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YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

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#1

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

I've tried searching but it isn't going well with my poor wireless connection.

Is Mel Brooks writing the songs to YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN?

I think the show is going to be a major hit on Broadway, however it's one of those shows that will get tired and close a few years later a la THE PRODUCERS. The only thing I can think of that might change this opinion somewhat is if Brooks is not writing the music. He did a fabulous job with THE PRODUCERS but it becomes tiresome.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
#2

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

Yes, it's the same team as THE PRODUCERS.

Brooks is the composer/lyricist.

Thomas Meehan is handling the book.

And Susan Stroman is directing/choreographing.
"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde
#3

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

Brooks and Meehan have indeed written the show. The only 2 songs they did not write are "Puttin on the Ritz" (they got permission from the Berlin estate to use it - Thank G-d) and "Ah, Sweet Mysteries of Life..."
#5

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

The cast for the READING was as follows:

Brian d'Arcy James - Dr. Frankenstein
Shuler Hensley - The Monster
Roger Bart - Igor
Kristin Chenoweth - Elizabeth
Cloris Leachman - Frau Blucher
Sutton Foster - Inga
Marc Kudisch - Police Inspector Kemp
#6

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

I would say Inga is Kirstin and Elizabeth is Sutton, but if we go by style of singing from the movie Elizabeth is the operatic styled singer but who knows that would be my guess that Kirstin is Inga she has more of the look/style down
"Passion can drive you crazy but is there any other way to live"
#7

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

Do we really think Cheno will do an open ended run in an ensemble piece like this?
I just don't see that happening with all the movies and TV she is doing, THE APPLE TREE is a "Star" turn in a three month run.
#8

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

Andrew, the show is still running after five years and I would suppose that the people seeing it don't find it too tiresome.Sure, the grosses are down but like everything in life, we all have to die. Sometimes, it's violent and rapid like The Wedding Singer and sometimes, slowly like The Producers.

I still think, if they can, they'll keep the show running until Young Frankenstein opens. Rodgers and Hammerstein discovered that a hit show boosted the gate of the waning shows. People who can't get tickets to YF while they're in town may settle for the Producers instead.

Margo, if you are listening (and when aren't you?) what's the weekly nut for The Producers?
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699
#9

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

I've said this before, but Shuler Hensley does not do well with comedy. It's just not his thing. He is a great dramatic actor for very specific roles. I say throw out Hensley and bring in Hunter Foster, or any other comedically talented musical theatre actor.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#11

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

I think Shuler is great with comedy. and he's a natural funny guy off stage. And he looks the part.

As much as I love Hunter I doubt he could pull of the monster.


"I'm tellin' you, the only times I really feel the presence of God are when I'm having sex and during a great Broadway musical." - Nathan Lane - Jeffrey
#12

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

BroadwayBound - Chenoweth is playing the Madeline Khan role, Foster the Teri Garr role.

CurtainPullDowner - if you were in Cheno's position and you were offered a part in what's arguably going to be the hottest musical ticket of 2007, would you turn it down?

Updated On: 1/1/07 at 07:59 PM

#13

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

That's the thing with Hensley. He's cast in roles because he "looks" the part. He's a big fat guy, yes, but it takes more than that to pull off musical comedy. He was *fantastic* as Jud in OKLAHOMA and well-deserving of his Tony, but he was an absolute stick in the mud in THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL. People think that, since he has a Tony to his name, they can suddenly expect the world from him, which just isn't the case. I hate to say "one trick pony" because I do think there are other worthwhile roles for him out there, but they are in drama and not in comedy.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

Updated On: 1/1/07 at 08:05 PM

#14

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

If I had two or three movies on my plate, uh yeah.
And "the hotest ticket on broadway"?
It will have much anticipation but I think you go too far.
BILLY ELLIOT is also coming that season.
#15

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

They say he was great at the reading. Oh well. I think John Treacy Egan would be good.

And Shuler isn't really fat at all. Have you ever seen him up close? I thought he was at first until I met him. He is very tall though. haha.
"I'm tellin' you, the only times I really feel the presence of God are when I'm having sex and during a great Broadway musical." - Nathan Lane - Jeffrey
#17

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

If The Producers nut is $500,000, they have only been under it six times since they opened. They could run for years more.
http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699
#18

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

I get the feeling that Young Frankenstein will be to the Producers what Tenderloin was Fiorello!

