Just in time to get in the Halloween spirit, Young Frankenstein, the musical based on Mel Brooks’ movie of the same name, shows at the Mariner Theatre this October.

The musical and movie tell the story of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, grandson of Victor Frankenstein, who brought a monster to life in Mary Shelley’s debut novel. The humor of Mel Brooks makes the tale a madcap misadventure marked by hijinks, hilarity and songs.

Jennifer Norton, director of the show as well as executive director of Pier One Theater, explained how a stage show is brought to life in Homer. She said that auditions for autumn musicals are held in spring to accommodate fishing schedules and busy summers. Beginning in early August, the cast and orchestra begin meeting and, as rehearsals progress, the stage crew begins building sets.

Local business owner Nelton Palma brought his set design skills to the production. Palma previously designed the set for Footloose at the Mariner Theatre in March. Young Frankenstein, with its multiple locations in the story, is a big challenge for set design.

“This is a big set, a laboratory and a castle and a village and all kinds of things,” Norton said.

Norton said that Palma’s work began earlier than the rest of the production, and that with such a large set, “having someone on board early to help design . . . was really helpful.” Four other people were involved in painting and constructing for the production. Cast members worked together to create costumes, finding and sewing what is needed.

The entire cast has about 30 people, 10 with major parts and the remaining actors playing villagers, city residents and other roles. The cast is a little smaller than what Norton has directed in prior Mariner Theater productions. Last year’s show, Fiddler on the Roof, had 75 cast members. Young Frankenstein’s quickly paced plot requires multiple costume changes for the cast. 

“Everyone’s running about changing lots of costumes and playing different characters,” Norton said.

The 16-member orchestra provides instrumentation for musical numbers such as “Transylvania Mania” and “Join the Family Business” while the stage, lighting and sound crew keep the sets, songs and script moving.

Norton is particularly excited about bringing Young Frankenstein to Homer. The story originated as an idea that Gene Wilder had while working on the movie Blazing Saddles with Brooks. Wilder subsequently helped write the script and played the lead role in Young Frankenstein. Like Blazing Saddles and other scripts by Brooks, there is some light sexual innuendo along with what Norton described as “just a lot of really great jokes.” The show is rated PG 13.

Norton summarized the plot as taking the story of Frankenstein and “then turning on its head.” She said the plot inversion explores the question “What happens if we love each other, instead of being afraid of each other . . . That’s a huge core message of this play.”

While the story is largely about Frederick Frankenstein wrestling with his family history, there is a parallel of a different sort in Homer’s production. Like Frankenstein, Norton is continuing a family tradition, though it is not one she wrestles with. Her parents became involved in local theater in the 1980s, and her mother is Pier One Theater’s longtime production manager.

Young Frankenstein is the third production Norton has done with musical director Eric Simondsen and choreographer Maura Gibson. Norton said locally produced theater is “such a collaborative thing, it really brings community together.”

Young Frankenstein will show at 7 p.m. on Oc.r 9, 10, 23 and 24 and at 3 p.m. on Oct. 11 and 25. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children under 17. Tickets can be purchased online at https://pieronetheatre.org or by calling 907-226-2287 or by going to the Pier One Theater office at 332 E. Pioneer Ave., above the Homer Bookstore.