The Producers brings humor and satire to the stage!

The Kelowna Actors Studio (KAS) is setting up the stage for their latest musical production, Mel Brooks' The Producers.

The performance is an adaptation of the 1967 film of the same name starring Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel.

The story follows a Broadway producer Max Bialystock and his accountant Leo Bloom, who come up with a mischievous plan to produce the worst play possible, "Springtime for Hitler", and run away with the investors' money but their plan ultimately backfires on them.

This isn't the first time KAS has put on the Mel Brooks classic. They last performed it 15 years ago, with Chad Abrahamson playing Leo Bloom. Now, he is reprising his role in the production.

He told Kelowna10 there are many reasons why the show remains so enjoyable.

"The music, and every single part is just so fun," he said. "Everybody can feel like they have something to get tied to."

Abrahamson added the show itself has made an impact for musical theatre.

"It's contributed to the landscape [of musical theatre] in general because of how witty it is, how funny it is, and how it is willing to take that extra step that a lot of other shows aren't willing to," he noted.

Among the cast of characters is Ulla, (played by Joanne Ryan) a pretty young Swedish woman who's not just Max's secretary, but also a talented performer in her own right.

For Ryan, the idea of being involved The Producers was very attractive to her.

"Mel Brooks is the king of satire. I was drawn to the show because I love anything fun and silly," she said. "But to add all those cultural punches in there, that was really important to me."

She said the most rewarding thing for her about being in this show came when she first saw the musical in New York City 21 years ago with her mom.

"I just fell in love with the show. And to have gone through the grueling audition process and to have been chosen for this role is just such a big deal for me," Ryan noted. "For me, it's really a 'pinch me, I'm dreaming' kind of moment.

The show runs from May. 29 to June. 16. Tickets can be purchased here.