Brooks Sees 'Young Frankenstein' as a Monster Hit on Broadway - Chicago Sun-Times

#1

Brooks Sees 'Young Frankenstein' as a Monster Hit on Broadway - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 7/1/03 at 8:55am

http://www.suntimes.com/output/entertainment/cst-ftr-brooks01.html

"Two-thirds of the book and six songs have been completed. After the runaway success of "The Producers," based on what many felt was a cult movie, a Broadway-bound version of the goofier and more popular "Young Frankenstein" seems a surefire hit."

This sounds promising...

#2

re: Brooks Sees 'Young Frankenstein' as a Monster Hit on Broadway - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 7/1/03 at 11:10am

Ooh! I can't wait for this one to come out! It's one of my fav Mel Brooks movies! I hope its as good as the Producers! It'll be hard to top it, but ya never know!!

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"Have a child for warmth and a baker for bread and a prince for... whatever!"

#3

re: re: Brooks Sees 'Young Frankenstein' as a Monster Hit on Broadway - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 7/1/03 at 12:00pm

"He would have an enormous schvanshtooker."
"Well, that goes without saying..."


This will be an enormous hit, I hope!

Well, that goes without saying...

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I'm as jumpy as a virgin at a prison rodeo!

#4

re: re: re: Brooks Sees 'Young Frankenstein' as a Monster Hit on Broadway - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 7/1/03 at 2:17pm

what a joy if the musical version of Young Frankenstein could feature the film's Frau Blucher,( Blooker?sp?) Cloris Leachman.

she worked with mel brooks many times and recently did the tour of SHOWBOAT......hope La Leachman is included:)

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"MAY YOUR LIFE BE AS BRIGHT AS BROADWAY AT NIGHT"

#5

re: re: re: re: Brooks Sees 'Young Frankenstein' as a Monster Hit on Broadway - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 7/1/03 at 2:19pm

Actually.. I think JUDY KAYE would be hysterical as the Frau. She sings on an upcoming CD produced by Bruce Kimmel. It's a song from a horror movie and Judy kicks (pardon the expression) VOCAL ASS doing a german styled song.

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"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men" - Willy Wonka

#6

re: re: re: re: re: Brooks Sees 'Young Frankenstein' as a Monster Hit on Broadway - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 7/1/03 at 2:38pm

the casting I could see for this one would be Broderick again in the Gene Wilder role. I know for PRODUCERS he played the "straight man" aspect of the Wilder persona, but I've always thought Broderick had that wild streak in him (it's what fueled FERRIS BUELLER). And Broderick is used to doing multiple shows with the same creative team...all those Neil Simon autobiographicals. Thoughts?

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Will: They don't give out awards for helping people be gay... unless you count the Tonys. "I guarantee that we'll have tough times. I guarantee that at some point one or both of us will want to get out. But I also guarantee that if I don't ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for the rest of my life..."

#7

re: re: re: re: re: re: Brooks Sees 'Young Frankenstein' as a Monster Hit on Broadway - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 7/1/03 at 2:53pm

How about this cast:

Nathan Lane as Igor
Mathew Broderick as Frankenstein
Harvey Fierstein as the Monster
Michelle Pawk in the Madeline Kahn role
Sarah Jessica Parker in the Terry Garr role
Lynne Redgrave as Frau Blucher (NIEGHHHH!)

It would be so sweet to see Mathew and Harvey together again!

#8

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Brooks Sees 'Young Frankenstein' as a Monster Hit on Broadway - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 7/1/03 at 2:57pm

I actually think of all those suggestions, Mrs. Broderick is a really good one.

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Will: They don't give out awards for helping people be gay... unless you count the Tonys. "I guarantee that we'll have tough times. I guarantee that at some point one or both of us will want to get out. But I also guarantee that if I don't ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for the rest of my life..."

#9

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Brooks Sees 'Young Frankenstein' as a Monster Hit on Broadway - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 7/1/03 at 3:03pm

The Teri Garr role reminds me of one of those lines ...

::bang:: ::bang::

Dr F: What knockers!
TG: Oh, why thank you, Doctor!

Makes me laugh every time.

#10

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Brooks Sees 'Young Frankenstein' as a Monster Hit on Broadway - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 7/1/03 at 3:07pm

"roll, roll, roll in zee hay"

I do think the rest of that dream casting is sweet and fun, but not practical exactly. It would be fun (and maybe practical) for Garr herself to appear as Buchner, though Leachman could still do it. My choice for Kahn's role would be Christine Baranski.
For the Monster it would be Bill Irwin, but I'm not sure his temperament would mesh with Brooks.

