"Young Frankenstein" at the Paramount brings creature to ... life!

It's alive! And it is lumbering into the Paramount Theatre this summer, with a Broadway A-team cheering it on.

This "monster" is "Young Frankenstein," a new musical based on Mel Brooks' 1974 film spoof of the movie classic "Frankenstein" (loosely based on Mary Shelley's horror tale).

The big-budget, world-premiere show will rehearse in New York and Seattle, start previews at the Paramount on Aug. 4, and run through Sept. 1. It will open on Broadway later this fall.

The principle creators of "Young Frankenstein" hope to repeat their huge success with the earlier Brooks musical, "The Producers."

As he did for "The Producers," Brooks will pen the score for "Young Frankenstein," and co-author the book (based on his screenplay) with Thomas Meehan. The design team: Robin Wagner on sets, William Ivey Long on costumes and Peter Kaczorowski on lighting.

All the above won Tony Awards for "The Producers," which garnered an even dozen in 2001, including one for director Susan Stroman.

Speaking from New York, Stroman said she feels Seattle is just the right place to stage her new collaboration with Brooks.

"It's the most wonderful town, and it's really known in New York now as a great city for theater," she said. "Mel can't wait to get there and have a great cup of coffee."

She notes "Young Frankenstein" will have a "very different look" and setting than the New York-centric "Producers."

"The story takes place in Eastern Europe in the 1930s. And it is about Frankenstein's monster, but also about this 40-year-old virgin who achieves a great scientific experiment and also gets the girl."

Stroman, also the choreographer for the show, says "Young Frankenstein" will have more dance numbers than "The Producers" did, to match Brooks' "amazing score," including the opening number, "The Happiest Town in Town," a swing-dance bash ("The Transylvania Mania") and "Join the Family Business," a gypsy spree.

The movie's bizarro song-and-dance duet of Irving Berlin's "Puttin' on the Ritz," by Dr. Frankenstein and his creation, is also on tap.

Stroman would not confirm casting for the show. But the usually reliable site playbill.com reports that Broadway faves Sutton Foster ("Thoroughly Modern Millie") and Shuler Hensley ("Oklahoma") will play Frankenstein's mistress and monster (enacted in the film by Teri Garr and Peter Boyle), while Megan Mullally (TV's "Will & Grace") handles the Madeline Kahn film role of the scientist's virginal/kinky fiancee.

No word yet of who'll fill the zany footprints of Gene Wilder, the film's title character.

Group tickets (20 or more) can be purchased now by calling 888-214-6856. Single tickets will go on sale later. More details: www.theparamount.com

Misha Berson: mberson@seattletimes.com