Show Plot Producers

Authors:  Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan (book), Mel Brooks (music and lyrics)

Time Period: 1959

Setting: New York City (Broadway)

Summary:  When nervous, mild-mannered accountant Leo Bloom arrives at failing producer Max Bialystock's office to do his books, he casually notes that a producer could theoretically make much more money producing a flop than a hit, since no one would audit a show that lost all its money.  Max seizes upon this idea and they form a partnership to produce a disastrous play and flee to Rio with the leftover cash after the inevitable instant closure.  But, instead of being horrified, the Broadway audience mistakes the terrible, heavy-handed musical for a brilliant, campy satirical spoof, and the show becomes an overnight smash hit.