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Will: They don't give out awards for helping people be gay... unless you count the Tonys. "I guarantee that we'll have tough times. I guarantee that at some point one or both of us will want to get out. But I also guarantee that if I don't ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for the rest of my life..."

#11

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Brooks Sees 'Young Frankenstein' as a Monster Hit on Broadway - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 7/1/03 at 3:17pm

I did not mean to imply that this casting was practical. Heaven knows how much each of these people would cost! It is a DREAM cast. And we can dream, can't we? "Ah, sweet mystery of life..."

I forgot to mention the Lynn Redgrave connection. She has nearly played this role already in the film GODS AND MONSTERS as the housekeeper of James Whale who directed the original FRANKENSTEIN with Karloff.

#12

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Brooks Sees 'Young Frankenstein' as a Monster Hit on Broadway - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 7/1/03 at 3:39pm

Oh My Gosh, I cannot wait for "Young Frankenstein to open!!! I think that Max Von Essen should play Frederick Frankenstein, it just seems like he would work for that part!!! Anyways, I think that Alyssa Claar would be awesome in Terry Garr's part, and I think the idea of Nathan Lane as Igor would be HILARIOUS!!!

See Ya!!!

Phantom05

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------- "We Drink Your Blood And Then We Eat Your Soul, Nothings Gonna Stop Us Let The Bad Times Roll" -------"Past The Point Of No Return, No Backward Glances, Abandon Thought And Let The Dream Begin"

#13

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Brooks Sees 'Young Frankenstein' as a Monster Hit on Broadway - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 7/1/03 at 4:12pm

It's a shame that Madeline Kahn won't be able to recreate her role for the stage. I LOVE her in that movie and it would be great to see her do it on Broadway. I guess I'll have to be satisfied with my DVD.

#14

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Brooks Sees 'Young Frankenstein' as a Monster Hit on Broadway - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 7/1/03 at 4:30pm

This is one of my all time favorite movies, so I'm actually rather nervous about how the musical will turn out. Considering how much I adore The Producers, I really should put more faith into Mel Brooks. I just hope he doesn't become cocky and think that anything he makes will turn into gold. Basically, I don't care how long this takes, I just want a wonderful show! I remember an interview where Brooks said how Roger Bart would be his perfect Igor. Well honestly, after seeing the climax of Raul Esparza's performance in Comedians, I think HE would be a great Igor, hehe.

#15

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Brooks Sees 'Young Frankenstein' as a Monster Hit on Broadway - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 7/1/03 at 5:44pm

Well I am deffinately going to "walk this way" (clunk, clunk) to see this show! It would be cool if all the sets, costumes, make-up, and lights were made to make the show black & white, like the movie...it'd be interesting.

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I'm as jumpy as a virgin at a prison rodeo!

Updated On: 7/1/03 at 05:44 PM

#16

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Brooks Sees 'Young Frankenstein' as a Monster Hit on Broadway - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 7/1/03 at 6:01pm

I agree that the movie "Young Frankenstein" is wonderful as is. I think this is an example in which the stage version could ruin a good thing. Normally the reverse is true.

And I'm over Matthew Broderick. He performed in the TV version of MUSIC MAN as if he were on quaaludes.

#17

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Brooks Sees 'Young Frankenstein' as a Monster Hit on Broadway - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 7/1/03 at 6:10pm

My biggest fear is that it turns into a rehash of PRODUCERS material -- you know what I mean -- the "we found a formula that works and so we will duplicate the formulawith everything we do now" sydrome.

#18

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Brooks Sees 'Young Frankenstein' as a Monster Hit on Broadway - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 7/2/03 at 10:31am

>Oh My Gosh, I cannot wait for "Young Frankenstein to open!!! I >think that Max Von Essen should play Frederick Frankenstein, it >just seems like he would work for that part!!! Anyways, I think >that Alyssa Claar would be awesome in Terry Garr's part, and I >think the idea of Nathan Lane as Igor would be HILARIOUS!!!

What? You wouldn't think of Mandy for the Teri Garr role?
(Maybe Michael would do Inspector Kemp!)

#19

re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Brooks Sees 'Young Frankenstein' as a Monster Hit on Broadway - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 7/2/03 at 10:38am

>Considering how much I adore The Producers, I really should put >more faith into Mel Brooks. I just hope he doesn't become cocky >and think that anything he makes will turn into gold.

Yes, let's all remember "Dracula-Dead and Loving It"