Mel Brooks developing "The Producers" and "Young Frankenstein" for the musical theater, saying of an early meeting with her: "From that day, until her death…we were glued together." Regarding religion, Brooks stated, "I'm rather secular. I'm basically Jewish. But I think I'm Jewish not because of the Jewish religion at all. I think it's the relationship with the people and the pride I have. The tribe surviving so many misfortunes, and being so brave and contributing so much knowledge to the world and showing courage." Brooks' great-nephew from his brother Lenny, Todd Kaminsky, is a New York state senator for state senate
Steel Pier (musical) was released by RCA Victor Broadway on July 29, 1997. "Steel Pier" was nominated for eleven Tony Awards but won none. This tied "Chicago", also written by Kander and Ebb, for most Tony nominations without a win. Another Kander-Ebb musical, "The Scottsboro Boys", was nominated for twelve Tony Awards but won none, besting "Steel Pier" and "Chicago" by one. Steel Pier (musical) Steel Pier is a musical written by the songwriting team of Kander and Ebb from the original book by David Thompson. Directed by Scott Ellis with choreography by Susan Stroman, the musical opened on Broadway at the Richard