'The Producers' Celebrates Opening Night Post-Pandemic On North Fork

MATTITUCK, NY — The curtain is set to rise on a time-honored Broadway classic at the North Fork Community Theatre, as "The Producers" debuts Thursday and runs through May 29.

Opening night is especially sweet as the musical was initially scheduled for 2020 — before the pandemic left theaters shuttered for months.

With a book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan and music and lyrics by Mel Brooks, the show centers on a down-on-his luk scheming producer and his mousy accountant," who "aim to produce the biggest flop on Broadway in Mel Brooks' laugh-out-loud spectacle," and end up producing "Springtime for Hitler," the NFCT said.

Directed by Mary Motto Kalich, the cast includes Nicholas Motlenski as Max Bialystock, Mike Hipp as Leo Bloom, Julia Cappiello as Ulla, Nicholas Auletti as Franz, Fred Nydegger as Roger, Jaiden Benkov-Web as Carmen, and Linda Aydinian as Hold Me Touch Me.

Ensemble performers include Glenn Abramowitz, Jeanne Arnold, Marco Barrila, Esmerelda Cabrera, Chris deReeder, Bela Gogiashvili, Rose Green, Theresia Hand, Patricia Hautsch, Rowland Hautsch, Alyssa Kelly, Charles Lehner, Kevin Magee, Gene O'Brien, Isabelle Penny, Bobby Peterson, James Pritchard, Kevin Shea, and Veronica Spaeth.

The show also features musical direction by Dina Mondello; Kim Cappiello as producer; Alyssa Kelly as choreographer; costume design by Vanessa Price; set design by Mike Hipp; set construction by Rowland Hautsch; set decoration and props by Stephen Ness; and Rowland Hautsch as stage manager.

In addition, guest "producers" from the community will be featured in each show, playing the prison guard in walk-on roles.

Kicking off the lineup of guest stars on May 13 is Jeff Strong of Strong's Marine, followed by Kareem Massoud of Paumanok Vineyards on May 14, Paul Romanelli of Suffolk Security Systems on May 19, Southold Town Councilman Greg Doroski on May 20, Jill Schroeder of JABS on May 21, Kelly Siry of North Fork Endless Summer on May 22, Cathy Demeroto, executive director of CAST, on May 26, Amy Loeb, CEO of Peconic Bay Medical Center, on May 27, Stacey Soloviev of Santa's Christmas Tree Farm LI and the Chequit Inn on May 28, and Holly Browder of Browder Birds on May 29.

"Thank you to the community leaders who agreed to be guest producers," Motto Kalich said.

Performances will be held Thursdays to Sundays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets are $25. Click here to reserve your seat or call 631-298-6328.

The North Fork Community Theatre is located at 12700 Sound Avenue in Mattituck.