Frost and Young are Bialystock and Bloom in CFTA's THE PRODUCERS

Murfreesboro's Center for the Arts presents the Tony Award-winning musical theater version of Mel Brooks' classic movie The Producers, starring John Frost Jr. and Tucker Young and co-directed by Chris McLaurin and Natalie Quinn, running March 22 to April 7.

The hit Broadway musical, which originally starred Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane, follows two men as they seek to pull off the greatest scheme in Broadway history.

McLaurin and Quinn, who last teamed up for the First Night Award-winning Pirates of Penzance at the Center in 2017, say they are delighted with their current cast and crew's progress on The Producers.

"This cast is one of the most talented, dynamic, and outrageous casts I've ever seen," Quinn says.

Likewise, McLaurin says, "I'm thrilled to have our original 2017 production staff back together. Sure, we have our dysfunctional moments, but this is art - who wants functional art?"

Dysfunction is the name of the game as Max Bialystock (played by John Frost Jr.) teams up with mousy, meek and mild-mannered accountant Leo Bloom (Tucker Young). After an observation from Leo that you can make more money with a flop than with a hit, the pair set out to produce the worst show Broadway's ever seen. With a play written by Franz Liebkind (Jared Taylor), they approach world-renowned theatrical director Roger DeBris (Russell Forbes) and his common-law assistant Carmen Ghia (Ryan Fiero), who are given permission to make the play as "gay as anyone could want."

With the production team set, the wheels begin to turn on the production of Springtime for Hitler, the show-within-a-show destined for Broadway history.

Bialystock and Bloom return to Max's office and are met by Ulla (Poem Atkinson), who is ready to audition. She sends the boys stumbling over their words as she flaunts what she's got and is immediately cast as the female lead. But her budding romance with Leo could jeopardize the producer's partnership. Finally, it's opening night, but a wrench is thrown into the works when their new show turns out to be a hit, and Max and Leo are left to deal with the repercussions of success.

Tickets start at $14 for children (adult tickets are $18 and seniors/students and military tickets are $16) and are on sale at www.boroarts.org or by calling (615) 904-2787. Tickets are also available at the CFTA Box Office, 110 West College Street in Murfreesboro. The Producers runs from March 22 through April 7, with curtain at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

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