Martin joins 'Young Frankenstein'

Actress confirmed for Brooks' new musical

By GORDON COX

Martin

Andrea Martin has been confirmed for the cast of the Broadway-bound Mel Brooks tuner "Young Frankenstein." Thesp (most recently seen on Broadway in "Fiddler on the Roof") will play Frau Blucher, the household servant with a secret.

Cloris Leachman, who played Frau Blucher in the original 1974 Brooks pic, had been linked to the stage version of the role after she performed in a private workshop of the developing tuner. The 81-year-old Leachman has recently campaigned publicly for the part, attempting to dispel the idea that she's too old for eight shows a week.

Martin joins a cast that includes Roger Bart in the title role, Megan Mullally, Sutton Foster, Shuler Hensley and Christopher Fitzgerald. Composer-lyricist-scribe Brooks and co-book writer Thomas Meehan reteam with helmer-choreographer Susan Stroman, with whom they worked on "The Producers," for "Frankenstein," set for a Seattle tryout in August followed by a Broadway berth starting Oct. 11.