Last season, Mary Shelley’s novel was reborn as a highly anticipated new musical opening at off-Broadway’s 37 Arts. On Thursday, September 4th, company members of Frankenstein reunited for a CD release celebration at The Irish Rouge located at 365 West 44th St.
The recording preserves the performances of the original off-Broadway cast including Tony Award nominee
Hunter Foster (Little Shop of Horrors, Urinetown, The Producers) as Victor Frankenstein,
Christiane Noll (Jekyll & Hyde) as Elizabeth,
Steve Blanchard (Beauty and the Beast,
A Christmas Carol) as The Creature,
Jim Stanek (
Jacques Brel…, I Love You You’re Perfect….) as Henry and
Mandy Bruno (Broadway’s Les Miserables, Daytime Emmy Award nominee for Guiding Light) as Justine. Frankenstein features music by
Mark Baron, book and lyrics by
Jeffrey Jackson and original story adaptation by Gary P. Cohen.
When it opened off-Broadway in November 2008, Gannett Newspapers described Frankenstein as “an elegant production. A large musical in a contemporary Broadway style” with “a score which will put you in mind of Les Miserables." Variety called Frankenstein “a first-class production.” WCBS-TV called the show “thrilling” with “a wonderful cast,” while the Associated Press said the cast is “universally talented.
Hunter Foster is completely captivating.
Christiane Noll is the perfect mix of strength and vulnerability with a rich and enveloping soprano.
Steve Blanchard commands the stage.”
An extension of Sh-K-Boom & Ghostlight Records, Friends of Ghostlight was established to help distribute independently-produced musical theater recordings and solo albums to the world. Label president
Kurt Deutsch says, "There are so many great musical theater projects out there at any given time that it would be impossible for us to produce every cast album. But we're fortunate that we have the ability to bring these recordings to a large audience through the Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight community. Part of the reason that Sherie and I started our record label was to help the preservation of recordings at every level. We hope that through this program we can allow recordings that were independently produced and financed to reach a wider audience and a continue to have a long life."
For more information about Frankenstein, a new musical, and the original cast recording, visit
www.frankensteinthemusical.com or
www.sh-k-boom.com
Photo Credit H. E. Yhoman
The Frankenstein Logo
Mandy Bruno and Producer Doug Evans
Patrick Mellen, Nick Cartell and fiance with William Surette
Casey Clark and Director Bill Fennely
Stage Managers Josh Pilote and Karen Parlato
Becky Barta and Producer Doug Evans
Straun Erlenborn and Aaron Serotsky
Karen Parlato and Patrick Mellen
Production photographer Carol Rosegg with librettist Jeffrey Jackson
Composer Mark Baron and librettist Jeffrey Jackson
Jeffrey Jackson, Aaron Serotsky (Capt. Walton), Casey Clark and Patrick Mellen
Mandy Bruno, Nick Cartell, Shannon Koob, Aaron Serotsky and director Bill Fennelly
The Frankenstein CD cover
