YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN to Open at Gateway Playhouse Tomorrow

The Gateway's 2013 season continues with "Young Frankenstein," June 12-29 at Bellport's Gateway Playhouse. Based on the movie of the same name, Mel Brooks' Tony nominated "Young Frankenstein" will be making its Long Island premiere at the region's oldest professional theatre.

Gateway's production is directed by Jeff Whiting, assistant choreographer under Susan Stroman on the original Broadway production, and director of the national touring production. Past productions include the 12-time Tony nominee "The Scottsboro Boys," and the Tony Award-winning musicals of "Hair" and "Wicked."

"'Young Frankenstein' is such an iconic film. There are familiar lines that we all known and love," Whiting said. "It's a great evening of entertainment - Mel's signature mix of high-brow and low-brow. The movie's hiliarious punchlines have now become songs."

"Young Frankenstein" tells the story of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced "Fronk-en-steen"), the grandson of the notorious mad scientist. After inheriting his famous grandfather's estate, he rediscovers his family's passion for experimentation, with disastrous - and hilarious - consequences.

The musical, directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, opened on Broadway in 2007 at the Hilton Theatre (now the Foxwoods Theatre) and received the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, as well as several Tony nominations. Gateway's production faithfully recreates Stroman's original Broadway choreography.

The original film, by Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder, first hit theaters in 1974 and ranks #28 on Total Film Magazine's "List of the 50 Greatest Comedy Films of All Time," #56 on Bravo TV's List of the "100 Funniest Movies," and #13 on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 funniest American movies. In 2003, it was deemed "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" by the United States Film Preservation board, and was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress National Film Registry. Gateway alumn Gene Hackman makes a then-uncredited cameo appearance as the blind man in Brooks and Wilder's black and white classic.

"Young Frankenstein," with book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, extends several of the film's best known jokes into full-blown musical numbers. The original cast recording, featuring music and lyrics by Brooks, debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Top Cast Album chart in 2008. Favorite numbers include "He Vas my Boyfriend," "The Happiest Town in Town," and "Transylvania Mania."

Jonathan K. Parks serves as "Young Frankenstein's" music director at The Gateway. Parks served as the Assistant Music Director on the "Young Frankenstein" national tour.

Actor John Bolton takes role of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein. Previous Broadway roles include The Old Man in "A Christmas Story: The Musical," for which he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical. Additional Broadway productions include "Curtains," and the original companies of "Spamalot," "Contact" and "Titanic."

Leslie McKinnell plays the role of Elizabeth. McKinnell was a member of the first and second national tours of "Wicked," and has performed regionally at the Hollywood Bowl.

Sandy Rosenberg is Frau Blucher. Rosenberg has previously been seen on Broadway in "Mama Mia" and "The Scarlet Pimpernel," as well as on the first national tour of "Les Miserables."

Brad Nacht assumes the role of The Monster. Previous credits include the original Broadway production of "Billy Elliot," and the national tour of "The Addams Family."

Lara Seibert, who understudied for Sutton Foster as Inga on the original Broadway production of "Young Frankenstein.," reprises the role for Gateway. Nathan Klau and Tom Souhrada play Igor and Inspector Kemp, respectively.

Erin Wegner Brooks, Michael Peter Deeb, Jerome Doerger, Lawrence Fernandez, Brett Figel, Kinsland Howell, Beau Hutchings, Lauren Kadel, Ted Keener, Ashley Gale Munzek, Adrienne Paquin, Sara Michelle Reardon, Shaun Repetto, Kristen Schoen-Rene and Jeffrey Scott Stevens complete the cast. Jose Santiagois lighting designer and Nikki Lint is stage manager.

Funding for Gateway's 2013 is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

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