OU’s Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre opens Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein,” a musical comedy sequel to Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” on Friday.
Harold Mortimer, associate professor of musical theater performance, will direct the show. He earned a doctorate in vocal performance from the University of Washington and has previously taught at Ball State University and directed professional shows in South Africa.
Mortimer said he wanted to direct “Young Frankenstein” because of how different it was from his last production, “Assassins,” a dark comedy that featured a small cast.
“I wanted to really have a chance to do something completely opposite, which ‘Young Frankenstein’ is,” Mortimer said. “It’s campy and silly and fun — really hard to do.”
The story, adapted from the cult classic movie of the same name, follows Frederick Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein’s grandson, as he travels to Transylvania to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps. He brings his own creature to life with the help of Igor and Inga, his lab assistants. Mortimer said the show will allow students to grow in performing comedy.
“This is a hard show … because it's farcical in nature… so there’s some very specific beats and changes,” Mortimer said.
Jackson Dunlap, senior musical theater performance major, plays Frederick’s hunchbacked sidekick, Igor. This is Dunlap’s fifth show at OU, following “Crazy For You” and “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” in April. It is his second principal role after playing Leaf Coneybear in “Spelling Bee.” Dunlap said this show gave him the chance to be ridiculous.
“We don’t have to be afraid of trying anything with these characters because there’s so little that would be wrong for them to do,” Dunlap said. “We just have a lot of opportunity to play.”
Dunlap said his favorite part of working on “Young Frankenstein” is watching his fellow performers and seeing how their humor shines, especially during an improv scene between the Hermit and the Monster in the show’s second act.
“All of (the cast) comes together and watches this scene. ... I love sitting in the audience; ... we all just laugh for 15 minutes,” Dunlap said. “I think it’s so sweet, and it reminds me why I’m here.”
Myranda Sanchez, a junior musical theater major, is in the ensemble and Inga’s understudy. She said the best part of being an ensemble member is making the show unique every time it’s performed.
“Every day, I change who I am. One day, I’m a working woman, the next day I’m a poor homeless woman, the next day I’m an old woman, the next day I’m a man,” Sanchez said. “In dramatic shows, when it’s quiet, you stay quiet. You have to follow the rules of the musical. But in comedy, there are no rules.”
Sanchez said “Young Frankenstein” has allowed her to experiment with skills not typically seen in dramatic shows.
“Inga yodels in the show, … and she’s also German, … so it’s been fun to have to yodel and at the same time, speak in a certain accent,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez said this departure from the movie will extend to the whole show.
“Mel Brooks, he has such a specific… kind of comedy that it's really easy to replicate that on stage. So we have, for sure, have been trying to replicate his work, however… we don't want to completely sew everything he does. So we've been trying to find that fine line of like recreating Mel Brooks, but at the same time adding a little bit of 2025 humor,” Sanchez said.
“Young Frankenstein” will also highlight the school’s technical design, with scene work made by ensemble member and student director Sophia Macaluso.
“This is such a complex show, technically, and the designers on the show are fabulous. The lighting is wonderful… Our costume designer is a star. The set is beautiful,” Dunlap said.
According to Sanchez, the stage will be expanded, making the show more interactive than typical OU Theater productions. She said this will allow actors to talk and sing to audience members and be much closer than usual.
“Mortimer has shaped this show to fit everything towards the audience, so that they don’t feel left out,” Sanchez said. “You want the audience to feel involved, especially in a show like ‘Young Frankenstein.’”
Mortimer said he wants the audience to walk away feeling lighter.
“I want (the audience) coming away tapping their toes and laughing,” Mortimer said. “It’s a, for many folks, challenging world out there right now, so a musical comedy is what we all need. … They should be coming expecting absolute silliness.”
Performances are at 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Elsie C. Brackett Theater. Tickets are available online starting at $17 for students. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes for Friday’s show.
This story was edited by Madisson Cameron. Tori Pham and Avery Avery copy edited this story.
