Scary news from FRANKENSTEIN

Matthew Neff | Jun 10, 2008 | there are 1 comments

The leads of Young Frankenstein

You spend years and years training. You finally land that Broadway gig. Then you finally land a Broadway lead. What else could you ask for? The cast of Young Frankenstein definitely didn't ask for what is coming their way.

Producers of all Broadway shows should take note of the actions of creator Mel Brooks and producer Robert F. X. Sillerman. They should NEVER even think of doing what these two are planning on doing.

It's hard to believe that this is true. Hopefully it is all just rumor.

Wanna know what I am talking about? Click on "READ MORE."

There was buzz about this new Mel Brooks/Susan Stroman musical. A musical based on one of Brooks' classic films, Young Frankenstein, was supposed to be the mega hit of the season. I wasn't surprised to hear that it wasn't doing well. Any buzz surrounding a Susan Stroman show is usually the buzz of people snoring.

So the latest breaking news in the musical theater world is the unorthodox and appalling decisions by Brooks and Sillerman. They are cutting the lead salaries in half. Yes. If the leads want to keep their jobs when their contracts are up in August, they are going to have to take a 50% cut.

That is insane. I can see not giving them a raise, but cutting a salary by half? Our country's economic state is taking a nose dive. Entertainment is a luxury. Luxuries are usually the first things that are hit by bad economics. I can relate to having to make cuts here and there to keep my head above the rising tide of poverty. I am not, however, Brooks and Sillerman. We all know Mel Brooks and his history in the entertainment world. His purse was definitely filled with lots of coins from The Producers. He is not hard up for a dollar. If you don't know who Rovert F.X. Sillerman is, then you need to hit him up on Google. He is more than comfortable in his financial situation. The fact that these very very very rich men are cutting salaries so they can keep a show open so they can make more money is shameful.

These two rats are already auditioning for replacements as a threat to the leads. Andrea Martin(FRAU BLUCHER), Roger Bart(DR. FRANKENSTEIN), Shuler Hensley (THE MONSTER, Fred Applegate (INSPECTOR KEMP, THE BLIND BEGGAR) and Christopher Fitzgerald (IGOR) are all up for salary cuts. Sutton Foster (INGA) and Megan Mullally (ELIZABETH) are already leaving in July so they will be unaffected by the gross abuse of power by these two men.

So what is the public to do? Exactly what we have been doing: ignoring that snooze Brooks/Stroman mess. Let them learn a lesson that charging $450 for a ticket comes with a slap to the face from the public.

Blog ya later.