Mel Brooks told Variety's Army Archerd that he may make a brief stage appearance in the Los Angeles production of his musical, The Producers. The mounting begins next May and will star Jason Alexander as Max and Martin Short as Leo. According to Variety, the advance sale has exceeded $11 million. If Brooks decides to step on the Pantages Theatre stage, it would be in the role of the judge that sends Leo and Max to jail late in the second act. Brooks would only make a "guest appearance," meaning his stay in the musical would be brief. In the show, the judge's lines include "I hate to break up such a beautiful friendship—so I won't! Five years in the State Penitentiary!"

Brooks has made a vocal cameo in The Producers since the show's very first performance. In the "Springtime for Hitler" number, an actor mouths Brooks saying "Don't be stupid, be a smartie, come and join the Nazi Party." Brooks famously spoke the line in the original film, in which he made a brief appearance.