas productions. MTW perennial favorite and multiple LA Ovation Award winner David Engel will portray flamboyant director Roger DeBris. David has appeared in the original Broadway casts of La Cage Aux Folles and Seussical. Sarah Cornell will portray the aspiring Swedish actress Ulla. Sarah appeared in this role in the Broadway production and also appeared in the Off- Broadway production of Evil Dead the Musical. Michael Paternostro will recreate the role of Carmen Ghia, which he also played in the First National Tour. Michael's Broadway credits include Gregory Gardner in the Broadway Revival of A Chorus Line and in the original casts of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Fosse and Beauty and the Beast. Eric Anderson will play Nazi playwright Franz Liebkind. Eric appeared in this role earlier this year at Westchester Broadway in New York. An LA favorite, Eric is remembered for his zany portrayals with the Troubadour Theater Company and as Tateh in MTW's Ragtime.

MTW Associate Artistic Director Steven Glaudini, who was recently nominated for an LA Ovation Award as Best Director of a Musical for MTW's regional premiere of All Shook Up, will direct The Producers. Matthew J. Vargo will assume choreographic duties, recreating the original work of Susan Stroman, a task that he has performed at multiple venues. Daniel's credits include The Pirates of Penzance and The Pajama Game for MTW and the Southern California premieres of A Year With Frog and Toad, Pardon My English and As Thousands Cheer.

The Producers is a movie classic that became a Broadway sensation! The record-breaking Tony Award-winning hit (based on Mel Brooks' seminal 1968 motion picture comedy) received 15 nominations and won a record-breaking 12 awards, including Best Musical, Best Director and Choreographer, and Best Actor. The plot involves scheming theatrical producer Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, his mousy CPA. The pair hit upon the perfect plan to embezzle a fortune: raise far more money than you need to produce a sure-fire Broadway flop and then (since no one will expect anything back), Max and Leo can pocket the difference. To do this, they need the ultimate bad musical, which they find in Springtime for Hitler. Their plans come to naught and the duo are taken completely by surprise when their new production is hailed as a toast-of-the town. " If You've Got It, Flaunt It""That Face", " Keep it Gay" and "Springtime for Hitler" are but a few of the hilarious numbers from this hit Mel Brooks musical.

Musical Theatre West is one of Southern California's oldest and most respected theater production companies, and continues to be one of the fastest-growing arts organizations in the Long Beach area. The company is enjoying its 56th season and is currently celebrating eleven years since their inaugural production at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center, located on the campus of California State University, Long Beach, located at 6200 Atherton Street, Long Beach, on the campus of California State University, Long Beach. The theater is just west of Palo Verde Avenue.

Ticket prices for The Producers at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center range in price from $30 and $58 with special premium seating available ranging in price from $66 to $78 (first ten rows center, subject to availability). Group discounts for parties of 15 or more are available by calling Michael in the Group Sales Department. All tickets are available by calling the Box Office at 562-856-1999 at extension 4 or 224, or in person at the Box Office at 4350 E 7th Street, Long Beach (corner of Ximeno Avenue).

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