The Producers is about reaching that peak moment when everything is so good and right that you cannot help but laugh. This moment is when you are on top of the world. It is what we live for, and despite all the obstacles we face in our day-to-day life, the overwhelming sensation of ecstasy when everything clicks into place is completely worth it. When confronted with hardship, the anticipation of that moment alone can be enough to carry us forward. Ever since I began writing the proposal for this production back in March, I have been waiting for the moment when the overture starts to play on opening night of the show; that is my peak moment, and the anticipation of this moment has kept me going through even the most difficult of times throughout the process of directing. Every character in the show has that moment towards which he or she strives to earn, and over time, they learn how much sweeter that moment is when shared with others. The Producers is about companionship, and how shared experience can enhance the elation felt when having reached the peak moment. The characters in The Producers try and try, and fail, and continue trying, and discover that it is not possible to reach the peak moment alone. It takes a great deal of effort from countless persons to put on a show, and like the characters in The Producers, I learned this firsthand over the past several months. The ideas I put down on paper several months ago were picked up by the experts in FYP, who kneaded and developed these ideas into a more beautiful piece of art than I could have imagined. Then, when it all comes together, and everyone feels the electricity in the air generated by the production into which we put hours and hours of thought, creative energy, and labor, we acknowledge the sensation within ourselves and within each other, and the effect is multiplied. The beautiful thing about the peak moment is that, despite the power of its anticipation, one cannot accurately predict a peak moment’s occurrence. It might not occur until well after expected, or it may happen before. The Producers is about the unknown, the unexpected. Max, Leo, and their friends certainly cannot anticipate the journey they will undergo. You can only plan so far ahead, and even then, life tends to take you by surprise. Had you asked me one day in March if I planned on directing this show in the fall, I would have said no – if you asked me the very next day, I would have told you that I already started writing the proposal! The Producers is a comedy, full on unexpected twists and turns, with the occasional waltz into absurdity. But that, too, is the nature of life. We cannot predict the direction life takes us. We cannot meticulously plan out the details of experiencing the peak moment. All we can do is truck on forwards, share our experiences with those we love, and, when the peak moment finally arrives, embrace it with pure, unadulterated laughter. To my dear, invaluable friends Katie Thompson and Ashley Gilroy, to the Production Staff and Technical Staff, and to the immensely talented Pit Orchestra, thank you for helping to produce what is possibly the most ambitious show FYP has ever done. To Olivia and Hannah, the best stage managers I could have asked for – you two have been absolutely indispensable in the rehearsal process. And finally, I am beyond lucky to have had the privilege of working with such a professional, talented, and spirited Artistic Staff and cast. Without their passion for theatre and for The Producers, there would be nothing but visions in my head with which to fill the stage. For those of you watching The Producers for the first, second, or seventh time, I urge you to heed my advice: Sit back, enjoy the ride, and laugh.

-Rishi Malhotra