Lend Me A Tenor

by Ken Ludwig

 

Synopsis:

In 1934, the renowned tenor Tito Merelli, known to his fans as "Il Stupendo," is scheduled to sing the lead in Otello. The opera is being produced as a gala fundraiser for the Cleveland Opera Company. Unfortunately, even before the star leaves his hotel room, everything begins to unravel. Chaos ensues when Merelli's wife, who has mistaken an autograph-seeker hidden in his closet for a secret lover, leaves him a "Dear John" letter. The distraught Merelli accidentally is given a double dose of tranquilizers to calm him and passes out. Saunders, the company's General Manager, is determined that the show will go on (for his own financial sake), so he asks his assistant Max to impersonate the opera star. Max puts on the blackface makeup required for the role of Otello, and his disguise succeeds admirably – until Merelli, also in blackface, wakes up and heads for the stage. What follows is a chain-reaction of mistaken identity, farcical plot twists, double entendres, innuendoes, and constant entrances and exits through many doors.

Director

Billy Worboys

 

Stage Manager

Brenda Poteet

 

Assistant Stage Manager

 

Set Design

Billy Worboys

 

Costumes

Becky Fly

 

Stage Tech

 

Lights/Sound 

Terry Bivens

 

Max

Jeff Howell

 

Maggie

Cecilia Hammond

 

Saunders

Marty Meyer

 

Tito Merelli

Kyle Williams

 

Maria Merelli

Caitlin Kent

 

Bellhop

Brandon Douglas

 

Julia

Dana Poteete

 

Diana

Cindy Mallard