When I interviewed actor Michael Mahler earlier this month, he told about how every actor and actress has his or her own "list" of stage roles they want to play during a theater career.

For Mahler, who hails from Minnesota and graduated from Northwestern University in 2004, playing Leo Bloom in a production of "The Producers" ranked right at the top.

After watching him in action at the musical's press opening Thursday night, he's made his dream come true, and it's a reward for audiences and critics alike.

And his partner on stage, actor Norm Boucher as Max Bialystock in this regional production of Mel Brooks' "The Producers," is more than a worthy counterpart during an out-and-out tug of war of talent to steal the show.

Fortunately for everyone, including the audience, there are plenty of laughs, fun dialogue and zany facial expressions to go around in scene after scene.

The musical, now playing at Theatre at the Center in Munster through Oct. 19, is a must-see, although not for the young or anyone with sensitive ears and eyes.

Based on Brooks' Academy Award-winning 1968 film starring Gene Wilder and the late Zero Mostel, "The Producers" is the story of stage producer Bialystock and shy accountant Bloom. That version also featured Renee Taylor, who played Fran Drescher's mom on "The Nanny" and Christopher Hewitt aka the actor behind the title character on the TV series "Mr. Belvedere."

The two develop a scheme to raise money for a lousy script that is certain to flop on Broadway. Once the play closes, the duo plans to pocket the bulk of the investment money. The newly partnered team decides to produce the awful musical, "Springtime for Hitler."

The Broadway stage story garnered more Tony Awards in 2001 than any show in Broadway history, including "Best Musical," "Best Book" and "Best Original Score" for Brooks and "Best Choreography" and "Best Direction of a Musical" for Susan Stroman.

Even though "The Producers" is now in Munster, Chicago is where it all started.

When Mel Brooks announced Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick would lead the cast for the stage version of his comedy musical movie, audiences and critics were curious.

By spring 2001, after its world premiere in Chicago, "The Producers" was the hottest ticket on Broadway.

Then, in 2005, Lane and Broderick were together again shooting a new big-screen version of the story, joined by Uma Thurman playing the leggy Swedish blonde, while the Broadway tour continued to play to sold-out venues.

But this version at Theatre at the Center directed by William Pullinsi will have you easily forget the movie or any of the previous stage incarnations.

This cast is right on the money, and their timing is to the "T."

One of my favorite standouts is the ever-talented Sean Fortunato, who I just recently enjoyed at Chicago Shakespeare Theater playing the title role in "Willy Wonka." Here, he trades in his master candymaker's top hat for a German Nazi helmet as Adolph Hitler idolizer-turned-playwright Franz. This guy is the kind of funny that defies description. You have to see him in action (nicely accessorized with his character's prized pigeons) to understand.

Tickets: $36 to $40 at (219) 836-3255 or theatreatthecenter.org.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at ppotempa@nwitimes.com or 219.852.4327.

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