Audience members will be transported to Transylvania Heights to see the hilariously ill-fated tale of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (or is it FRONK-en-shteen?), grandson to the late Dr. Victor von Frankenstein. The New York doctor is hesitant to admit he is even related to his feared and evil grandfather, until he finds out he has inherited his grandfather’s castle. In Transylvania to settle the estate, Frankenstein is assisted by a host of unusual characters: Igor, Frau Blucher, and Inga. Will he follow in his infamous grandfather’s footsteps by creating a monster from a large corpse and the brain of a scholar?
The Theatre Company of Sun City presents four performances of “Young Frankenstein” in the Drendel Ballroom at the end of April. This production marks the 17th season for the Theatre Company and the 33rd musical.
Young Frankenstein cast rehearses the dance number for Puttin’ on the Ritz. (Photo by Tony Pratt/Sun Day)
Young Frankenstein started out as a box-office smash movie of the same name in 1974, written by Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder. In 2007, the musical version premiered on Broadway.
Co-producer Karen Gienko says fans of the movie will love the musical.
“The stage play and lyrics are also by Mel Brooks,” she says. “Once you get into it, you’ll be remembering lines from the movie. It’s going to be a funny show.”
The cast has 13 weeks to rehearse lines, blocking, choreography, then tech cues.
“All those weeks, we don’t have an audience to laugh at the lines or applaud,” says Gienko. “After the 9th or 10th week, you know all the lines and you can lose your enthusiasm a little. Even though our directors always have words of encouragement, you reach the point when you’re ready for performance night.”
“Then suddenly it’s showtime and you think, oh my gosh, can I do this? That first applause makes it all worthwhile,” she says.
– Thursday, April 25, 7 p.m.
– Friday, April 26, 7 p.m.
– Saturday, April 27, 3 p.m.
– Sunday, April 28, 1:30 p.m.
Ticket Sale dates:
– Monday, March 25 in the Birch Room, Prairie View Lodge from 9 a.m to 12 p.m.
– Monday, April 8, in the Birch Room, Prairie View Lodge from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Both Gienko and Russ Howard, co-producer, have been in about 10 productions each at Del Webb. This is Howard’s first time serving in the role of co-producer.
“Every time we do a show, we sell out or nearly sell out. We’ve been really lucky that the Del Webb community is so supportive,” says Howard. “I think there’s an awareness of what we’ve done in the past and what we’ve achieved over the years,” he says.
Gienko says audience members begin to recognize the actors who participate in the shows and look for them.
“Dick Storer plays the monster [in Frankenstein]. He’s the tall guy who plays in every show. I’ve heard people ask, ‘Is that big guy going to be in the show?’” Gienko says watching the show is a great way to learn something new about friends and neighbors. “They’ll say, ‘I didn’t know you could do that! When did you learn to tap dance?’”
Howard agrees.
“We’ve got a lot of accomplished performers,” says Howard. “We’ve got quite a few people in their 80s who are really good dancers.”
“We just don’t do cartwheels and backflips,” he quips. “That’s a no-no.”
When opening night comes, Gienko and Howard both feel confident that the excitement will be palpable coming from both the audience and the performers and crew.
“The theater’s live,” says Howard. “You wonder, what’s it going to be tonight? Each show is a little different, but you want to make it the best show every night.”
