Young Frankenstein

There are two distinct versions of the musical adaptation of Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, which will be refered to here as the original and the revision. This page talks about the differences between the two! A little bit, anyway.

The original version of the show premiered in Seattle, Washington (USA) at the Paramount Theatre on 07 August 2007, and later moved to the Hilton Theatre on New York City's Broadway on 11 October 2007, where it ran until 04 January 2009. This version later went on tour in the US. The original/Broadway version was very luxe and elaborate, and also (to me) feels a bit more "serious"/straight in tone compared to the revision.

The revision premiered in Newcastle Upon Tyne (UK) at the Theatre Royal on 26 August 2017, and later moved to the Garrick Theatre in London's West End on 28 September 2017, where it ran until 25 August 2018. A UK tour was announced for 2019 but ultimately never happened (for reasons unknown). The revision has some songs cut or replaced from the original (notably, all uses of "Life, Life" are replaced with "Transylvanian Lullaby" from the original film) and is much smaller in scale, more of an intimate campy vaudeville show compared to the original and featuring a smaller cast and orchestra.

Here's a song list for both versions. Red fields indicate a song that was cut, while grey fields indicate a replacement song/scene.

Original

Revision

Prelude
("Life, Life" melody)
Prelude
("Transylvanian Lullaby" melody)
The Happiest Town
The Brain
(with Mr. Hilltop)
The Brain
(with Bertram Batram)
Please Don't Touch Me Please Don't Touch Me
Together Again Together Again
Roll in the Hay Roll in the Hay
Join the Family Business
He Vas My Boyfriend He Vas My Boyfriend
The Brain (Reprise) It Could Work
The Law Hang Him 'Til He's Dead
Life, Life Transylvanian Lullaby (instrumental)
He Vas My Boyfriend (Reprise) He Vas My Boyfriend (Reprise)
Welcome to Transylvania
(sung by Kemp and villager quartet)
Welcome to Transylvania
(sung by Kemp and all villagers)
Transylvania Mania
Original version
Transylvania Mania
Revised version
/ /
Entr'acte
He's Loose He's Loose
Listen To Your Heart Listen To Your Heart
Surprise
(followed by dialogue)
Surprise
(scene ends after song)
Please Send Me Someone Please Send Me Someone
Please Send Me Someone (Reprise) Please Send Me Someone (Reprise)
Man About Town (replaced with dialogue)
Puttin' On the Ritz Puttin' On the Ritz
He's Loose (Reprise) He's Loose (Reprise)
Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life
Deep Love Deep Love
Hang the Doctor
("He's Loose" melody)
Hang the Doctor
("Hang Him 'Til He's Dead" melody)
Frederick's Soliloquy
("Life, Life" melody)
Frederick's Soliloquy
("Transylvanian Lullaby" melody)
Deep Love (Reprise) Deep Love (Reprise)
Please Send Me Someone (Reprise 2) Please Send Me Someone (Reprise 2)
Finale Ultimo
("Family Business" and "Welcome to Transylvania" melodies)
Finale
("The Brain" melody)
Together Again (Encore)
Original version
Together Again (Encore)
Revised version

Finally... Lyrics for the original version of the show are easy to find online, but I couldn't find the lyrics for the revised show online anywhere. So I typed them up myself. Songs not listed below are either identical between versions or only received very minor, nitpicky changes.

Click on the song title to view the lyrics!

Act One
The Brain
Please Don't Touch Me
Together Again
It Could Work
Hang Him 'Til He's Dead
Transylvania Mania

Act Two
He's Loose
Surprise
He's Loose (Reprise)
Hang the Doctor
Frederick's Soliloquy
Finale
Final Sing: Together Again (Encore)

Back to the main page