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If you're a theater fan, it almost certainly was a musical with catchy lyrics, lavish and inventive dance numbers and comic surprises that were laugh-out-loud funny.

Such a musical is Mel Brooks' "The Producers," a brand-new, old-fashioned musical comedy packed with everything that first got you hooked on theater.

The Broadway production is still playing to sell-out houses where a top ticket goes for $99.

But area audiences get a break.

Good seats are still available for the national touring production that began its run here last week, and no seat costs more than $67.

More importantly, aside from removing a couple of profanities and blunting others, almost nothing has changed.

The production seen at Wednesday's press night as the first offering of the PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh series is nearly identical in size and quality to what's being offered on Broadway.

The timing and punch of some lines still need tweaking as the cast adapts itself to live audiences. Some ensemble members have yet to fully master subtle character changes and precise pronunciation for the dazzling multitude of characters they portray.

Some audience members might bristle at Brooks' occasional politically incorrect humor and ribald language.

But these are minor points unlikely to diminish your enjoyment.

Most will find it an entertaining tribute to the wizardry of theater and the indomitable show-biz spirit.

Even those slow to warm to the show are likely to succumb to its charms by the time the first-act finale rolls around.

The success of "The Producers" is almost legendary.

Hollywood filmmaker Mel Brooks and writer Thomas Meehan adapted Brooks' now-classic 1968 movie "The Producers" for the stage. Brooks wrote music and lyrics that expanded beyond the film's "Springtime for Hitler" and "Prisoners in Love" production numbers.

It opened on Broadway in April 2001 to almost universal rave reviews and won a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards, taking home a trophy in every category for which it was eligible.

Its success owes much to its production team.

Director and choreographer Susan Stroman, scenic designer Robin Wagner, costume designer William Ivey Long and lighting designer Peter Kaczorowski went flat out with colorful, witty, imaginative, clever, creative elements that enliven the action.

Those who love the movie will be relieved to know that "The Producers" retains its irreverent, wickedly humorous story of Max Bialystock, a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer, and a mousy accountant named Leo Bloom, who concoct a scam to embezzle $2 million from Max's lascivious little-old-lady investors by producing a play that's guaranteed to flop.

But it also expands on the original story with splashy song-and-dance numbers and repositions some familiar elements in new and surprising ways.

An orchestra of 21 plus conductor brings a big, full sound to actually hummable songs filled with lyrics that roll around in your brain long after you've left the theater.

That's most true for the big, splashy production numbers "Opening Night," "Along Came Bialy," "Keep it Gay" and the obligatory "Springtime for Hitler," as well as for Leo's surprising epiphany "I Wanna Be a Producer."

But Ulla's "When You Got It, Flaunt It," Max's "Betrayed" and Leo and Max's touching "'Til Him" duo are also infectious as well as entertaining.

Heading the cast are Lewis J. Stadlen's solid but delightful schemer Max Bialystock, a sort of benign doppelganger of producer David Merrick in a performance more nuanced than that of predecessors Zero Mostel and Nathan Lane.

Don Stephenson is appealingly boyish as timorous Leo Bloom. He partners nicely with Stadlen and shows his character's growth in confidence as events proceed.

Angie Schworer's accent might wax and wane as Swedish stunner Ulla, but she redeems herself in impressive song and dance. Also of note are Lee Roy Reams and Fred Applegate as the high-flying director Roger De Bris and the demented playwright Franz Liebkind.

Kudos also is due to the very busy, energetic, bouncy, high-kicking ensemble of 16 — the same number as in the Broadway cast. These men and women make it appear like twice as many, bustling through wig, makeup and costume changes as they morph from opening-night onlookers to fantasy frauleins, little old ladies and goose-stepping Nazis.

The PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh series presents "The Producers" through Sept. 29 at the Benedum Center, Seventh Street at Penn Avenue, Downtown. Performances: 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $26.50 to $67. Details: (412) 456-6666 or www.tickets.com.

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