MOUNT CARROLL, IL -- Timber Lake Playhouse will present the local premiere of The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein beginning Thursday, July 3. From the award-winning team that brought The Producers to international acclaim, this monster musical comedy, which runs through Saturday, June 28, is a dizzy, lavish and fast paced re-imagining of the Frankenstein legend based on Mel Brooks' classic comedy film masterpiece. Former Artistic Director Brad Lyons returns to Mount Carroll to direct the hilarity starring TLP's professional company from all over the country.
The story follows bright, young Dr. Frankenstein (that's Fronkensteen), played by TLP favorite Cody Jolly, as he attempts to complete his grandfather's masterwork and bring a corpse to life. Together with his oddly shaped and endearing helper Igor (that's Eye-gor), played by Matt Webb (Patsy in last year's Spamalot), his curvaceous lab assistant Inga (Lexie Plath), and in spite of his incredibly self-involved madcap fiancé Elizabeth (Allison Hunt), Frankenstein succeeds in creating a monster (Blake W. Price)-- but not without hilarious complications from Frau Blucher (Analisha Santini), Inspector Kemp (Grant Brown), the villagers of Transylvania Heights and, of course, Irving Berlin's "Puttin' on the Ritz."
Enthusiasts of the film have plenty of new surprises to look forward to in the stage adaptation. And musical comedy fans will be in heaven with the new, high-energy songs and riotous dances including "Transylvania Mania," "He Vas My Boyfriend," "Roll In Ze Hay," and "Together Again?For The First Time." The production also features some "shocking" visual effects as well as spectacularly "monstrous" choreography by Cameron Turner (Spamalot).
There are only 11 chances to see Young Frankenstein. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. (except July 4, July 6 and July 7). Wednesday and Sunday matinees are at 2:00 p.m. There is a 3:00 pm matinee on Saturday, July 5. Tickets are $17 for students, $21 for seniors, $23 for single seats and are available at the Timber Lake Playhouse box office, 815-244-2035, or www.timberlakeplayhouse.org.
TLP's Do Something Spectacular: Live The Story campaign continues with Young Frankenstein through the help of Happy Tails Humane Society in Rock Falls, Illinois. Happy Tails operates Whiteside County's only animal shelter. They are a limited-intake, no-kill facility that shelters and cares for stray and abandoned dogs and cats until they are adopted into loving, permanent homes. They promote pet adoption and humane education in the region. At each performance of Young Frankenstein, audiences will have an opportunity to help "save the creature!"
This program is partially sponsored by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council through federal funds from the National Endowment For The Arts.
