Young Frankenstein

Young Frankenstein – The New Mel Brooks Musical

19 to 28 March 2021 at the Warners Bay Theatre.

Opera Hunter’s first production for 2021 is a new musical by Mel Brooks based on the comedy movie of 1974. This version of the show ( revised) opened in London’s West End in October 2017 and has at last arrived in Australia. This is the first production in the Hunter Region. Conda winning Zac Smith is the director, Alexandra Rigby is the music director, and they have assembled a brilliant cast: Frankenstein – Drew Holmes; Igor – Dom Lacey; Inga – Alana Wilson; Elizabeth Benning – Stephanie Hilkmann (nee Priest); Frau Blucher – Trish Aumuller; The Monster – Danny Folpp; The Hermit/Ziggy – Mike Peters; Inspector Kemp/Victor – Carl Gregory.

Alex Rigby will be directing the Opera Hunter Ensemble from the stage side in view of the audience. The score has new songs written by Mel Brooks, with some quite complex vocal writing. The climax uses the Cole Porter 1927 song Puttin’On the Ritz as the musical climax. The set will contain some innovative surprises.

DREW HOLMES, Dr Frankenstein, brings a wealth of experience to his role. He has performed In (among many others) Grease The Musical, Into the Woods, I am my Own Wife, Charlies Aunt, Mary Poppins, Company, Dogfight, Beauty & The Beast, The Addams Family, & Opera Hunter’s award winning She Loves Me in 2020. Drew is a seasoned Director, Tutor, Designer and award winning writer. He will play in The Very Popular Theatre’s Mystery Musical, and Priscilla Queen of the Desert later this year.

STEPHANIE HILKMANN is another veteran of professional and amateur theatre with very wide skills as actor, singer, director, writer, teacher, and humour therapist! (She provides Humour Therapy & Music Therapy to the elderly & people with Parkinson’s Disease.) Her acting & singing credits include Mrs King in Playing Face, Eponine in Les Miserables, Amy in Company, Philippa in Year of the Rooster, Christina in In a Pink Tutu, and her Conda winning performance of Annie in Annie Get Your Gun. In Sydney professional theatre Stephanie has played in The Original Grease, Kiss Me Kate, & The Tale of Ichabod Srubb. She co-wrote, directed and performed in Unforgettable, a short theatre piece that was a top ten finalist in Short and Sweet Sydney in 2015. Opera Hunter is thrilled to welcome Stephanie to the stage again in Young Frankenstein.

Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks
Original Direction and Choreography by Susan Stroman