Palo Alto Players Present YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, 4/25-5/11

Palo Alto Players is excited to introduce audiences to a Dr. Frankenstein that Mary Shelley could never have imagined. Reanimated from Mel Brooks' 1974 film, Brooks and Thomas Meehan (The Producers) have teamed up again to create the musical Young Frankenstein. With material just as funny today as it was thirty years ago, this monstrously good musical is super-charged with laughter and fun. Join Dr. Frankenstein (that's "Fronk-en-steen"!) and the rest of this delightfully deranged cast of characters on a wild ride through Transylvania. Young Frankenstein will run for 11 performances (April 25-May 11, 2014) at the Lucie Stern Theater, located at 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. Tickets are on sale now by ordering online at www.paplayers.org or calling 650.329.0891.

About Young Frankenstein:

In 1974, Mel Brooks debuted his newest comedy film, Young Frankenstein. Widely considered today to be the funniest movie in Brooks' extensive cannon, Young Frankenstein takes the traditional story of Dr. Frankenstein and his monster and spins it on its head, all the while making a hilarious parody of, and loving tribute to, horror movies like 1931's Frankenstein and 1939's Son of Frankenstein.

While the movie was full of indelible performances, this story is as witty today as it was 30 years ago, and has been marvelously translated to the stage by Brooks and Thomas Meehan. Brooks and Meehan, who had previously collaborated on The Producers, brought "The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein" to Broadway in 2007. Young Frankenstein was nominated for three Tony Awards, and critics praised its "giggly smuttiness" and "lyrics [that] are bright and witty"; it was also wildly popular with audiences, running on Broadway for over two years.

Artistic Director Patrick Klein is also the director of Young Frankenstein. "In general, it's definitely not easy to direct a show during your first few months as Artistic Director," says Klein. "But there's no better way than to jump in with both feet! This show has such great comic genius and the cast is so talented and devoted, I knew it would be the right challenge at the right time.

"The bar is set pretty high for a show like this, where most people have seen the movie and feel very protective of it in a nostalgic way," continues Klein. "And it's that off-stage familiarity with the source material that really brings the audience to a whole new level of engagement. From 'Fronk-en-steen' to the Blind Hermit, it's wonderful to look out into the audience and see such anticipation and excitement."

"'Young Frankenstein' is one of those movies that we've all seen and that truly stands the test of time," says Managing Director Diana Wiley. "And if you think the movie was funny, can you just imagine it full of songs by Mel Brooks? The musical Young Frankenstein is a riot and we're so glad to be able to share such an entertaining show with our audience."

Show director Patrick Klein will be in collaboration with musical director Matthew Mattei and choreographer Jennifer Gorgulho, as well as stage manager Jeff Grafton. This hilarious romp through Transylvania is brought to life through the set designs of Kuo-Hao Lo, costumes by Shannon Maxham, and props by Pat Tyler. Young Frankenstein will also feature lighting design by Carolyn Foot, sound design by Grant Huberty, and hair and makeup by Shiboune Thill.

Opening night for Young Frankenstein is Saturday, April 26, 2014 at 8:00 pm, and runs until May 11, 2014; there is also a paid preview performance on Friday, April 25. The curtain lifts at 8:00 pm Thursday through Saturday, and Sunday performances are a matinee at 2:30 pm. Ticket prices are priced according to seating chart, and range from $26 to $48. Discounted tickets are available to Seniors and Students for performances on Thursdays and Sundays. Special discounts of 20-25% for groups of 10 or more are also available. For ticket services, please call 650.329.0891 or visit Palo Alto Players online at www.paplayers.org.

Palo Alto Players' 83rd season will continue in June with its final show in the 2014-2015 season, The Farnsworth Invention, an epic tale of invention sure to forever change the way we view the world (by Aaron Sorkin, directed by Dave Sikula). Season 84 will be announced on April 12, 2014, and season subscriptions for those five shows will be available for purchase at that time.

Young Frankenstein and the 83rd season of Palo Alto Players are produced at the Lucie Stern Theater, in cooperation with the City of Palo Alto. The Lucie Stern Theater is located at 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto, CA. Use of this facility is made possible through support from The City of Palo Alto, Community Services Department, Division of Arts and Sciences, and from our patrons.