YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN Opens Tonight at Lakewood Theatre Company

IT'S ALIVE! From Mel Brooks and the creators of the record-breaking Broadway sensation The Producers comes the new monster musical comedy Young Frankenstein, opening tonight, September 12 at Lakewood Theatre Company.

Young Frankenstein features story by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan and music and lyrics by Brooks. It is based on the 1974 comedy film of the same name written by Brooks and Gene Wilder and directed by Brooks, who has described it as his best film.

With such memorable tunes as "The Transylvania Mania," "He Vas My Boyfriend," and "Puttin' On The Ritz," Young Frankenstein is scientifically-proven, monstrously good entertainmentŠand the only place you'll witness a singing and dancing laboratory experiment in the largest tuxedo ever made.

With stage direction by Michael Snider, choreography by Terry Brock and Michael Snider, and musical direction by Cyndy Ramsey-Rier the cast of Young Frankenstein includes Evan Howells as the title character Dr. Frederick Frankenstein.

The production also stars Leslie Irene Gale (as the doctor's love interest, Elizabeth), Danielle Valentine (as comely assistant Inga, who sings a number called "Roll in the Hay"), Greg Gosser (The Monster), Lisa Knox (as castle matron Frau Blucher), Tony Stroh (as Transylvanian policeman Inspector Kemp), Don Stewart Burns (a Hermit), and Burl Ross (loyal hunchback assistant Igor).

Performances continue through October 19, 2014 playing Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights at 7:30 PM, two Wednesday performances (Sept. 24, Oct 8) at 7:30 PM, Sunday evenings at 7:00 PM (Sept. 14, 21, 28), and Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM (Sept. 21, Oct 5, 12 and 19). The show sponsor is AKT CPAs, Advisors, Consultants.
The theatre is located at Lakewood Center for the Arts, 368 S. State St. in Lake Oswego. Ticket prices are $37/adults and $35/seniors. Other discounts are available for students and groups. For additional information and tickets, call the Lakewood Box Office at (503) 635-3901 or order online at www.lakewood-center.org.

The story: Set in 1930s Transylvania, Young Frankenstein follows Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Evan Howells), an esteemed New York brain surgeon and professor, who inherits a castle and laboratory in Transylvania from his grandfather, deranged genius Victor Von Frankenstein (Ken Hermens), and 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 (Danielle Valentine).

In this musical rendition of the familiar story we are introduced to his quirky costars: hunchbacked Igor (Burl Ross), zany housekeeper Frau Blucher (Lisa Knox), and self-centered fiancée Elizabeth (Leslie Irene Gale). As Frankenstein's monster (Greg Gosser) is brought to life, Dr. Frankenstein and his crew create a hilarious atmosphere on the stage as they run into many comical and sometimes scary complications along the way.

With original songs by Mel Brooks, such as "The Transylvania Mania," "Deep Love," and Irving Berlin's "Puttin' On The Ritz," this monster of a musical is bound to thrill audiences from beginning to end. Director and co-choreographer Michael Snider says it best, "Brooks gives us everything we could ask for in one package: familiar characters and a story turned upside down with perfectly crafted jokes that just keep coming."

Others in the cast include Tony Stroh, Don Stewart Burns, Sarah Allen, Patricia Alvitez, Kira Batcheller, Kimo Camat, Justin Canfield, Tasha Danner, Diane DeHaven, Amber Kiara, Kirsten Anya Kyllingstad, Carrie Morgan, Alexander Salazar, Terry Brock, Addam Stell, and Samson Syharath

The creative team includes director Michael Snider, assistant to the director Steve Knox, musical director Cyndy Ramsey-Rier, co-choreographers Terry Brock and Michael Snider, scenic designer Alan Schwanke, costume coordinator Marychris Mass, lighting designer Kurt Herman, sound designer Marcus Storey, hair designer Jane Holmes, stage manager Michael DeMaio, assistant stage manager Zachery Peak and producer Kay Vega.

62 Years of Live Theatre: Founded as a not-for-profit organization in 1952, Lakewood Theatre Company is a theatre dedicated to the study and presentation of drama in all its forms; the training and development of actors; and the creation, maintenance, and operation of a theatre in which to present plays and other forms of entertainment. Lakewood Theatre Company is the oldest continually operated, not-for-profit theatre company in the Portland Metropolitan area. It annually provides more than 400 theatre artists the opportunity to learn and display their craft and attracts more than 40,000 people to its shows.

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