Young Frankenstein Tickets

Young Frankenstein, which is actually officially known as The New Mel Brooks Musical: Young Frankenstein, is based on the 1974 comedy film of the same name, which was written by Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder. The musical is a parody of the original horror film and takes inspiration specifically from the 1931 adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The original Broadway production featured well-known theatre actress Kristin Chenoweth as Elizabeth and was directed by Susan Stroman.

Young Frankenstein production history

Few people know that it was only after the success of 2001 hit musical The Producers that writer Mel Brooks wanted to create another musical based off of one of his films. Brooks teamed up with his partner for The Producers, Thomas Meehan, and began working on the script and idea in April of 2006. By October, the proposed cast read the first draft of the script and it was set to be directed by Susan Stoman. The cast featured Brian d'Arcy James as Dr. Frankenstein, Kristin Chenoweth as Elizabeth, Sutton Foster as Inga, Roger Bart as Igor, Marc Kudisch as Inspector Kemp and Shuler Hensley as the Monster.

The original Broadway production received critical acclaim in 2008 when it was nominated for several awards, including Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards, Outer Critics Circle Award and Drama League Awards. It won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical and went on to be nominated for the 2009 Best Musical Theater Album Grammy Award.

Young Frankenstein interesting facts

The character of Hans Delbruck was a real person. He was an accomplished military historian who also had a son who won a Nobel Prize for his scientific work regarding viruses. Fans of the musical will remember this name from the scene in which Frederick asks Igor to bring him a very special brain that is in a jar with the name "Hans Delbruck: Scientist and Saint."

Young Frankenstein West End debut

The show makes its UK premiere at the Newcastle Theatre Royal in 2017 before transferring to London's well-known West End at the Garrick Theatre. The West End production will again be directed by Susan Stroman and includes slight changes by Brooks and Meehan, with Brooks acting as a producer along with Michael Harrison, Hani Farsi, Fiery Angel and Michael Harrison.

Fans of Les Miserables will recognize the lead role of Frederick Frankenstein as played by Hadley Fraser, with British comedian Ross Noble as Igor, Lesley Joseph of Birds fame as Frau Blucher, Dianne Pilkington as Elizabeth and Sumer Strallen as Inga.

Similar to Young Frankenstein

If you can't make it to the production of Young Frankenstein, be sure to check out other productions at the Garrick Theatre or purchase tickets to see The Miser in London.