SOCORRO, N.M. – “Transylvania Mania,” one of the show tunes in “Young Frankenstein,” a musical comedy coming to Macey Center for three performances later this month, includes the lyrics, “It's the paprikash with an ice cold Schlitz.”

“I don’t even know what those words mean,” said Ali Lenox, who, during this particular rehearsal, coached the theater troupe through dance steps as choreographed by NMT graduate student Betty Baker.

Young Frankenstein Director Warren Marts jumps in to explain, “Paprikash is a food and Schlitz is a beer.”

“And a cheap beer at that,” chimes an offstage voice.

And so it goes, several nights a week since last August, as members of the N.M. Tech CLASS Department, Socorro Community Theater and a corps of Tech students and community volunteers, rehearse for three performances of the stage version of Young Frankenstein, a follow up to the iconic movie of the same name.

Like its cinematic cousin, this version of Young Frankenstein will explore the mysteries, mirth and misdeeds of an intriguing cast of characters.

Based on the book for the Broadway hit penned by Gene Wilder and Thomas Meehan (Wilder and Mel Brooks wrote the screenplay), this theatrical musical features Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced "Fronk-en-steen" and played here by Nick Goodwin), who inherits his family's estate in Transylvania.

With the help of a hunchbacked sidekick, Igor (pronounced "Eye-gore" and played by Santiago Montoya), and a leggy lab assistant, Inga (pronounced normally and played by Amy Kimball), Frederick finds himself in the mad scientist shoes of his ancestors.

"It's alive!" he exclaims as he brings to life a creature to rival his grandfather's. Eventually, of course, the monster escapes and hilarity continuously abounds.

Helming the production in addition to Marts are Eileen Comstock, musical director; Theresa Apodaca, acting coach; and Steve Simpson, NMT CLASS Department chair and producer, all of whom are committed to the revival of musical theater in the community along with a host of supporters, including Performing Arts Series (PAS) Director Ronna Kalish.

This PG-13 musical opens Saturday, Nov. 16, at 7:30 pm. The Sunday, Nov. 17 performance is a 3 p.m. matinee. The final show at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, includes a dinner theater option at 5:30 p.m. before the show. Advance tickets for the dinner theater must be purchased by Sunday, Nov. 17, and are available through Socorro Community Theater or call (575) 418-7752.

Click here for dinner theater tickets.

Lenox, who not only trips the light fantastic, but can belt out the Frankenstein blues, comes to the production as a member of the Socorro Community Theater. People might have recognized Lenox from a recent photo of her and Laura Barker as part of 49ers Parade coverage in El Defensor Chieftain.

Young Frankenstein movie fans no doubt will be pleased to know that the musical comedy adaptation includes the blind Hermit character, and Irving Berlin’s famous “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” as performed by an enormously enthusiastic cast. Why not? This is great fun.

Just ask Goodwin, a graduate student in Materials Engineering, whose halo of dark curls complements the “mad scientist” stereotype, in this case, Frederick Frankenstein himself.

“I see him as somebody who is very uptight,” Goodwin said. “Later you get to see his sassy side ... he’s a charismatic character, but becomes unhinged when things don’t go his way.”

Goodwin’s favorite scene as Frederick Frankenstein is when the good doctor sends his faithful assistant, Igor, to fetch a brain; but, as everyone knows, the brain Igor chooses is not exactly what his boss had in mind.

Needless to say, mayhem ensues.

Steven Cox, a member of the SCT, plays the coveted role of the monster. He grunts and roars through much of the performance, walking Frankenstein-style, arms extended – a pose, by the way, included in some of Baker’s choreography.

Among his showcase scenes is when he joins his creator onstage as they dance to “Puttin’ on the Ritz.”

The primary cast and their roles include Nicholas Goodwin as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein; Steven Cox as The Monster; Santiago Montoya as Igor; Amy Kimball as Inga; Gabriela Fernandez as Elizabeth Benning; Laura Barker as Frau Blucher; John Leeper as Inspector Hans Kemp; Benjamin Brennan as The Hermit; Thaddeus Sonnenfeld as Dr. Victor von Frankenstein; and Alexsandra Lenox as Ziggy.

The ensemble – villagers, medical students, passengers, mad scientists, and messengers – include Jade Baca, Laura Basel, Ember Budd, Nancy Feraldi, Sylvia Kowalski, Anij Mackey, Dyllian Powell, Len Truesdell, and Choreographer Betty Baker.

Sponsors for Young Frankenstein are ‘M’ Mountain Coffee, Socorro Community Theater, and the NMT Performing Arts Series.  The NMT Class Department producing the show.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and older and $8 for youth (17 and under). Tech students can pick up their free ticket at the Bookstore in Fidel Center. Tickets can be purchased at Sofia’s Kitchen, the Cashier, John Brooks, Macey Center, online at nmtpas.org or at the door.

-- NMT --