Here’s a brief act-by-act overview of The Producers. Mild spoilers ahead — though half the fun is watching it all unfold on stage.

Act I

Max Bialystock, a once-successful Broadway producer who has hit hard times, schemes to produce the worst show ever in a plot to raise far more money from investors than the production needs — then pocket the difference when the show flops. He teams up with Leo Bloom, a timid accountant with dreams of becoming a producer, who unwittingly hands him the fraudulent idea during a routine audit.

Together they search for the worst script they can find and discover “Springtime for Hitler,” a tasteless romp written by the deranged ex-Nazi Franz Liebkind. After securing the rights, they hire the worst director in town, Roger De Bris. Max sets about seducing numerous elderly women to finance the production, while Leo falls for Ulla, a Swedish performer who comes to audition for the show.

Act II

Opening night arrives, and to Bialystock and Bloom’s horror, the audience adores the show — interpreting it as brilliant satire. “Springtime for Hitler” becomes a runaway hit, threatening to expose their entire scheme.

As the law catches on, the pair try desperately to shut the production down, but their plans backfire. They end up in court — and, ultimately, the joy their accidental hit brought to audiences leads to an unlikely happy ending for everyone involved.

The Big Picture

The Producers is a celebration of Broadway and its larger-than-life characters, wrapped around a comedic critique of the sometimes questionable ethics of show business. It’s a story about ambition, friendship, and the strange alchemy that turns a guaranteed flop into the toast of the town.