The Producers has another award — the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.
The Mel Brooks smashzilla at the St. James Theatre won 12 Tony Awards in 2001 and will spawn at least two national tours by Dec. 31, 2002. Mel Brooks, the songwriter, is now a Grammy-winning songwriter, according to sources in the recording and theatre community. Hugh Fordin produced the disc and shares the honor.
Winners in some categories of the recording industry's top honors were announced the afternoon of Feb. 27, prior to the major awards show that airs on TV 8 PM (ET).
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"Musical Show Album" is the category of interest to hardcore theatregoers who follow The Grammy Awards, which honor the best of the recording industry. At the 2002 Grammys Feb. 27, cast albums of The Producers, The Full Monty, Mamma Mia!, Seussical the Musical and Sweeney Todd: Live at the Philharmonic were all up for the Gramophone-shaped statue.
The 44th Annual Grammy Awards (focusing on pop music) will originate from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, and the show will be broadcast live on CBS 8 PM (ET) Feb. 27. The Recording Academy announced the nominees Jan. 4. The Musical Show Album winner was announced in a ceremony prior to the main event.
Seussical was a Broadway flop but fans treasure its album, with songs by Ragtime writers Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. A revised version of the show goes on tour in the fall starring Cathy Rigby.
The awards are presented to the album's producer(s) and to the composers and lyricist of 51 percent of a new score.
Billy Straus, David Yazbek & Ted Sperling produced the Broadway cast album of The Full Monty on the RCA Victor label (music and lyrics by David Yazbek); Nicholas Gilpin & Martin Koch produced the London cast album of Mamma Mia! on the Decca Broadway label (music and lyrics by Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus); Hugh Fordin produced the Broadway cast album of The Producers on the Sony Classical label (music and lyrics by Mel Brooks); Phil Ramone produced the Broadway cast album of Seussical the Musical on the Decca Broadway label (music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens); and Tommy Krasker & Lawrence L. Rock produced the concert cast album of Sweeney Todd: Live at the New York Philharmonic on the New York Philharmonic Special Editions label (music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim).
