CSU delivers comedy and music in ‘Young Frankenstein’ and ‘Junie B. Jones’
The Department of Theatre at Columbus State University is putting the emphasis on laughs and music in June.
Two vastly different productions, “Young Frankenstein” and “Junie B. Jones The Musical,” begin their run on Thursday. Both are appearing downtown at the Riverside Theatre Complex.
Some student actors appear in both shows.
“This is real professional training,” said professor Brenda Ito, who is directing “Junie B. Jones The Musical.” “It is hard work but they love it,”
Performances of “Young Frankenstein” are in the evening, while “June B. Jones The Musical” will be in the morning,except on Sunday when they will be in the afternoon.
“Junie B. Jones The Musical” is an adaptation of four of Barbara Park’s best-selling books. It is the first day of first grade and a lot of things have changed for Junie. Her best friend does not want to be her pal anymore. Junie also discovers she needs glasses. There is an exciting kickball tournament.
Ito said this is the third time CSU has done a show featuring Junie.
“It is a very popular book series,” she said. “The children just love these stories and adults will also have a good time at this show. The music is super fun.”
“Young Frankenstein” is a musical comedy written by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, and is based on the 1974 film by the same name.
The show opened on Broadway in 2007 and was nominated for three Tony Awards.
The movie featured an Oscar-nominated screenplay by director Brooks and lead actor Gene Wilder and is No. 13 on the American Film Institute’s list of 100 funniest movies.
The characters are based on those from the popular Frankenstein films of the 1930s, which starred Boris Karloff. Those films were loosely based on the classic novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelly.
In this story, Frederick Frankenstein, the grandson of Victor Frankenstein, inherits his family estate in Transylvania and with the help of a hunchback assistant Igor the mad scientist creates his own monster which then escapes.
Last June, CSU did “Spamalot” based on “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” which was directed by assistant professor David Turner, who is also directing “Young Frankenstein.”
“We had so much success with ‘Spamalot’ that we wanted to do another like it, just a fun show with lots of laughs and music. It is summer and people are not looking for something serious,” said Larry Dooley, theatre department chair.
“People had a great time at that show,” Turner said of ‘Spamalot.’ “We are going to try and recapture some of the magic. I guarantee this is going to be fun.”
Larry Gierer: 706-571-8581, @lagierer
If you go
What: “Young Frankenstein”
When: June 9-11, 17-18 and 24-25 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: CSU’s Riverside Theatre Complex, 10th Street and Bay Avenue.
Cost: Tickets are $20 for adults, $17 for seniors (60 and above) and military personnel, $12 for children 12 and under. Tickets may be bought at the box office which is open from noon to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and one hour before a show. Call 706-507-8444 or 706-507-8400.
What: “Junie B. Jones The Musical”
When: June 9-11, 14-18 and 21-25 at 10 a.m. June 12, 19, 26 at 2 p.m.
Where: CSU’s Riverside Theatre Complex, 10th Street and Bay Avenue.
Cost: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (60 and above) and military personnel, $5 for children 12 and under. Tickets may be bought at the box office, which is open from noon to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and one hour before a show. Call 706-507-8444 or 706-507-8400.
This story was originally published June 7, 2016 at 3:45 PM with the headline "CSU delivers comedy and music in ‘Young Frankenstein’ and ‘Junie B. Jones’."