Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre will stage the regional premiere of Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein The Musical as part of its 10th birthday celebrations this autumn.
After directing and choreographing the venue’s hit production of Mame in 2019, Nick Winston will return to take charge of the production which will run from 10 October until 30 November.
Looking forward to working on the production, director and choreographer Nick Winston said: “I am beyond excited to direct Young Frankenstein, the uproarious musical comedy based on the classic film by Mel Brooks, and to be doing so at the brilliant Hope Mill Theatre. The immediacy of this space mixed with Mel Brooks’ iconic humour and the musical’s brilliant score will create a cocktail of laughter, love and a bit of mad science!”
The production will open as the award-winning venue marks ten years since founders Joseph Houston and William Whelton opened the doors on the converted Grade II listed former cotton mill.
Announcing the production, co-founder and CEO, Whelton said: “Young Frankenstein The Musical marks Hope Mill Theatre’s 10th anniversary celebrations and in true Hope Mill style we are bringing a regional premiere of the classic Mel Brooks musical. Since opening we have always strived to bring the very best in musical theatre titles and talent to the city and we are thrilled to have Nick Winston at the helm, who last worked at the venue back in 2019, when he directed and choreographed Mame.
“Myself and Joe could not have imagined that we would be reaching such a milestone in our journey, and we have so much to be grateful for as we reflect on what has been an incredible decade. The future is full of hope for us, and we have so many exciting plans afoot, as we continue to secure the legacy of Hope Mill Theatre, and this production is just one of many exciting announcements to come.”
Based on the much-loved hit 1974 hit film co-written by Brooks and his regular collaborator Gene Wilder, the musical received its West End premiere at London’s Garrick Theatre in 2017, nearly 10 years after its Broadway debut.
With a book by Brooks and Thomas Meehan music and lyrics by Brooks, orchestrations by Doug Besterman and Mark Cumberland, the original production featured direction and choreography by multi-award-winning Susan Stroman who filled the same role on the hit version of Brooks’ The Producers.
The musical which, like the original film pokes gentle affectionate fun at Mary Shelley’s classic gothic horror story, made its Broadway debut in 2007 in a production which featured Roger Bart as Frankenstein, Megan Mullally as Elizabeth and Shuler Hensley as The Monster (a role he also played in the 2004 horror movie Van Helsing).
Angela Thomas
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