UWP's Heartland Festival prepares for opening night of 'The Producers'

The Heartland Festival, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Center for the Arts, will present the Broadway musical "The Producers" beginning on July 10. Performances will be held in the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall in the Center for the Arts on the UWP campus. The musical is adapted from Mel Brooks' classic cult comedy film and sets the standard for modern, outrageous, in-your-face humor, centered on characters Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom played by Paul Helm of Wind Lake and Joesph Klinebriel from Dubuque, Iowa.

The story concerns two theatrical producers who scheme to get rich by overselling interests in a Broadway flop. Complications arise when the show they produce, "Springtime for Hitler," unexpectedly turns out to be successful.

The original production opened on Broadway on April 19, 2001, starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, and ran for 2,502 performances, winning a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards.

The Heartland Festival production features direction and music direction by Vivienne Elborne, assistant music director Helm, orchestra direction by Barry Ellis and choreography by Connie SaLoutos Furlan. Sets are by Matthew Evans, lights by Michel Kimmel and Lisa Weinshrott.

Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on July 10, 15, 19, 22, 31 and Aug. 2 and 5. Performances will be at 2 p.m. on July 26 and Aug. 9. Ticket prices are $18 for adults and $9 for UWP students with a valid ID and individuals under the age of 18. The show is for mature audiences only. Tickets are available through the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or tickets.uwplatt.edu.

Contact: John Hassig, director, UWP Performing and Visual Arts, Programs and Facilities, (608) 342-1267, hassigj@uwplatt.edu Written by: Anne Killian, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, killiana@uwplatt.edu