Young Frankenstein: Beth Leavel assumes the role of Frau Blucher

As previously announced Tony winner Beth Leavel (Drowsy Chaperone) assumes the role of 'Frau Blucher' in the Broadway musical Young Frankenstein this evening 15 Jul 2008).

Leavel was originally scheduled to play 'Frau Blucher' from 22 Jul 2008, that date was moved forward to 15 Jul 2008.

Leavel assumes the role from original cast member Andrea Martin - Tony-nominated for her performance - who played her final performace on 6 Jul 2008. The role of 'Frau Blucher' was played by understudy Linda Mugleston during the interregnum.

Leavel most recently received the 2006 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as 'The Drowsy Chaperone' in musical of 'The Drowsy Chaperone'. Other Broadway credits include Dorothy Brock in '42nd Street' (2001 revival), 'The Civil War' (1999), 'Showboat' (1994), 'Crazy For You'(1992). She made her Broadway debut in the original productioin of '42nd Street' (1980).

Leavel will join a company that currently includes: Roger Bart (Dr. Frederick Frankenstein), **Megan Mullally, Kelly Sullivan (Inga), Shuler Hensley (The Monster), Fred Applegate (Kemp) and Christopher Fitzgerald (Igor).
Note: Michele Ragusa assumes the role of Elizabeth on 5 Aug 2008)

Young Frankenstein opened at the Hilton Theatre on 8 Nov 2007, following previews from 11 Oct and is currently booking through to 4 Jan 2009.

The show opened to mixed, but mostly poor reviews: "If "YF" screams anything, it's shtick!" (NY Theatre Guide); "Leaves you with a monster-size headache." (NY Times); "Isn't the joyous celebration one hoped for." (NY Daily News); "The Broadway musical at its dizziest, glitziest and funniest." (NY Post); "The only thing in stitches is the creature's face." (NewsDay); "Not a great musical, nor even a particularly good one." (Star-Ledger); "It's alive � but just barely." (USA Today); "Bloated, robotic, astonishingly unfunny behemoth has been cobbled together from spare parts" (Time Out NY); "Shrill, misbegotten, deeply cynical enterprise."

Based on the Oscar-nominated 1974 film, Young Frankenstein tells the story of Frederick Frankenstein, a young neurosurgeon who inherits the castle of his grandfather, the famous Dr. Victor von Frankenstein. In the castle he finds a funny hunchback called Igor, a pretty lab assistant named Inga and the old housekeeper, frau Blucher. Young Frankenstein does not believe in the work of his grandfather, but when he discovers the book where the mad doctor described his reanimation experiment, he suddenly changes his mind...

Unfolding in the forbidding Castle Frankenstein and the foggy moors of Transylvania Heights, the show's score includes �We�re the Happiest Town in Town,� "There is Nothing Like The Brain," "The Transylvania Mania," "He Vas My Boyfriend" and the unforgettable treatment of Irving Berlin's "Puttin' On the Ritz."

Like Mel Brook's 12 times Tony Award winning show 'The Producers,' Young Frankenstein features music & lyrics by Mel Brooks, book by Mel Brooks & Tom Meehan, and will be directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman.

The production also features the same creative team as 'The producers': Robin Wagner(Set Design), William Ivey Long (Costumes) and Peter Kaczorowski (lighting).