MONROE — Monroe Theatre Guild recently announced its fall production of Lend Me a Tenor, an uproarious comedy by well-known American playwright, author, screenwriter, and director Ken Ludwig. Originally produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber for the West End in London in 1986, it opened on Broadway in 1989 and became Ludwig’s first hit play. It was nominated for seven Tony Awards, including Best Play, and won two, Best Actor and Best Direction.
MTG’s production of Lend Me a Tenor is directed by Katie Landmark with assistant director Jen Coppes. Katie currently serves as MTG’s Board Vice President and is a seasoned director at MTG — this is her seventh show since her directorial debut back in 2012. This is Coppes’ first time participating as an assistant director, but she’s a well-known presence backstage, having served in various capacities for a number of productions (on stage and off) over the past few years.
Lend Me a Tenor is set in Cleveland, Ohio, in the 1930s. As the play opens, Henry Saunders (played by Dale Ripley), general manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, is anxiously awaiting the arrival of the world-famous Italian opera tenor, Tito Merelli (played by Jerry Bredeson). Saunders’s trustworthy “all-purpose dogsbody” assistant, Max (played by Steven E. Smith), is also waiting at the hotel and has been charged with seeing to Tito’s every need. When Tito and his wife, Maria (played by Genevieve Kundert) finally arrive, Tito is ill from eating too much and Maria is sick of traveling and of her husband’s flirting. After a huge fight with Maria, Tito receives a double dose of tranquilizers through a series of mishaps and winds up dead — or does he? Saunders fears he’ll be fired and decides someone must take the stage — but who? Comedic disaster ensues as Max and Saunders navigate countless catastrophes, crazy costumes, and loads and loads of slamming doors and mistaken identities.
The hilarious cast of characters also includes Saunders’s daughter and Max’s soon-to-be fiancé, Maggie (played by Kaya Teasdale); Chairman of the Opera Guild, Julia (played by Denise Plantenberg); sexy, seasoned soprano, Diana (played by Melanie Zentner); and the opera groupie bellhop (played by Luke Smetters).
Lend Me a Tenor, part of the Colony Brands Performance Series, will be presented at the Monroe Theatre Guild, 910 16th Avenue, Monroe, on the Colony Brands Stage, Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 11, 12, 18, and 19 at 7 p.m. and Sundays, Oct. 13 and 20 at 2 p.m. There will be a fancy-dress (encouraged, but not required) reception on opening night, Oct. 11, beginning at 6 p.m.
Tickets are now on sale on the MTG website, monroetheatre.com, and at the MTG ticket window on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., or by calling 608-325-1111.
