Young Frankenstein at Wimberley Players

It’s Alive! The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein
by Mel Brooks
September 12 – October 5
Fri/Sat 7:30 pm. Sun 2:30 pm
Directed by Melissa May-Moncus
Produced by Terri Burney-Bisett

When the Wimberley Players stage The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein, September 12 – October 5, audiences can expect packed houses and a hilarious good time as only Mel Brooks can deliver. A spoof of classic horror films of the ‘30s and ‘40s (as seen in the 1974 movie of the same name), it is a rowdy, “bawd-villian” frolic of the Frankenstein story in the best tradition of Borscht-Belt comedy.

It is the story of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, the grandson of the Transylvanian scientist who experimented with reanimating corpses. After years of living down the family reputation, (“THE NAME IS FRONKENSTEEN!”), the young Doctor inherits his grandfather’s castle and finds himself taking up the family pastime, much to the horror of town cop, Inspector Kemp. Aided by the more-than-willing Inga, the enigmatic equine-nay-tious Frau Blucher, and the ill-made Igor, the young Doctor, in spite of his self-involved fiancée, succeeds at bringing his monster to life. Too bad the bumbling Igor inserted the wrong brain! After a rocky and rollicking start, the innocent monster triumphs and everyone wins.

Dr. Frankenstein is played by R. Michael Clinkscales and The Monster is played by Ameer Mobarak. Igor is played by Derek Smootz, Frau Blucher by Rebecca Smootz, Inspector Kemp by Will Mercer, and Victor by Bill Claussen; all are WP alums. Inga is played by Caitlin Iliff, Elizabeth by Lariena Brown, and the roles of Ziggy and the shoeshine boy by Daniel Perez. Guy Ben – Moshe plays the roles of The Hermit and Mr. Hilltop, James Springer plays The Herald, and Dirk Bauer plays Mordecai. All are veterans of the Players stage. Featured dancers, villagers, and students include Erin Brownlee, Benjamin Culpepper, Whitley Marlette, Chris Scheibel, Kendra Patch, Chris Martin, Tiffany Patch, Riley Wilson, Zach Butler, Danny Mosier, Michelle Piersol, Kayla Perez, Danny Perez, Yvonne Ybarra, Luis Rodriguez-Alegria, Laura Haygood, Brenan Mercer, Ariana Picket, Heather Bullard, and Sara Villareal.