Young Frankenstein Live

[musicman1985]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 11:15am

Interesting choice.  Who would you cast?
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/A-Live-Musical-Adaptation-of-Mel-Brooks-YOUNG-FRANKENSTEIN-Set-For-Fall-on-ABC-20200108

[DiscoCrows]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 11:22am

I just... what?...

Cool I guess, but I’m sure it will be a disaster one way or another right?

Updated On: 1/8/20 at 11:22 AM

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 11:24am

Yikes.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 11:26am

“Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 11:28am

Megan Mullally will be available as will Andrea Martin.

[quizking101]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 11:34am

I like this show, but why can’t we get a LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS LIVE! with Jake Gyllenhaal first?

[darquegk]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 11:35am

Expect to see lots of ABC-signed musical theatre talent in the cast... will Taran Killam play Frederick, or Igor?

I wouldn't mind seeing Brad Garrett reprise his role as Frankenstein's Monster, which he played in a truly fantastic episode of the Robin Williams sitcom "The Crazy Ones."

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 11:40am

Saw the original and loved it. Will definitely watch it. Waiting in the lobby to buy tickets in walked Brooks. He said as he walked into the theater You'll love it. Rehearsals were going on them.I knew critics would not give him another set of Killer reviews

[bdn223]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 11:49am

WHY?!?!?! Does Disney have a deal with Mel Brooks or something? This is not a great musical, let alone a good one. I saw it twice, the first time I was front row, with the original cast, who knew how to make the wring every last laugh out of even the worst joke but the second time I saw most of the replacements who highlighted how weak a show the musical truly is. My favorite part of the original production was literally the proscenium curtain, which had a moon slowly moved across the curtain unit it reached the center point above the castle, signifying the start of the show. This feels like A Christmas Story Live! all over again. Little Shop of Horrors Live! would make way more sense especially because Ashman and Menken are so intertwined into the DNA of the Disney company. 

 

Never mind, Disney now owns the IP due to their Fox acquisition. 

Updated On: 1/8/20 at 11:49 AM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 11:54am

This has got to be a joke but it's too early for April Fools

Updated On: 1/8/20 at 11:54 AM

[Broadway Buddy]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 11:56am

Interesting choice. Love this show, but of all the shows for a live adaptation, I don’t like it.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 11:58am

They just revised it in London and it got good reviews there. I’m excited! Love the source material and the characters allow for a lot of great performances!

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 12:02pm

bdn223 said: "Little Shop of Horrors Live! would make way more sense especially because Ashman and Menken are so intertwined into the DNA of the Disney company."

I never though of that, but that could be fantastic. 

[AADA81]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 12:03pm

Disaster is waiting in the wings.  The score is terrible, the book flat and there's an awful lot that will need to be cleaned up for broadcast TV.  Even with good actors this stuff's hard to pull off.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 12:13pm

I am taken back to Megan performing Deep Love on the Tonys and it being a genuine WTF moment. I don't completely recall but I remember them panning to I believe Alec Baldwin in the audience who had a lost look on his face. 

I left at intermission of the tour. What a train wreck. That being said, I do think community theatres do well with this show, putting it on in a cheap and campy way. I saw a cheap production that tickled me. 

I don't think its that bawdy except that they added all those "tits" to the one song, which would probably be cut. 

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 12:31pm

quizking101 said: "I like this show, but why can’t we get a LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS LIVE! with Jake Gyllenhaal first?"

 

I didn't realize I was living for this until now.

 

There is no compelling reason to do a live Young Frankenstein. Pass.

 

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 12:35pm

Depending on who they cast, this can be fun! And with it being in the fall, it would be a fun Halloween event. I wonder if Cheno might play Elizabeth. She did the reading and she does have a deal with Disney.

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 12:42pm

Ugh I hate this musical.

I love the movie but clearly Mel Brooks was trying to replicate The Producers charm here and it doesn’t work.

It’s SUPER unfunny.

[perfectliar]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 1:31pm

quizking101 said: "I like this show, but why can’t we get a LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS LIVE! with Jake Gyllenhaal first?"

Because there's more to it than just having a good idea.

[jpbran]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 2:19pm

My guess is this'll go the way of NBC's Bye Bye Birdie and never actually see the light of day. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 3:24pm

They're going to have to make the book very tame for primetime TV audiences.

I would assume Susan Stroman will be involved, and hopefully they'll shoot it in black & white.

There's a lot of opportunity for fun casting, but I cannot see this doing half as well as Mermaid. Heck, I'd rather see them re-adapt The Producers again, even if it's with a cast inferior to Nathan Lane, Gary Beach, Will Ferrell, etc.

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 5:02pm

I loved the OBC Recording for years but by the time I got to see this in London the comedy felt very dated.

Don’t get me wrong I love old UK sitcoms like Are you being Served, Hi De Hi or Gimme Gimme but something about the treatment of the female characters felt wrong.

Then given these LIVE recordings are usually aimed at families I don’t know how they’ll do it bar cutting a lot of the bluer material.

Either way I love the big numbers so I’ll be interested in hearing it.

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 5:18pm

I didn't think the London production worked because of the comedy style being ever so slightly off. 

These are broad cultural statements and obviously not true of everyone, but the Mel Brooks style is very vaudeville and Borscht Belt and that tone isn't nearly as common in the UK. The performers seemed to be more panto style which is close but still different enough the bits didn't land as well.

I felt the same way about the Funny Girl and Gypsy revivals too with the comedy and rhythms being just off enough to make the jokes hit with a thud.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 7:37pm

Glad to see another live production, but Disney seriously chose YF?? That's so random

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 1/8/20 at 7:37pm

Glad to see another live production, but Disney seriously chose YF?? That's so random