playbill vip

A Note From the Director/Producer

Mel Brooks has been referred to as “the Jew who buried Hitler” by revealing the power that comedy has to show that “stupidity and pretension…can also exorcise and nullify evil.’’  In this show every over-the- top character he creates is also accepted by the other characters fully, and all are targets of his wit.  Of course, Mr. Brooks is not the first to ridicule Hitler.  Chaplin satirized Hitler in The Great Dictator, Brecht derided him in The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, and The Three Stooges even mocked him in their thumb-in-the-eye slapstick.   Mr. Brooks successfully “let the air out of evil icons such as Torquemada and The Inquisition” in his history of the world films.  Those who are fans know that his humor is meant to offend everyone equally and show the absurdity of stereotypes in the process.  Mr. Brooks is a true renaissance man who knows his history – that allows him to poke his own brand of fun at it.

I’ve often said I feel like I’ve been preparing my whole life for this time at Jesuit.  All the experiences and hard work of my early career prepared me to take on the role of the first female Phils director.  I met my husband here.  And now, I get to do this show, The Producers, with this extremely talented cast.   This show is very special to me and I’d like to tell you why.

Senior year of high school, my group of friends and I were introduced to the original film by my best friend’s mom, Mrs. Betty DiMaggio.   I think her house was the first to have a VCR in the group and nearly every Sunday after CYO Mass, we’d all head over to watch Auntie Mame (“Life’s a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death”) or Psycho (The shower scene – Eew) or Peewee’s Playhouse HBO Special (LOL!)or The Producers.  Very quickly, The Producers became the one we watched over and over again.   We had (and probably still have) all the lines, songs, and dances memorized…  It was our Rocky Horror Picture Show.  We understood what the film was mocking, we learned to be tolerant of others differences, and most of all, to truly despise intolerance, prejudice, and hatred.

As we all grew older, we went our separate ways, and her daughter, Stefanie, remains my best friend.  But at the time of Stef’s marriage and move out of state, Miss Betty and I became very close.  She was unique, a real “character”.  She was someone who wasn’t related to me who believed in my talents so much that she became my “manager” sending me out on auditions, helping me design my logo and resume,  and taking me along as her shopping buddy.  One of our best “finds” was a red ballroom dance dress we found at Second Act on Metairie Road.  I am happy to say that her granddaughter, Emma, my goddaughter, is wearing it in the opening number.  Sadly, Miss Betty passed away shortly after auditions and shortly before my wedding.  But she was thrilled to know Emma was doing the show and had become a Phil.  I can’t help but think she would be pleased with this production… and that we found that old VHS Tape of The Producers when we packed her estate.  Miss Betty, you asked me not to forget you, as if I ever could… Well, this one is for you… “When you got it baby, flaunt it, flaunt it.”

Thank you for supporting the arts at Jesuit!  Enjoy the show!

Kate Arthurs-Goldberg