Lend Me a Tenor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lend Me a Tenor is a play by Ken Ludwig.
| Lend Me a Tenor | |
| Written by | Ken Ludwig |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy |
| Setting | A hotel suite in Cleveland, Ohio in 1934. |
| IBDB profile | |
Contents |
[edit] History
The play has been translated into sixteen languages and produced in twenty-five countries. It is a popular choice of regional theatre companies and community theatre groups.
[edit] Synopsis
Set in 1934, the farce revolves around renowned tenor Tito Merelli, known to his fans as "Il Stupendo," who is scheduled to sing the lead in Otello, 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 a "Dear John" letter is left by his wife, who has mistaken an autograph-seeker hidden in his closet for a secret lover. 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 the show must go on (for his own financial sake), so he enlists the aid of his assistant Max to impersonate the opera star. Max is succeeding admirably . . . until Merelli awakens and heads for the stage. What follows is a chain-reaction of confusion, plot twists, double entendres, innuendoes, and constant entrances and exits through many doors.
[edit] Productions
The West End production opened on March 6, 1986 at the Globe Theatre, where it ran for ten months.
After sixteen previews, the Broadway production, directed by Jerry Zaks, opened on March 2, 1989 at the Royale Theatre, where it ran for 476 performances. The cast included Philip Bosco, Victor Garber, Ron Holgate, Tovah Feldshuh, and Jane Connell.
[edit] Adaptations
A musical adaptation was presented in May 2006 as a staged reading as part of the Utah Shakespearean Festival's New American Playwright Project. Based on feedback received from the audience and industry professionals, the creative team fine-tuned their work, which premiered as part of USF's Summer 2007 repertory season and received rave reviews [1].
[edit] Response
[edit] Awards and nominations
- Laurence Olivier Award for Comedy of the Year (nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Play (nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play (winner)
- Tony Award for Best Actor in Play (Bosco, winner; Garber, nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (Feldshuh, nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Scenic Design (nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Costume Design (nominee)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play (Bosco, winner)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Feldshuh, winner)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play (winner)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design (winner)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lighting Design (nominee)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design (nominee)
- Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Set (winner)
- Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Costumes (winner)
- Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Lighting Design (winner)
