Neshaminy Valley Music Theatre seeks actors, dancers and singers of all levels of experience, ages 15 and up, for its 62nd annual musical production, Young Frankenstein. Auditions will be held Tuesday, November 14 and Wednesday, November 15 starting at 7:00 p.m. at Neshaminy High School’s Theodore Kloos Auditorium, 2001 Old Lincoln Highway in Langhorne. The production will be directed and choreographed by Barrymore Award-nominated director/choreographer Stephen Casey and performed on April 6, 7, 8, 13 and 14, 2018 at the high school.
Young Frankenstein, officially known as The New Mel Brooks Musical: Young Frankenstein, is Brooks’ adaptation of his legendary film comedy into a stage musical with book by Brooks and Thomas Meehan and music and lyrics by Brooks. The 1974 film written by Brooks and Gene Wilder and directed by Brooks, is a parody of the horror film genre, particularly the 1931 adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and its 1939 sequel, Son of Frankenstein.
The musical premiered on Broadway in 2007 starring Fred Applegate, Roger Bart, Christopher Fitzgerald, Sutton Foster, Shuler Hensley, Andrea Martin, Megan Mullally and directed by Susan Stroman and was nominated for eight Tony Awards. The show won the 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.
Following the same plot as the hit film, the grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced "Fronk-en-steen") inherits his family's estate in Transylvania. With the help of a hunchbacked sidekick, Igor, and a leggy lab assistant, Inga, he discovers the secret entrance to his grandfather's laboratory. Frederick decides to carry on the family experiments and creates a monster of his own. Eventually, of course, the monster escapes and hilarity continuously abounds.
Lead roles include Frederick Frankenstein, Igor, Inga, Elizabeth Benning, Frau Blucher, Inspector Hans Kemp, Harold the Hermit, and Victor Frankenstein, as well as several secondary roles and a featured quartet. The show has ten ensemble and full company song and dance numbers including "The Transylvania Mania" and "Puttin' on the Ritz," and memorable tunes such as “He Vas My Boyfriend" and “Please Don’t Touch Me.”
Those auditioning are requested to come prepared to sing a short excerpt of a song from any show or genre, be prepared to learn and perform a short dance/stage movement routine in small groups, and possibly to read an excerpt of the script. Individuals are asked to bring sheet music for the song they will sing for the accompanist, sing a song for which the accompanist may have the music, or sing a cappella. Auditions are done in the order individuals sign in. Call backs for those being considered for lead roles will take place the evening of Thursday, November 16.
Previous casts have included individuals who have performed professionally along with those who have their first performance experience with the Theatre. Participants come from throughout the Delaware Valley. All cast and crew are volunteers. Neshaminy Valley has received national recognition for its annual productions including 23 nominations and three wins from the International Music and Entertainment Awards.
Performances are scheduled for April 6, 7, 8, 13 and 14, 2018 at Neshaminy High School’s auditorium. Those cast in the show should be prepared to attend rehearsals up to three times a week, usually held Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays starting in early January, with some weekend dates closer to the opening of the production.
Stephen Casey, who will direct and choreograph the show, has received three nominations for Philadelphia’s Barrymore Awards and has directed or choreographed productions for Bristol Riverside Theatre, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Bucks County Playhouse, Montgomery Theatre, and Arizona Broadway Theater, as well as ten prior productions with Neshaminy Valley including Anything Goes, Oklahoma, Curtains, and Guys and Dolls.
Neshaminy Valley Music Theatre is also looking for set builders, painters, stage crew including lighting and sound, as well as volunteers to work on marketing, ticketing, and other administrative tasks.
The Theatre was founded in 1956 as a not-for-profit, scholarship grant organization and has awarded over $146,300 in scholarships to talented local high school seniors who plan to pursue their education in the fine or performing arts.
For more information visit nvmt.org, email nvmt@verizon.net, or call 267-733-8876.
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