Theatre Company of Saugus’ ‘The Producers’ coming soon

SAUGUS – A sleazy Broadway producer and his sidekick try to strike it rich by putting on the worst show ever, but not all goes according to plan!This is the hilarious comic setup for Mel Brooks’ hit musical comedy The Producers.The Theatre Company of Saugus will mount this show in November, providing the north-of-Boston audience their first opportunity to see it, as well as the Boston-area community-theater premier.The Producers won 12 Tony Awards in 2001, including Best Musical, with music and lyrics by Mel Brooks, and original direction and choreography by Susan Stroman. It ran for six years on Broadway, for three years in London, and was filmed in 2005. It is based on a 1968 non-musical film by Mel Brooks.The cast includes many Community Theatre veterans. South Boston resident David Giagrando stars as Max Bialystock, the former “King of Old Broadway,” now a producer of box office poison. His anxious assistant Leo Bloom, who secretly dreams “I Wanna Be a Producer,” is played by East Boston resident Gregory Cushing. The playwright of their disastrous script is by the dangerous eccentric Franz Liebkind, portrayed by Saugus resident Bobby Imperato, who demonstrates how to dance “Der Guten Tag Hop Clop.”Max and Leo hire the most outlandish director they know, Roger DeBris, played by Nick Raponi of Peabody, who says to make a good show you must “Keep It Gay”. His fruitcake assistant agrees: Carmen Ghia, played by Billy Thompson from East Boston. They also hire Ulla, a delicious Swedish showgirl/secretary/receptionist, played by Kristy DiScipio from Lynn, because she says “When You’ve Got, Flaunt It.” Max gets dozens of Little Old Ladies to invest in his shows, such as Hold Me Touch Me, played by Stoneham resident Lisa Pizzano.Many other roles are played by the members of the Ensemble, which includes Saugus residents Amanda Allen, Brian Cipoletta, Joey Doherty, Nola Fafard, Matthew Ludwig, Fred Nuzzo, and Kathy Rapino; East Boston residents Ashley Aceto and Carol Aceto; Lynn residents Nicole Felix and Kathleen Tringale; Brendan O’Connor of Medford; Marissa Geller from Melrose; Lauren Amaru from Winthrop; Tia Girardi from Woburn; Lori L’Italien from Somerville; Ginny LeBlanc of Swampscott; Christopher Doucette of Salem; and Thomas Muxie from Peabody.Other favorite musical numbers from the show include “We Can Do It,” “Along Came Bialy,” “That Face,” “Its Bad Luck to Say Good Luck on Opening Night,” “Betrayed,” and “Prisoners of Love.” And, of course, the outrageous showstopper, “Springtime for Hitler”!The stage director of The Producers is Saugus resident Joanne Fafard. The musical director is Brian Nickerson from Amesbury. A team of choreographers will direct the show’s many dances, including Amanda Allen, Kristy DiScipio, Crystal Joyce, and Marissa Geller. The producer of the TCS production is Amanda Allen of Saugus, assisted by Lisa Felix of Lynn. The stage manager is Larry Segel from Winthrop, assisted by Jessica Stockton from Lynn. Technical direction is by Michael Texeira from Revere.If You Go? The Theatre Company of Saugus production of The Producers will open at Saugus High School on Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 at 8 p.m. There will be two shows on Saturday, November 10, a matinée at 2 p.m., and in the evening at 8 p.m. The following weekend has evening performances on Friday and Saturday, November 16 & 17 at 8 p.m., and a matinée on Sunday, November 18 at 2 p.m. Tickets, directions, and more information may be found at tcsaugus.org, or call 781-816-7019.