The Producers to be Performed at UB

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo will present The Producers, a Mel Brooks musical, at 8 p.m. on Jan. 25 and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 26 in the Mainstage Theatre in the Center for the Arts on the UB North (Amherst) Campus.

Based on Brooks' Academy Award-winning 1968 film of the same name, The Producers is the story of down-on-his-luck theatrical producer Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, a mousy accountant. Together they hatch the ultimate scam: raise more money than needed for a sure-fire Broadway flop and pocket the difference. Their "sure-fire" theatrical fiasco? None other than the musical Springtime for Hitler.

The Producers swept the 2001 Tony Awards, receiving the most awards in Broadway history. Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical (Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan), Best Original Score (Mel Brooks), Best Scenic Design (Robin Wagner), Best Costume Design (William Ivey Long), Best Lighting Design (Peter Kaczorowski), Best Orchestrations (Doug Besterman), Best Choreography and Best Direction of A Musical (Susan Stroman).

Tickets for The Producers are $55 and $45, and $30 for students. Tickets are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Center for the Arts Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations. To charge tickets, call 852-5000; in Canada, call 1-416-870-8000. For group sales, call 645-6771. For more information, call 645-ARTS. Students (of any school) must present valid student ID at the Center Box Office to receive discount.