Young Frankenstein (West End Version)
The celebrated West End Version of the hilarious Mel Brooks musical is ready to electrify your stage!
Restrictions may apply.
Show Essentials
8
Roles
+ Ensemble
PG13
Rated
2
Acts

Full Synopsis

Act One

At the medical school where he teaches, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein is ashamed to be a Frankenstein, insisting that his name be pronounced "Fronkensteen" and that he is not a madman like his grandfather but, rather, a scientist. He then lectures his students about the greatest mind of science ("The Brain"). After learning that he has inherited his grandfather's castle in Transylvania, he is forced to resolve the issue of the property. As Elizabeth Benning, Frederick's fiancée, sees him off, it is clear that their relationship is far from physical as Elizabeth enumerates all the lustful situations from which she is abstaining ("Please Don't Touch Me").

Arriving at Transylvania Heights, Frederick meets the hunchback, Igor, who is the grandson of Victor's henchman. Igor tries to convince him to continue in his grandfather's footsteps ("Together Again for the First Time"). He reveals that he has already hired the services of Inga, a yodeling lab assistant with a degree in Laboratory Science from the local community college.

The three join together and hop on a wagon. During the ride to the Castle Frankenstein, the doctor becomes more familiar with Inga ("Roll in the Hay"). When they reach the castle, they meet the very mysterious Frau Blucher. Later that night, he is awakened by Inga and, after some unique exploring, they find the secret entrance to his grandfather's laboratory by following the sounds of eerie violin music.

They discover that the mysterious violin player is Frau Blucher, who tells of her past of festival games with the late Victor, for whom she was more than just a housekeeper ("He Vas My Boyfriend"). After reviewing his grandfather's notes, Frederick decides to carry on the experiments in the reanimation of the dead. ("It Could Work"). To do this, they dig up a huge corpse with "an enormous schwanstuker." The villagers, meanwhile, gather at the local town hall with Inspector Kemp for a meeting and are very suspicious of Frederick ("Hang Him 'Til He's Dead").

Frederick sends Igor to find a brain and entrusts him with the vital organ, but the henchman drops it, surreptitiously replacing the brain with another. Upon Igor's return, Frederick carries out the experiment and brings the creature to life, who attacks Frederick and is then sedated. The doctor is distressed to find that Igor had provided a different brain.

Kemp and the townspeople come to investigate, pretending to welcome Frederick ("Welcome to Transylvania"). Frederick and his employees, however, try everything possible to stall the villagers as Frau Blucher frees the Monster without letting Frederick know ("Transylvania Mania"). Panic ensues as the monster breaks free from the stage and tramples through the house just as the curtain falls.

Act Two

Everyone is out to search for the Monster ("He's Loose"). The doctor, who is visibly frustrated, is approached by Inga. She attempts to encourage the doctor and instill faith in him again ("Listen to Your Heart"). Elizabeth arrives unexpectedly in Transylvania with a large entourage and finds Frederick and a naked Inga ("Surprise").

Elsewhere, the Monster finds a blind hermit named Harold after breaking through his house wall ("Please Send Me Someone"). After Harold accidentally pours hot soup into the Monster's lap and lights his thumb on fire, the Monster is startled into another massive rampage and leaves. Frederick locks himself into a room with the Monster and, after overcoming his fears, he tells the Monster that he is a good looking fellow who is loved and will be hailed by all. He has won the Monster over.

The Monster is then presented at the Loews Transylvania Theatre, now dressed as a dapperly gentleman. He is walking on command and even dancing with some grace to Irving Berlin's "Puttin' on the Ritz." While taking his bow, the Monster becomes terrified when a couple of stage lights explode. In the chaos, Elizabeth is kidnapped by the creature, taken to a cave.

In the cave, she sees a different side of the Monster ("Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life"). After an erotic encounter with the creature, Elizabeth has found what she has been yearning for in life ("Deep Love"). Luring the Monster back to the castle by the music of a French horn, Frederick attempts an intelligence transfer, but the Monster does not wake... and to make things worse, Inspector Kemp and the angry villagers - believing that Elizabeth has been killed by the Monster - break into the castle and bring Frederick to the gallows and hang him ("Hang The Doctor").

The Monster returns, not only able to speak articulately but also using his newly transferred medical skills to discover that Frederick is not dead, but merely unconscious, and that he is able to bring him back to life. Just as the crowd is about to rehang Frederick and the Monster, Elizabeth arrives. After a hopeful plot twist, the Monster proposes to Elizabeth ("Deep Love - Reprise/Finale"). Then, the blind Hermit's voice is heard singing; Frau Blucher announces she has a "blind date" with him. Igor proceeds to proclaim a false miracle, saying that his hump is gone... but then quickly realizes that it has just moved. Frederick declares Transylvania to be his home, and that he will be staying with Inga and the rest. All in all, our characters are happily together and the town celebrates. It is a happy ending that is sure to bring laughter and love for all ("Finale - Together Again").

Casting
← Back to Young Frankenstein (West End Version)
Cast Size: Medium (11 to 20 performers)
Cast Type: Star Vehicle Male
Dance Requirements: Standard

Character Breakdown

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein

Brilliant brain surgeon, professor and grandson of mad scientist Dr. Victor Von Frankenstein.

Gender: male
Age: 25 to 35
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: A2
The Monster

The misunderstood creation of Dr. Frankenstein.

Gender: male
Vocal range top: Gb4
Vocal range bottom: Db3
Igor

Frederick’s faithful, bright-eyed, eager servant and friend with a hunchback.

