Photo Flash: THE PRODUCERS Opening Night Party at Cabrillo Music Theatre

Cabrillo Music Theatre' s brand-new production of the riotous musical by Mel Brooks, THE PRODUCERS, opened on Friday, April 8. at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

BroadwayWorld brings you coverage of the opening night party below.

Bringing THE PRODUCERS to life is a collection of Southern California's brightest theatre talents. Starring as "Bialystock & Bloom," are Michael Kostroff and Larry Raben. Kostroff, a veteran of THE PRODUCERS Los Angeles and tour productions, is well-known to television audiences as a regular on "The Wire," and "Sonny With A Chance." Raben, who played Leo Bloom on Broadway and in Las Vegas, returns to Cabrillo after his performance in last season's THE ANDREWS BROTHERS, and after winning an Ovation Award for directing Cabrillo's SINGIN' IN THE RAIN. They are joined by Los Angeles theatre favorite David Engel, a six-time Ovation Award winner, as Roger de Bris, and Sarah Cornell, in her Ovation Award-winning role of "Ulla." They are joined by a cast of 22 and the 17-piece Cabrillo Music Theatre Orchestra. Directing is Steven Glaudini, Musical Theatre West's Artistic Director. Matthew Vargo provides the choreography, while Darryl Archibald serves as Musical Director and Conductor.

The production will be overseen by Cabrillo Music Theatre's Artistic Director, Lewis Wilkenfeld.Based on the classic film of the same name, which won Mel Brooks an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, THE PRODUCERS went to Broadway with a book by Brooks and Thomas Meehan, and new songs by Brooks himself. The show nabbed a whopping 12 Tony Awards on Broadway, followed by a long New York run, National Tours, and a new movie based on the show. Now the Ovation Award-winning Cabrillo Music Theatre mounts its own production, filled to the brim with wild comedy, splashy production numbers, and a manic energy that will leave audiences laughing and cheering.

THE PRODUCERS tells the story of two down-on-their-luck producers who decide to make a financial killing by putting on the world's worst musical - a show guaranteed to flop! Along the way, they encounter a flamboyant director, an author with a passion for the Third Reich, and a smorgasbord of colorful characters that could only spring from the mind of Mel Brooks! Songs include the classic from the movie, "Springtime for Hitler," plus new songs such as "When You've Got It, Flaunt It," "Keep It Gay," and "The King of Old Broadway."

THE PRODUCERS performs April 8th through the 17th at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Due to some language and mature subject matter, THE PRODUCERS is recommended to audiences 13 and up.

Photo Credit: Lily Lim