‘Young Frankenstein Live!’ Is Happening

Published on January 8, 2020

Young Frankenstein is becoming a live TV musical this fall, ABC announced today. Impressively, Mel Brooks, 93, is producing the project.

The original Young Frankenstein, directed by Mel Brooks, is a hilarious and spooftastic take on the old Frankenstein story. The original movie starred Gene Wilder as Dr. Frankenstein and if you haven’t seen it, go watch it tonight. Brooks directed Young Frankenstein fairly early in his career, but it has stood the test of time and remains an absolute classic.

The original 1974 comedy was adapted to Broadway in 2007 and was nominated for several Tonys. The live production will likely take inspiration from the musical version.

Live musicals have become a phenomenon on broadcast TV in recent years. It’s a great idea, making musical theater more easily accessible to those outside of the big cities. These productions also tend to feature big stars, which leads to more fans tuning in.

Last year, ABC successfully put on a live version of The Little Mermaid. Other networks have also done live versions of musical theater favorites like Hairspray, The Sound of Music, The Wiz and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Cast, air date, and other details have not yet been announced, but are expected later this year. Young Frankenstein Live is bound to be a fun production, giving us something to look forward to in the fall of 2020.

Olivia Smith is a Staff Writer at Grit Daily. Based in San Francisco, she covers events, entertainment, fashion, and technology. She also serves as a Voices contributor at PopSugar.

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