By Vanesa Brashier, editor@bluebonnetnews.com
The Valley Players are halfway through scheduled performances of the Broadway sensation “Young Frankenstein,” based on the Mel Brooks’ movie. With just two performances remaining, time is running out to purchase tickets for upcoming shows on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26-27, at the Humphreys-Burson Theater in Liberty.
The story of Young Frankenstein is a parody of Mary Shelley’s 1816 novel “Frankenstein” and is set in the years after the original Dr. Frankenstein has died. The doctor’s grandson, Frederick, also a medical doctor, travels from America to Transylvania to secure the family estate, meeting a collection of unique characters along the way, such as devoted servant Igor, housekeeper Frau Blucher and the frequently-yodeling Inga, who becomes his love interest and lab assistant.
In The Valley Players’ production, two local high school students – Nolan Myers of Liberty and Billy Thompson of Hardin – share the spotlight with neither outshining the other. Myers plays Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, a character burned into American culture in the film version by the late funnyman Gene Wilder. Thompson portrays the hunchbacked Igor.
Both Myers and Thompson have earned acclaim in their high school UIL One Act Play performances. Myers has been an All-Star Cast selection at LHS and Thompson was named Best Actor during competition at HHS.
Other title cast members are Kat Stroud as Inga, Caleb Hair as Frankenstein’s Monster, Deborah Pickett as Frau Blucher, Makayla Grothe as Elizabeth Benning, Chuck Gonzales as Inspector Kemp and Betty Runkle as Ziggy, the village idiot. Runkle is also the musical director for Young Frankenstein.
Behind the scenes, pulling the show together, are Josh Hair as head of set construction and props, Catherine Hair as assistant director and Joe Roberts as director. Josh Hair also pops into one of the final scenes of the musical as Count Dracula.
The remaining show times are Saturday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 27, at 2 p.m. The show is designed for mature audiences only. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling 936-336-6699. You may be required to leave a message but calls will be returned later. Light refreshments, including wine, will be available at the shows.
The Humphreys-Burson Theater is located at 1710 Sam Houston St., Liberty, inside the same building as the Liberty Municipal Library.
Joe Roberts directed The Valley Players’ production of “Young Frankenstein,” a musical based on the Mel Brooks’ movie by the same name. 
Nolan Myers of Liberty stars as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein in The Valley Players’ production of Young Frankenstein. 
Makayla Grothe as Elizabeth Benning and Nolan Myers as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein star in The Valley Players’ production of Young Frankenstein. 
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (played by Nolan Myers) is confronted by ghosts of his dead relatives who encourage him to go in the family business of bringing the dead back to life through science. 
Veteran actress Deborah Pickett sings “He Vas My Boyfriend” during a show for The Valley Players on Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Humphreys-Burson Theater in Liberty. 
Villagers, led by Inspector Kemp (played by Chuck Gonzalez), search for the monster created by Dr. Frederick Frankenstein in The Valley Players’ production of Young Frankenstein on Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Humphreys-Burson Theater in Liberty. 
“He’s alive. He’s alive. He’s alive,” Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (played by Nolan Myers) shouts as his monster comes to life for the first time. Pictured left to right are Kat Stroud as Inga, Deborah Pickett as Frau Blucher, Billy Thompson as Igor, Caleb Hair as Frankenstein’s Monster and Myers. 
Nolan Myers as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein and Caleb Hair as Frankenstein’s Monster perform the iconic scene from Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” that features the Irving Berlin song, “Putting on the Ritz.” 
Frankenstein’s Monster (Caleb Hair) and Elizabeth Benning (Makayla Grothe) sing about their newfound romance in The Valley Players’ production of Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein.” 
Cast members of The Valley Players’ production of Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” pose for photos after the show on Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Humphreys-Burson Theater in Liberty.
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