Beth Leavel, Michele Ragusa, Kelly Sullivan to Join Young Frankenstein
Beth Leavel, Michele Ragusa and Kelly Sullivan are set to join the cast of Young Frankenstein at Broadway's Hilton Theatre. Sullivan will assume the role of Inga on July 8, replacing Sutton Foster, who leaves on July 6; Tony winner Leavel will become Frau Blucher on July 22, replacing Andrea Martin, whose final performance is July 20; and Ragusa takes over the role of Elizabeth on August 5, replacing Megan Mullally, who departs on August 3.
Inspired by Mel Brooks' classic comedy and directed by Susan Stroman, Young Frankenstein tells the story of Frederick Frankenstein, an esteemed New York brain surgeon and professor, who inherits a castle and laboratory in Transylvania from his grandfather, deranged genius Victor Von Frankenstein. Does he continue to run from his family's tortured past or does he stay in Transylvania to carry on his grandfather's mad experiments reanimating the dead and, in the process, fall in love with his sexy lab assistant Inga?
Original cast members Roger Bart Frederick, Shuler Hensley the Monster, Fred Applegate Kemp and Christopher Fitzgerald Igor are remaining with Young Frankenstein. The show won the 2008 Outer Critics' Circle Award for Best Musical and Broadway.com's Audience Award for Favorite Broadway Musical.
Leavel won a 2006 Tony Award for her performance in the title role of The Drowsy Chaperone. Other Broadway credits include two productions of 42nd Street, Crazy for You directed by Stroman, The Civil War and Show Boat She recently appeared in the Encores! production of No No Nanette.
Sullivan appeared on Broadway in Contact directed by Stroman and Bells Are Ringing and off-Broadway in Burleigh Grimes.
