‘The Producers’ expected to set Tony awards record

The Producers, Mel Brooks’ cult film which he has transformed into a smash-hit musical comedy, has received 15 Tony Award nominations, the most for any show in Broadway history.

The previous record-holder for most Tony Award nominations was Stephen Sondheim’s musical Company, which received 14 in 1971.

Among the Producers nominations were best musical and best performances by stars Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane who play a pair of unscrupulous Broadway producers.

Also nominated for Best Musical was 'The Full Monty', an American version of the popular British film and 'Jane Eyre', which is based on Charlotte Bronte’s novel.

'The Producers' is expected to win 12 of the 15 awards for which it has been nominated, breaking the record set by 'Hello, Dolly!' - which won 10 Tonys in 1964.

Sir Tom Stoppard’s 'The Invention of Love', a drama about English poet AE Housman is among the nominations for best play.