Young Frankenstein's Roger Bart Out With Injured Back

Roger Bart, Broadway's manic doctor in Mel Brooks' new musical Young Frankenstein, has been out of performances at the Hilton Theatre since October 13 matinee due to a lower back problem, states a show spokesperson.

"He is responding well to treatment and is expected to return to the show shortly," according to a statement.

Ensemble member Matthew LaBanca (in his Broadway debut) has and will continue to cover the role of Frederick Frankenstein during Bart's absence – there is no official date announced for Bart's return.

Bart garnered the Best Featured Actor in a Musical 1999 Tony Award for his performance as Snoopy in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and was nominated in the same category in 2001 for the role of Carmen Ghia in Mel Brooks' The Producers.  Bart also appeared in The Frogs opposite Nathan Lane at Lincoln Center.  He is recognized on film and screen in The Stepford Wives and ABC's "Desperate Housewives."

LaBanca's credits include the Children and Art benefit gala at the New Amsterdam Theatre; plus roles in the national tours of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Anything Goes and Crazy For You.

Young Frankenstein is scheduled to officially open on November 8 at the Hilton Theatre (213 W 42nd St). Visit www.youngfrankensteinthemusical.com.

The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein also stars Megan Mullally (Elizabeth) , Sutton Foster (Inga), Shuler Hensley (The Monster), Andrea Martin (Frau Blucher), Fred Applegate (Inspector Kemp/Hermit) and Christopher Fitzgerald (Igor).

The company of 27 includes: Heather Ayers, Jim Borstelmann, Paul Castree, Jennifer Lee Crowl, Jack Doyle, James Gray, Amy Heggins, Eric Jackson, Kristin Marie Johnson, Renee Feder, Kevin Ligon, Barrett Martin, Linda Mugleston, ChrisTina Marie Norrup, Justin Patterson, Brian Shepard, Sarrah Strimel, Craig Waletzko, and Courtney Young.

Young Frankenstein features a book by three-time Tony Award winner Mel Brooks and three-time Tony Award winner Thomas Meehan and music and lyrics by Brooks. Young Frankenstein is directed and choreographed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman . Musical supervision is by Glen Kelly.

"Based on the Oscar-nominated smash hit 1974 film, Young Frankenstein is the wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Mary Shelley classic from the comic genius of Mel Brooks.  When Frederick Frankenstein, an esteemed New York brain surgeon and professor, inherits a castle and laboratory in Transylvania from his grandfather, deranged genius Victor Von Frankenstein, he faces a dilemma.  Does he continue to run from his family's tortured past or does he stay in Transylvania to carry on his grandfather's mad experiments reanimating the dead  and, in the process,  fall in love with his sexy lab assistant Inga?" describe press notes.

Photo of Roger Bart by Joan Marcus