In advance of the opening night today (Wednesday, 15 May) of the Mel Brooks musical The Producers, Penarth Operatic & Dramatic Society (PODS) were thrilled to receive a heartfelt message of support from Cady Huffman, one of the stars of the original Broadway production.

She played Swedish bombshell, Ulla winning a Tony Award for her performance.

"I just wanted to wish you guys such a happy celebration of 100 years and I hope your production of The Producers is just full of joy. It was such a very special time in my life and it's such a fun show, so please enjoy yourselves", said Cady.

The Producers is a laugh-out-loud musical comedy full of brilliant songs. Fading Broadway producer, Max Bialystock is desperate to get to the top of his game again, and Leo Bloom, an accountant with dreams of someday becoming a theatre producer, discover that they could get richer by producing a flop instead of a hit.

They start by finding the worst show, the worst director and the worst actors in order to stage a mega-flop and then escape to Rio with their investor's money.

When their new production, the gloriously offensive "Springtime for Hitler" turns out to be a success, their plan is thrown off course and their lives into chaos.

They finally go to prison for their misdeeds where they devise a new show – "Prisoners of Love" which they rehearse with their fellow inmates. During rehearsals, they are pardoned and their new show to Broadway where it's a huge success.

Through it all, Max and Leo have become true friends – and successful Broadway producers!

The original Broadway production of The Producers, which also starred Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, opened in 2001, winning a record 12 Tony Awards and wowing capacity audiences for six years.

You can meet PODS very own Ulla and the rest of the amazing cast of The Producers from Wednesday 15 to Saturday 18 May at the Paget Rooms.

Tickets can be booked at www.ticketsource.co.uk/pods