Mel Brooks’ ‘Producers’ Sweeps Tonys
BMI proudly congratulates Mel Brooks and his Broadway smash, The Producers, which swept the Tony Awards last night with 12 wins, surpassing the record of ten Tonys set by Hello, Dolly! in 1964. Brooks, a BMI composer, took home statues for Best Original Score (Music & Lyrics) Written for the Theatre and Best Book of a Musical (with Thomas Meehan). Backstage at New York's Radio City Music Hall, Brooks said he was delighted to "join the rare breed of guys" who write music and lyrics, adding "My first love is music, and my second is Anne Bancroft, who's waiting in the hall."
The Producers, which broke box office records with more than $3 million in ticket sales the day after it opened on April 19, is based on his 1968 movie of the same title. One of the most controversial films of its time, The Producers earned Brooks an Oscar for his screenplay. More than 30 years later, Brooks has re-conceived the story for the stage and written more than a dozen new songs to create a full-scale theatrical score.
Winning every award it could have - its 15 nominations included two acting categories in which five of its stars were competing against each other - the ten other Producer wins included Best Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical, Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Choreography, Best Direction of a Musical and Best Orchestrations.
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