Neshaminy Valley Music Theatre presents YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
Mel Brooks’ musical adaptation of his legendary film comedy lovingly parodies 1930s campy horror films
Award-winning organization celebrates its 62nd annual production and 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley’s iconic novel, Frankenstein
What: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, Mel Brooks’ musical stage adaptation of his hit film comedy. Frederick Frankenstein, the grandson of the infamous Victor von Frankenstein, inherits his family’s estate in Transylvania. With the help of a hunchbacked sidekick, Igor, and a leggy lab assistant, Inga, and the mysterious Frau Blucher, he discovers the secret entrance to his grandfather’s laboratory. Frederick decides to carry on the family experiments and creates a monster of his own. Eventually, of course, the monster escapes and hilarity abounds
Who: Presented by Neshaminy Valley Music Theatre, the region’s three-time International Music and Entertainment Association Award-winning theater company, with a cast of over 30 community members from throughout the Delaware Valley. Directed by Barrymore Award-nominated director/choreographer Stephen Casey.
When: Fridays, April 6 and 13 at 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays April 7 and 14 at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday April 8 at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Neshaminy High School’s Theodore Kloos Auditorium, 2001 Old Lincoln Hwy., Langhorne, PA
Tickets: In advance, $20 general admission, $18 seniors, $10 for youth 18 and under; additional $2 at the door; $16 for groups of 15 or more (arranged in advance). Available at nvmt.org (through PayPal), email nvmt@verizon.net, or call 267-733-8876. Any ticket good for any seat at any performance with Flex Tix.
(Langhorne, PA) Neshaminy Valley Music Theatre will present its 62nd annual production, Young Frankenstein, on April 6, 7, 8, 12, and 14 at Neshaminy High School’s Theodore Kloos Auditorium, 2001 Old Lincoln Highway in Langhorne. Friday performances are at 8 p.m., Saturday performances at 3:00 and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. The production will be directed and choreographed by Barrymore Award-nominated director/choreographer Stephen Casey.
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, officially titled The New Mel Brooks Musical: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, is Brooks’ adaptation of his legendary film comedy into a stage musical with book by Brooks and Thomas Meehan and music and lyrics by Brooks. The 1974 film written by Brooks and Gene Wilder and directed by Brooks, is a parody of the horror film genre, particularly the 1931 adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and its 1939 sequel, Son of Frankenstein. January 2018 marked the 200th anniversary of the first publication of Shelley’s iconic novel.
The musical premiered on Broadway in 2007 starring Fred Applegate, Roger Bart, Christopher Fitzgerald, Sutton Foster, Shuler Hensley, Andrea Martin, and Megan Mullally. The production was directed by Susan Stroman and was nominated for eight Tony Awards. The show won the 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical. A revival production, also directed by Stroman, is currently running on London’s West End to rave reviews.
Following the same plot as the hit film, the grandson of the infamous Victor von Frankenstein, Frederick Frankenstein (he pronounces as “Fronk-en-steen”) inherits his family’s estate in Transylvania. Leaving his position as a top New York City doctor and his fiancé Elizabeth, Frederick travels to Transylvania and with the help of a hunchbacked sidekick, Igor, a leggy lab assistant, Inga, and the mysterious Frau Blucher, he discovers the secret entrance to his grandfather’s laboratory. Victor returns from the dead to convince Frederick to carry on the family experiments, and Frederick creates a monster of his own, to the dismay of the Transylvania villagers, led by Inspector Kemp. Eventually, of course, the monster escapes and hilarity abounds.
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN offers a frenetic score with classic tap dance to “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” comical duets like “Please Don’t Touch Me” and “Together Again,” and big ensemble production numbers, such as “Join the Family Business” and “Transylvania Mania.”
The Neshaminy Valley production includes a cast of over 30 performers from throughout the Delaware Valley region and beyond (cast and crew list by hometown follows).
Bob Quintana of Yardley stars as Frederick with Jack Sariego of Jenkintown as Igor, Barry Dratch of Newtown as The Monster, Cara Nardone of Exton as Elizabeth, Drew Pollack of Warminster as Frau Blucher, Eva Kastner-Puschl of Yardley as Inga, Michael Powell of Hatboro as Inspector Kemp, Joe Harris of Trevose as Victor von Frankenstein, and R. James Hunt of Trenton as The Hermit. An ensemble portrays a range of other outrageous characters and sings and dances through numerous production numbers.
The production is being directed and choreographed by Stephen Casey, who has received three nominations from Philadelphia’s Barrymore Awards and has directed or choreographed productions for Bristol Riverside Theatre, including the current production of The Producers, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Bucks County Playhouse, Montgomery Theatre, and Arizona Broadway Theater, as well as ten prior productions with Neshaminy Valley including Anything Goes, Oklahoma, Curtains, and Guys and Dolls. Faye Meyer is music director.
Neshaminy Valley Music Theatre was founded in 1956 and has been producing a musical each year since. The mission of the nonprofit theater group is to raise funds through these productions and award scholarships to graduating seniors of the Neshaminy School District who plan to continue their studies in the fine or performing arts in college. To date the organization has awarded over $146,000 in scholarships.
All the participants on stage and behind the scenes are volunteers and include individuals who have performed professionally along with those who have their first performance experience with the Music Theatre.
Neshaminy Valley has received national recognition for its annual productions from the International Music and Entertainment Association (IMEA) including awards for both Outstanding Leading Actress (Anything Goes, 2014) and Outstanding Leading Actor (The Music Man, 2016), as well as Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Nice Work If You Can Get It, 2015), with a total of 23 nominations over the past five years. The organization’s 2017 production of Hello, Dolly! was just nominated for nine IMEA awards including Outstanding Production of a Musical.
Tickets for Young Frankenstein are $20 general admission, $18 for seniors and $10 for youth 18 years and under when purchased in advance and an additional $2 when purchased at the door. Neshaminy Valley continues its popular flex-ticket policy: any ticket purchased is good for any seat for any show date and time, so that patrons can purchase a ticket now and decide later which performance to attend. A group rate is also available for groups of 15 or more.
For more information visit nvmt.org, email nvmt@verizon.net, or call 267-733-8876.
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Theater/Organization Neshaminy Valley Music Theatre
Theater/Organization Website: http://nvmt.org
Theater/Organization Address: P.O. Box 131 Langhorne, Pennsylvania 19047 (Map It)
Theater/Organization Phone: (215) 860-1584
