A monster undertaking

For a legion of movie fans, myself included, the 1974 Mel Brooks film “Young Frankenstein” is revered as one of the funniest films ever made.

From “What hump?” to “Ovaltine?!” it is packed with unforgettable lines and indelible performances by the likes of Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Cloris Leachman, Marty Feldman and Madeline Kahn.

Heylea Allan, the Ohio University graduate tasked with directing Ohio Valley Summer Theater’s production of the film’s musical stage adaptation, knows the laughs come first. But like any good director, she’s also in touch with the story’s underlying message.

“It’s about acceptance,” the 23-year-old Toledo area native says. “Don’t take it at face value only but think about why you feel a certain way and what you maybe don’t understand. Could you accept a monster?”

The OVST production, which runs July 12-15 and 19-21 at Ohio University’s Baker Theater, features a cast of 13 university students and three community members. It’s quite an undertaking for the young artist — her first at the helm of a musical — but she says her cast and crew have made it a “dream job, such an easy way to make theater.”

Among those key team members is Allan’s fiancé, Kyle Nienaber, who serves as the production’s music director. Although they haven’t set a wedding date yet, the two are already preparing for a big adventure — moving to Orlando in August to be part of the Disney College Program, a national internship.

“From this point on, I would love to do this professionally,” says Allan, who made her stage debut at the age of 13 in a production of “The Little Mermaid.”

Although she majored in film in college, focusing on costuming, hair and makeup, she also worked for four years with Lost Flamingo, the university’s student-run theater company, where she honed her acting and directing chops.

“Young Frankenstein,” she notes, is her 30th theatrical production overall.

Allan is confident the show will appeal to both the hardcore movie fans and those experiencing the story for the first time.

“I think fans of the movie will appreciate all the classic jokes,” she explains. “And those new to the story will love it just because it’s hilarious.”

A key difference, she adds, is “all of the female characters are expanded and given so much more to do” in the stage version. Hence, legendary quotable lines and attitudes become full-fledged musical numbers for the likes of Inga (“Roll in the Hay”), Frau Blucher (“He Vas My Boyfriend”), and Elizabeth (“Please Don’t Touch Me”).

And don’t worry! It wouldn’t be “Young Frankenstein” without “Putting on the Ritz,” the Irving Berlin number famously featured in the film. The rest of the songs are originals, with both music and lyrics by Mel Brooks.

Reservations for OVST’s “Young Frankenstein” can be made at ovst.org/frank .