You kids can ask allofmylife what I mean by that...

At least with Puttin' On The Ritz and Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life there will be some real songs in the show...
"A coherent existance after so many years of muddle" - Desiree' Armfelt, A Little Night Music "Life keeps happening everyday, Say Yes" - 70, Girls, 70 "Life is what you do while you're waiting to die" - Zorba
#19

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

I get the feeling that Young Frankenstein will be to the Producers what Tenderloin was Fiorello!

You kids can ask allofmylife what I mean by that...

At least with Puttin' On The Ritz and Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life there will be some real songs in the show...
"A coherent existance after so many years of muddle" - Desiree' Armfelt, A Little Night Music "Life keeps happening everyday, Say Yes" - 70, Girls, 70 "Life is what you do while you're waiting to die" - Zorba
#20

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

I get the feeling that Young Frankenstein will be to the Producers what Tenderloin was Fiorello!

You kids can ask allofmylife what I mean by that...

At least with Puttin' On The Ritz and Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life there will be some real songs in the show...
"A coherent existance after so many years of muddle" - Desiree' Armfelt, A Little Night Music "Life keeps happening everyday, Say Yes" - 70, Girls, 70 "Life is what you do while you're waiting to die" - Zorba
#21

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

sondheimboy2, a joke so nice, you posted it thrice.

We didn't go to see Tenderloin (it didn't run long enogh) but I have to admit, the Random House libretto seems to pop up all the time in used bookstores. They must have had a big print run, expecting a hit and then.... splat).

I know people who say Maurice Evans (Samantha's daddy in "Bewitched") in a musical? But he began his career as the leading man in a big production in the early 30's, "The Ball At The Savoy" at Drury Lane in London. It was one of those huge extravaganzas that Drury Lane was famous for - great sets, bizarre casting (one of the main male character was a Turkish diplomat blayed by a man named, I believe, Oskar Dennes and the commedienne was another Hungarian, Rosy Barsony, apparently they sounded like 2 Borats)in the 1930's

The show was a huge flop, but what else could it be? It was written by Oscar Hammerstein during his seven-flops-in-a-row streak.

Here's a few pictures.

Maurice Evans is in number one. Look at the huge friggin' set in number 2 (and somewhere in there is young Valerie Hobson in the chorus) and the last photo is the female lead, Natalie Hall. She was a babe!


http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=972787#3631451 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=963561#3533883 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955158#3440952 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954269#3427915 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=955012#3441622 http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=954344#3428699

Updated On: 1/2/07 at 12:46 AM

#22

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

I get the feeling that Young Frankenstein will be to the Producers what Tenderloin was Fiorello!

"And when Bock and Harnick were writing TENDERLOIN, they were taking a risk to write a show about whores. When Kander and Ebb were working on THE RINK, I'd like to think at some point, John looked at Fred and said, 'I'd rather be nine people's favorite thing than 100 people's ninth favorite thing.' 'Nine people's favorite thing than 100 people's ninth favorite thing!'" -[title of show]
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#24

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

The biggest problem with The Producers has been that Nathan Lane in particular, has been almost irreplacable. Lane has an understanding of the burlesque tradition of the great clowns like Jackie Gleason, Phil Silvers, Zero Mostel, Bert Lahr, etc., and there are few talents around these days who can do what he can do. Max Bialystock is a star role that has proven impossible to cast, which is why The Producers has never quite been the same when Lane isn't around.

If the names that did the workshop of Young Frankestein end up actually doing the show, they'll be a stellar original cast, for sure, but Brooks and company might be able to avoid the problems they had in subsequent Max casting for The Producers. If Young Frankestein can launch and be successful without being star-dependent, it could end up having a longer shelf life than The Producers.

Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
#25

re: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN - is Mel Brooks writing the songs?

"I think Shuler is great with comedy. and he's a natural funny guy off stage. And he looks the part."

Well, he did play Frankenstein's Monster in Van Helsing.

I'm so excited for this, YF is probably my favorite Mel Brooks film.

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