The Diablo Light Opera Company (DLOC) announced today that it has been granted the licensing rights for the East Bay premiere of “ The Producers,” the zany  Broadway mega-hit musical that won the most Tony Awards ever.

The Mel Brooks musical comedy will be presented for 23 performances, in February and March, 2009, in the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.

Daren A. C. Carollo,  DLOC’s executive producer, said “The Producers” will replace “Jekyll & Hyde,” which will be rescheduled to another season.

“Only a few theater companies in the country have been granted the rights to produce this show,” said Carollo. “We couldn’t be more excited to be among them.  We’re already working on plans to make this an unforgettable production.”

Opening on Broadway in 2001, “The Producers” played 2,502 performances. The show garnered 12 Tony Awards, including best musical, breaking the 37-year record held by “Hello, Dolly!”  That show earned 10 Tonys.