Noll and Blanchard tapped for FRANKENSTEIN

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 1:20am

Broadway favorites Christiane Noll and Steve Blanchard will join the previously announced Hunter Foster this fall in the new Off-Broadway musical Frankenstein.

The New York Times reports that Noll will play Elizabeth, Frankenstein's wife, and Blanchard will be the monster in the new musical, which begins previews Oct. 10 at 37 Arts. Opening is Nov. 1.

As previously reported by Playbill.com, Tony Award nominee Hunter Foster — known for comic turns in Little Shop of Horrors, Urinetown and The Producers — will explore darker material when he plays the title role of Victor Frankenstein.

Foster will star as "the rebel scientist who challenges the laws of nature and morality when he breathes life into his inanimate creature," according to the producers of the Mary Shelley-inspired musical by composer Mark Baron and lyricist-librettist Jeffrey Jackson. "Faced with intolerance and adversity, the scientist's creation rebels against the world around him, ultimately destroying the very man who gave him life."

(A few blocks away on 42nd Street, Foster's Tony Award-winning sister, Sutton Foster, will be playing Inga in the Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein.)

Presented by Gerald Goehring, Douglas C. Evans, Michael F. Mitri in association with Barbara & Emery Olcott and David S. Stone, Frankenstein's "original story adaptation" is by Gary P. Cohen, with direction by Bill Fennelly.

Christiane Noll, who was part of the out-of-town tryout of The Mambo Kings, made her Broadway debut as Emma Carew in Frank Wildhorn's Jekyll & Hyde. She later joined the Broadway company of It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues and starred in the City Center Encores! production of Out of This World. Noll appeared in the national tours of Urinetown, Grease!, Miss Saigon and City of Angels, and she has recorded three solo albums: "Christiane Noll — A Broadway Love Story" (Varese Sarabande Records), "Live at the Westbank Café," (Car-Jam Records) and "The Ira Gershwin Album" (Fynsworth Alley).

Steve Blanchard's Broadway credits include The Three Musketeers, Camelot and Beauty and the Beast.

Frankenstein performances will play Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 PM; Wednesday and Sunday at 3 PM; and Saturdays at 2 PM. Tickets are on sale now at TicketMaster.com or at [phone]. Student rush tickets ($20 each) will be available at all performances 20 minutes prior to curtain with valid student ID.

37 Arts is located in Manhattan at 450 West 37th Street.

For more information visit www.FrankensteinTheMusical.com.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 1:30am

I really hope this production is well-received. The timing of both shows is just bizarre. I want Hunter to be in another hit.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 1:33am

I just don't see this story "singing."

I also see no musical appeal in the work personally, regardless of how well-written.

Just some thoughts.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 1:37am

It odd having Hunter Foster in a role that Drew Sarich workshopped. They seem like totally opposites of the spectrum.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 2:06am

For those who haven't had the opportunity, I suggest you purchase the original cast recording (Ivan Rutherford sa the doctor and Shuler Hensley as the monster) via Amazon. The score is very, very good (for everything it's worth). I'll be seeing this show for sure come November! Two FRANKENSTEINs in one month, Two FOSTERS in one month? I LOVE IT!

Posted: 8/27/07 at 2:06am

I do love me some Christiane Noll - I think she's overdue for a role that brings her back on Broadway. Maybe Eastwick?

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 2:30am

Blanchard seems to be making quite the name for himself, spending so many years playing a beast before finally upgrading to the title of 'Monster.' Lolz.

And I love how both productions are happening at the same time. I imagine that YF will be a hot ticket, and one can only picture the hundreds of theatergoers whose spouses tell them they surprised them with "tickets to Frankenstein", upon which they find out that they are not seeing the Mel Brooks production, but are in fact seeing this.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 2:36am

Let's see...

The last time Frankenstein opened on B-Way, it closed after one night, at the time being one of the most expensive flops ever.


I hope they know what they are doing this time.

[Michelleruth2]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 4:18pm

I'm excited about the production, especially with Steve Blanchard being cast! Should be awesome!