Gender: male
Age: 25 to 35
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: B2
Inga

Frederick’s young assistant. Attractive and a resident of Transylvania.

Gender: female
Age: 20 to 30
Vocal range top: F#5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Elizabeth Benning

Frederick's boisterous fiancé. 

Gender: female
Age: 25 to 35
Vocal range top: Bb5
Vocal range bottom: F#3
Frau Blücher

Stern housekeeper of the Frankenstein estate and former lover of Victor Frankenstein. 

Gender: female
Age: 40 to 60
Vocal range top: Ab4
Vocal range bottom: E3
The Hermit

A lonely, blind town hermit, hoping for a friend. 

Gender: male
Age: 30 to 60
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: G2
Inspector Hans Kemp

The head of police in Transylvania. Driven by justice, with a wooden arm and leg. 

Gender: male
Age: 40 to 50
Vocal range top: F4
Vocal range bottom: A3
Ensemble

Villagers, Medical Students, Passengers

Gender: any
Full Song List
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): The Brain
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): Please Don't Touch Me
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): Together Again For The First Time
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): Roll In The Hay
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): He Vas My Boyfriend
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): It Could Work
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): Hang Him 'Til He's Dead
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): He Vas My Boyfriend (Reprise)
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): Welcome to Transylvania
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): Transylvania Mania
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): He's Loose
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): Listen To Your Heart
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): Surprise
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): Please Send Me Someone
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): Please Send Me Someone (Reprise)
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): Puttin' On The Ritz
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): He's Loose (Reprise)
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): Deep Love
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): Hang The Doctor
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): Deep Love (Reprise/Finale)
Young Frankenstein (West End Version): Finale Sing - Together Again

Critical Reaction

"Exhuming 'Young Frankenstein,' his classic comic caper from 1974, [Mel Brooks] finds it a fresh pulse in musical theater...the new form adds a whole other layer of fun. Alongside the hunchbacked servants and pitchfork-wielding villagers, Brooks’ own score chucks in torch songs and high-kicking chorus lines."

- Variety

"It offers an evening of gloriously impure fun."

The Guardian

"If you want a bawdy, uproarious belly laugh that’s done out of pure love for the genres that it parodys, this is a show that delivers in spades."

Radio Times

Billing

Requirements

You must give the authors/creators billing credits, as specified in the Production Contract, in a conspicuous manner on the first page of credits in all programs and on houseboards, displays and in all other advertising announcements of any kind.
Percentages listed indicate required type size in relation to title size.
Mel Brooks'
(75%)
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN 
(100%)
Book by
MEL BROOKS and THOMAS MEEHAN

(50%)

Music and Lyrics by
MEL BROOKS

(50%)

Original Direction & Choreography by
Susan Stroman
(50%)
 
In addition, if Producer elects to recreate the original direction and choreography of the Play, Producer shall accord the following billing credit to the person(s) engaged to recreate it, on a line below to the credit to Susan Stroman and in a size of type no larger than 75% of the size of the credit for Susan Stroman as follows:
"Original Direction and Choreography recreated by [name(s)]"
 
Producer agrees to place the following credit on the title page of all programs for the Play as follows:
"Puttin' on the Ritz" by Irving Berlin
 
In addition, Producer agrees to place the following credits in all programs for the Play as follows (need not be on title page):
"Puttin' On The Ritz"
Words and music by Irving Berlin© 1928,1929 by Irving Berlin (ASCAP)© Renewed
 
Orchestrators shall receive the following credit on the title page of all programs for productions of the Play in which the Orchestrations are used:
“Orchestrations by Doug Besterman and Mark Cumberland”
 
The Orchestrators’ billing shall appear in a size and boldness of type equal in all respects to the size and boldness of type of the billing accorded to the designers of the Play and shall be accorded wherever and whenever the name of the music supervisor is accorded billing. In addition, Orchestrators shall be entitled to an approved bio in all programs whenever the music or design team members receive bios in the program.
You are required to include the Authors’ biographies in all programs of the Play that include biographies of any other creative team members. Bios can be found on the MTI website at: http://www.mtishows.com/about/author-bios

Video Warning

In accordance with the Performance License, you MUST include the following warning in all programs and in a pre-show announcement:

ANY VIDEO AND/OR AUDIO RECORDING OF THIS PRODUCTION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

Included Materials

ItemQuantity Included
LIBRETTO/VOCAL BOOK28
PIANO CONDUCTOR'S SCORE2

Production Resources

Resource
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON?
LOGO PACK DIGITAL
PERFORMANCE ACCOMPANIMENT RECORDING
PRODUCTIONPRO-DIGITAL SCRIPT/SCORE
REFERENCE RECORDING
REHEARSAL ACCOMPANIMENT RECORDING
REHEARSCORE APP
SCENIC PROJECTIONS
SCENIC PROJECTIONS PRO
STAGE MANAGER SCRIPT
STAGE WRITE APPLICATION
TRANSPOSITIONS-ON-DEMAND
VIRTUAL STAGE MANAGER

STANDARD ORCHESTRATION

InstrumentationDoubling
BASSACOUSTIC BASS
DRUMS
REED 1ALTO SAXOPHONE , CLARINET , FLUTE
REED 2BASS CLARINET , CLARINET , TENOR SAXOPHONE
TROMBONE
TRUMPETFLUGELHORN , TRUMPET
TRUMPET 2TRUMPET
VIOLIN