If you can hear this image, we want you! If you constantly quote Mel Brooks films, we want you! If you LOVE parodies like Scary Movie, Austin Powers, Hot Shots, Spaceballs, and Robin Hood Men in Tights, we want you! About twenty-years ago, Mel Brooks agreed to recreate (it's alive!) his beloved film, Young Frankenstein, into a musical! The hilarious classic dialogue is all original, and the new songs are HILARIOUS and include exactly what you'd expect. Inga sings "Roll in Ze Hay" Dr. Fronkensteen sings "Life, Life" and Frau Blucher sings "He Vas My Boyfriend!" We are producing this classic show in greyscale, just like the film, so it will look like the audience is watching a black and white movie! Hopefully this auditions website answers any questions you have about the show, the characters, and the auditon process. If you don't find what you need, contact me! - Natalie Quinn, director professornataliequinn@gmail.com (or ping me on FB!)
Audition Dates:
Join us for auditions on one of these three dates:
Sunday, July 6 at Singing River Brewery, 526 East College St. in the event room (Follow the black balloons) 3 p.m.
Monday, July 7 at 415 N Seminary St. (First Methodist Church; Follow the balloons) 6 p.m.
Tuesday, July 8 at Singing River Brewery in their event room (Same balloons) 6 p.m.
All Auditions start times are 6 p.m. except Sunday, and we'll start at 3 p.m.
Callbacks will be July 10 (venue announced soon) at 6 p.m.
Show dates are October 2, 3, 4, and 5 at the Shoals Theatre.
Thanks so much to Zodiac Players for bringing this musical to the Shoals Area for the first time!!!
Character List
Character descriptions are for the CHARACTERS, not the actors. For the actors, your age and gender are not nearly as important as your stage presence, characterization, attitude, and talent. #goforit
An asterisk means a character has a small solo*
A double asterisk means the character has one or more significant solos**
No asterisk means that character does not sing in that role, but will still likely sing in an ensemble role.
**Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, a scientist - male, 40ish - American
**Igor - his assistant - male, 40ish - uses a cockney accent
**Inga - his other, more leggy assistant - female, 30ish - uses a German accent; must yodel or at least fake-yodel
**Elizabeth - Freddy's fiancee - female, 30ish - American
**Frau Blucher - the housekeeper - female, 50ish - uses a German accent
*The Monster - Frederick's Creation, tall, funny, good facial expressions - male, any age
**Victor - Frederick's Grandfather - male 50ish or older
**The Blind Hermit - a man who just wants someone to pass a few lonely hours with - male, any age
**Inspector Kemp - a Transylvanian Inspector missing a few limbs - male or female, any age
*Ziggy - The Village Idiot - male or female, any age
*The Herald - sings opening lines of play at Victor's funeral - male or female, any age
*Students 1, 2, and 3 - male or female, 20 to 30ish
Mr. Hilltop - a volunteer patient - male, 40ish or older
Blacken - A horse - male or female any age, preferably tall, should be able to make a convincing whinny
Decker - another horse - same traits as Blacken
Telegram Kid - brings the news of Frederick's grandfather's funeral - male or female 10ish to 18ish
Ship Steward - shouts All Aboard! - male or female, any age
Shoeshine Kid - Asks Freddy if he wants a shine - male or female, 10ish
*Mad Scientists 1-5 - encourage Freddy to join the Family Business - male or female any age
*Village Quartet in the style of Barbership Quartets - Sing a welcome song at the castle - male or female any age
Bob - a beautician - part of Elizabeth's entourage, male, fierce and fashionable, any age
Ensemble - Many ensemble members sing 1-2 solo lines! All ensemble sings at least a little bit!
University Assistants
Other Students
Villagers and their Kids
Other Beauticians
Train and Ship Patrons (Called Seeing-off men and women)
Mad Scientist Ancestors
The Monster's Debut Chorus Tappers
Dracula - a bit part (not to be confused with a bite part)
Want to see vocal ranges? Click here!
Audition Info
Most roles are singing roles, so please prepare about 30 seconds of your favorite Broadway or Disney song for auditions. If you are only interested in an ensemble role, you can prepare a one-minute comedic monologue instead, but singing is preferred! (I.e. Mr. Hilltop, Dracula, The Transylvania Station Kid, and a few other characters don't sing). We'll find something for you!
Please bring your own karaoke/instrumental track on your phone. There should be no one else singing in the track (backup vocals are okay).
Have a question about auditions? Email the director at professornataliequinn@gmail.com or ping me on FB.
Download an audition form here or complete one the day of auditions! This form is easiest to view on a desktop or by printing.
