Young Frankenstein is staying alive a little longer in Corpus Christi.
Aurora Arts Theatre has added two more performances of the Mel Brooks musical after the production sold out its first six weekends, according to the show’s directors.
The newly added performances are Friday, Aug. 28, and Saturday, Aug. 29, giving people who have been unable to get tickets another chance to see the show.
“Because of the popularity of it and the sold-out shows, we have added two more dates,” director Laurie Guajardo-Hoefelmeyer told 3NEWS First Edition on Thursday. “For everybody who’s on the waitlist and who felt like, ‘I missed out on something and I didn’t get a chance,’ now you have one.”
Hoefelmeyer said she was excited about bringing Young Frankenstein to the stage but didn’t anticipate how strongly audiences would respond.
“I didn’t realize how well it was going to translate to the community,” Hoefelmeyer said. “You put on a great story with some great actors and you put a little bit of horror and a lot of comedy in it, per Mel Brooks, and you got some magic.”
Music director Nicholas Mendleski said the stage production is much more of a musical than people familiar only with the movie may expect.
“It’s way different than the movie,” Mendleski said. “There is song after song after song.” Mendleski said the production includes the iconic “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” along with a mix of musical styles ranging from jazz and barbershop to yodeling.
The production still has its previously scheduled performances on Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m., Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 23 at 2:30 p.m. before returning for the two newly added shows Aug. 28 and 29.
Performances are held at Aurora Arts Theatre, 5635 Everhart Road, Suite B, in Corpus Christi.