Civic Theatre of Allentown's production of "Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein: The Musical" is terrific.

From set design to lighting to costumes to orchestra to casting to acting to directing, the Lehigh Valley debut of "Young Frankenstein," weekends through Oct. 26, Civic Theatre, is one of the most fully-realized regional theater productions ever. It's a must-see, especially for the Halloween season.

In keeping with Brooks' 1974 black and white movie comedy on which it's based, "Young Frankenstein" director Williams Sanders, Civic Artistic Director, takes the bold approach of a predominant black and white palette in the lighting design by Will Morris, who also carries out the monochromatic motif in his and Nina Reilly's costume design. The set design by Jason Sherwood is cleverly versatile in representing exterior and interior walls of Dr. Frankenstein's Translyvania castle.

It's said that in movies and theater, casting is all. With Civic's "Young Frankenstein," Sanders has made a number of smart choices.

Jarrod Yuskauskas, Director of Theatre Arts, Upper School at Moravian Academy, is Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, grandson of monster-maker, Dr. Victor Frankenstein.

Yuskauskas (memorable this summer as Sir Robin in Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre's "Spamalot") has a lovely voice, ranging from sensitive to strong, beginning with the parodic "(There Is Nothing Like) The Brain," to the razzle-dazzle "Together Again For The First Time" duet with Igor (wonderfully empathetic Noah Ruebeck, a Moravian Academy senior and Yuskauskas' real-life student), to the show-stopper production number, Irving Berlin's "Puttin' On The Rtiz," with The Monster (Robert Trexler in hilarious full monster mope), Igor, Inga (Morgan Reilly, a Muhlenberg College senior).

Reilly, as with Yuskauskas, is in the pantheon of Lehigh Valley thespians who are reason enough to go to the theater (Reilly was Louise in Civic's "Gypsy" and the Parkland High School graduate dueted in "Piano Men: The Music of Elton and Billy" at Miller Symphony Hall). As Frederick's not-too-bright lab assistant, Reilly shows off her comedic chops in "Roll In The Hay."

Eileen Veghte, another Muhlenberg College senior, is in superb voice as Elizabeth, Frederick's fiancé, for "Please Don't Touch Me" and "Deep Love," and does some great double-take facial expressions.

It's two Lehigh Valley stage veterans who show how it's done. As Frau Blucher, Roseann Damico Schatkowski, Director of Marketing for Performing Arts at DeSales University, is hands-down hilarious, especially in her spolight solo, "He Vas My Boyfriend."

JoAnn Basist, as Inspector Kemp, creates gender-flipping comic angularity straight out of the Blue Meanies (of The Beatles' animated feature "Yellow Submarine") and the Keystone Cops (of Mack Sennett silent movie shorts).

Kirk Lawrence-Howard is heartwarming as The Hermit, no more so than in his solo, "Please Send Me Someone."

In featured roles are Ted Williams as Victor Frankenstein and Robert Stinner as Ziggy.

Steve Reisteter, music director, conducts the fine 14-piece orchestra. The company of 11 is in excellent voice throughout, especially in the robust opener, "Happiest Town In Town."

Kudos to Kim Danish for the cast's hair and wigs and Francesca Rhoads for makeup,

"Young Frankenstein," with a book by Brooks and Thomas Meehan and music and lyrics by Brooks, is high camp. Sanders' electrifying direction pushes the cast and the material to excess and beyond. The results are side-splittingly funny.

Sanders also doesn't miss the pathos inherent in the material. Yuskauskas, Reilly, Ruebeck, Veghte and Trexler, especially, get it, too, playing two sides of the same coin extremely well.

This is a toe-tappin' musical in monster boots that will stomp its way into your heart and all over your funny bone. Don't miss it.

"Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein: The Musical," 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25; 2 p.m. Oct. 26, Civic Theatre of Allentown, 527 N. 19th St., Allentown. Tickets: civictheatre.com, 610-432-8943