Love building, painting, scenery design, or special effects? Email me for an application to be on our tech team! -NQ
Know a student who wants experience assistant directing, assistant stage managing, or assistant lighting designing? We love student directors and student designers! Email me!
FAQs
What are the dates for auditions?
Audition dates are Sunday throuth Tuesday, July 6, July 7, and 8, Callbacks are July 10.
Out of town for summer vacation? Send me an audition video!
What is Young Frankenstein?
Young Frankenstein is a musical based on the film, Young Frankenstein, written and directed by comic genius, Mel Brooks. It is the tale of Frederick Frankenstein whose grandfather Victor was the famous Frankenstein of Transylvania who reanimated dead tissue and created a monster in his lab. While the young Frankenstein is a scientist as well, he doesn't wish to be associated with his grandfather's infamous work. However, when he goes to Transylvania for the reading of his grandfather's will, he connects to his roots and realizes that, "It! Could! Work!"
Who can audition for this show?
This production is mostly for teens/adults 16 and up (though I have loved Young Frankenstein since I was 9).
However, there are a couple of kids' roles: The Telegram Kid and Transylvania Station Kid are speaking roles, and some of the villagers have kids. Kids under 16 who audition WITH A PARENT who also auditions will be considered.
What time are auditions?
Sunday, July 6 at 3 p.m. at Singing River Brewery Event Room
Monday, July 7 at 6 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church (415 N Seminary St. Florence)
Tuesday, July 8 at 6 p.m. at the Singing River Brewery Event Room
*Callbacks posted Wednesday by noon - you may be asked to prepare a portion of a specific song from the musical.
Callbacks Thursday, July 10 (location TBA)
*Just because you don't get a callback, doesn't mean we don't have a part for you! Wait and see the cast list, which will be posted as soon as possible Friday or over the weekend.
What should I prepare for auditions?
Please prepare to sing 30 seconds of a Broadway or Disney song. You may begin anywhere in the song.
Please use an instrumental or karaoke track on your phone.
Do not sing along with the singer on a track, please.
If you don't want to sing, you can prepare a one-minute comedic monologue instead, but singing is preferred!
We may also read from the script if time permits.
What are the show dates?
Required Show dates: October 2, 3, 4, and 5
What are dress rehearsal dates?
Required Dress rehearsals: All tech and actors required
Saturday, September 27 or Sunday September 28 at 2 p.m. (we will vote on this)
Monday, September 29 at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, September 30 (tech crew only; no actors)
Wednesday, October 1 at 7 p.m.
What if we have a vacation scheduled for this summer?
As long as it isn't a two week long trip, we should be able to accommodate you.
When will rehearsals be?
July 14 through September 30. We can usually work around your schedule! Rehearsals will typically be 6:00 p.m. Monday through Thursdays, with an occasional weekend date, depending on people's availability. Not all actors will be needed at all rehearsals, and a detailed calendar will be distributed at the first production meeting/readthrough. I do not like wasting people's time! There may be 1-2 Saturday rehearsals or set-build days in September. The first rehearsal will be July 14. First readthrough is TBA depending on schedules!
What if I need more info?
Have more questions? Email the director, at professornataliequinn@gmail.com
I look forward to hearing from you!
Download an audition form here or complete one the night of auditions!
About the Director
This is Natalie's second show to direct at the Shoals Theatre. The first was in 2023, The Addams Family, which sold out its final show to over 700 patrons. She has directed over 30 productions and has performed in over a dozen more including Pride and Prejudice, The Sound of Music, The Producers, Pirates of Penzance, Matilda, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Rock of Ages, and Arsenic and Old Lace. Her favorite show is The Phantom of the Opera.
Natalie taught high school for 18 years in Alabama, Nashville, and Las Vegas and retired after 2020 when the kids turned feral. She is currently an instructional designer for a real estate company and freelance graphic designer. She also teaches English at Bethel University. She received a Broadway World award in Nashville for best casting for Pirates of Penzance in 2017 and Best Director for The Producers which she co-directed in 2018. She was nominated for teacher of the year by TPAC in 2021. She has adapted several novels for the stage and written one full-length play in 2016, entitled Wolfcatchers, a drama about Henry VIII and all six wives (written before Six!).
Natalie is from Florence and graduated from UNA in 2005 with a Master's in English and from Regent University in 2018 with a Master's in Theatre. She did her internship for her Master's in Theatre at the Globe in London. Natalie and her husband, Russell, married on October 29 on UNA campus, twenty years ago in a full Halloween wedding, hence all the costumes. Natalie finds writing in third person to be incredibly awkward despite being an English major.
