YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN to 'Put on the Ritz' at Lewis University's Philip Lynch Theatre

This monster new musical will be "Puttin' On the Ritz" at Lewis University's Philip Lynch Theatre. The comedy genius, Mel Brooks, adapted his legendary film into a brilliant stage musical creation, "Young Frankenstein."

Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced "Fronk-en-steen") (Steve Del Real from Plainfield) inherits his family's estate in Transylvania. With the help of a hunchbacked sidekick, Igor (pronounced "Eye-gore") (Sean Alyn Young from Pontiac), and a leggy lab assistant, Inga (pronounced normally) (Ingrid Schwartz from Joliet), Frederick finds himself in the mad scientist shoes of his ancestor. He exclaims, "It's alive!" as he brings to life a creature to rival his grandfather, Dr. Victor Von Frankenstein's (Brandon Vlach from Homer Glen). Eventually the monster escapes and hilarity continuously abounds.

The Philip Lynch Theatre stage and Lewis alumnus, Chad Tallon '08 of Essex, are "Together Again for the First Time" as he takes the helm as director. Assisting Tallon are Matthew Colbert of Aurora (vocal director), Jennifer Jasper '95 of Joliet (choreographer) and Shelbi Voss of Joliet (assistant choreographer). The cast includes: Julia Egizio, Lauren Laverdiere, Teri Lopez, and Savannah Riestenberg of Plainfield, Armondo Bouie, and Angel Diaz of Joliet, Kayla Carson of Oak Lawn, McKenzie Frost of Channahon, Elena Gerk of New Lenox, Christopher Hueg '15 of Crest Hill, Lindsay Murray of Romeoville, Alex Schedel of Bolingbrook, Tim Tholl of Lockport, and Brandon Vlach of Homer Glen.

Working behind the scenes are Natalia Bednarczyk of Burbank (stage manager), Ashley Stajura of Lockport (assistant stage manager), Christopher Hueg '15 of Crest Hill and Jackie Sabani '08 of Plainfield (costume design), Andrew Nelsen '04 of Joliet (scenic and projection design), Adam Jezl-Sikorski '17 of Burbank (lighting design), Daniel Staggs of Minooka (properties), Bradford Bingham of Chicago and Estefania Flores of Tinley Park (microphones and sound reinforcement), Jen Glynn of Mount Greenwood (light board operator), Sean Gallagher of Mokena and Conor Klump of Plainfield (costume dressers), Robert Kornaus of Plainfield and Jonah Ferro of Joliet (follow spot operators), Dave Pomatto '71 of Naperville (assistant technical director) and Caleigh Guertin of Minooka (makeup application). Jamie Voustros of Chicago (box office) and Andy Wainscott of Mokena and Mike Nutter of LaGrange (house manager). The backstage running crew consists of Chris Pupik of Naperville and Eric Redmon of Yorkville.

Frederick's "Transylvania Mania" journey will run July 21-23 and July 27-30 and is recommended for patrons 16 years old and up. Evening performances are 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees are 2:30 p.m. In addition, there is a July 29 matinee performance at 4 p.m. Advanced ticket purchases are strongly encouraged. Ticket prices are $12 for an adult, $11 for students and seniors. Lewis students pay $2 with an ID. Group tickets are available for parties of 15 or more. Tickets are non-refundable. For more information, patrons can check out the PLT Website at www.lewisu.edu/plt or call the box office (815) 836-5500 Monday through Friday 1-4:30 p.m. The theatre is located on the main campus, the Oremus Fine Arts Center on Route 53 in Romeoville.

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