Trash Panda Players bringing "Young Frankenstein" to the shadow stage

A different kind of theatre is coming to town this weekend alongside a drive for hurricane relief items. For a limited time Friday and Saturday, Oct. 11-12, the Trash Panda Players will put on a shadow cast performance of Mel Brooks’ comedy horror classic “Young Frankenstein.”

Performances begin at 8 p.m. at The Bird and the Book, 1509 E. Broadway Ave., Maryville. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. both days, although cast said shows are often popular enough to warrant a reservation, just in case.

Tickets are $15, and the show is open to all ages, although parental discretion is advised.

Shadow cast performances differ from normal stage productions by showing the movie in the background of the enactment. The cast performs their interpretation during the film, bringing what cast member Sarah Mills called “a 3D context” to the experience.

The Trash Panda Players put on about three shows a year. They kicked off 2024 with a Valentine’s Day performance of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and filled the middle of the season with “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” The cast members, who range in age from their teens to their 50s, hail from across East Tennessee and share a passion for the cooperative stage.

For this performance, Mills said they’ve gone all out. “Young Frankenstein” is a black-and-white film, so the cast had to fit in.

“We’ve made everything black and white,” Mills said. “The sets, the people, the props — everything onstage except the inside of people’s mouths. I would say it was everything we could reasonably control, but I’m not sure if we were entirely reasonable.”

Mills, recommends watching the movie before coming to the performance since the experience is less about watching and more about participating. Guests at the show will be given a bag of props to play along with the story, such as tiny pitchforks to brandish and plastic vegetables to throw at the titular monster from the story. The actors won’t touch the audience, but guests are encouraged to participate in a series of callouts throughout the show.

Mills said the experience lets the audience interact as much as they’re comfortable. They can also order drinks and food from the bar, creating a “dinner and a show” atmosphere.

The group is also putting part of the proceeds to Hurricane Helene relief efforts. The troupe is encouraging guests to bring water, hygiene products, paper items and more in exchange for additional entries for door prizes. They’re also interested in warm clothes, camping supplies and batteries with cold weather approaching.

People who donate will earn a special merit badge to commemorate their contribution.

Reservations can be made at the Bird and the Book or by calling Southland Books and Cafe upstairs at 865-984-4847.