UWP's Heartland cast brings Mel Brooks musical to life during opening night of ‘The Producers’

PLATTEVILLE – The curtain opened on the evening of Friday, July 10 as the audience awaited the first performance of University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Heartland Festival show “The Producers.” Audience members were greeted with an intricate set design and a 20-member cast of Heartland performers ready to bring the Mel Brooks musical to life.

“The Producers” is adapted from a 1968 film by Brooks with the same name. The original production opened on Broadway in 2001, starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. It won 12 Tony Awards and was turned into a film in 2005.

The story concerns two theatrical producers, Max Bialystock (played by Paul Helm) and Leo Bloom (Joe Klinebriel), who scheme to get rich by producing a Broadway flop. Complications arise when the show unexpectedly turns out to be successful.

John Putnam, a UWP graduate and former Heartland performer, thought “The Producers” had an interesting combination of elements. “This show is really a throw-back to the 1950s style of big dance numbers and classic songs but the content is modern,” Putnam said. “The dancing, singing, acting, set design, I think, is the best the Heartland has ever done,” he added.
“The Heartland Festival really pulled this performance off,” said Val Wetzel, assistant director for UWP’s Pioneer Student Center. “It was exciting to see the skills and abilities of local hometown stars making this performance their own.”

This summer, Vivienne Elborne directed “The Producers” and “Forever Plaid” and celebrated her final night with Heartland Festival on Friday, with the opening night of “The Producers.” John Hassig, director of the Heartland Festival, gave a special thanks to Elborne for her involvement with Heartland this year.

Performances of "The Producers" will take place July 26 and Aug. 2 and 5 at 2 p.m and July 15, 19, 22, 31 and Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m. All performances will be held in the Center for the Arts Theatre on the UWP campus. Ticket prices are $18 for adults and $9 for UWP students with a valid ID and individuals under the age of 18. Tickets are available through the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or www.uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa/information/office.html.