Pentacle Theatre’s regular 2015 season open with the fast-paced farce, Lend Me a Tenor on Friday, Jan. 23. Ken Ludwig’s Tony- and Drama Desk-award winning comedy has received rave reviews on both side of the Atlantic.
Jennifer Gimzewski directs the show, which will run through Feb. 14. Cast members are Claire Clubb, Jodi Deming, Tavis Evans, Nancy Moen, Adam Valazquez, James Wiggins, Rachael Wiggins and Tom Wrosch. The production is generously sponsored by FXG Construction.
Lend Me a Tenor is set in September 1934. Saunders, the general manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, is primed to welcome world famous, Tito Merelli — Il Stupendo, the greatest tenor of his generation — to appear for one night only as Otello. The star arrives late, and through a hilarious series of mishaps, receives a double dose of tranquilizers and passes out. His pulse is so low that Saunders and his assistant Max believe he’s dead. In a frantic attempt to salvage the evening Saunders asks Max to do the unthinkable. This is the beginning of a series of uproarious events that keeps audiences laughing all evening.
Lend Me a Tenor won three Tony Awards and four Drama Desk Awards. A sensation on Broadway and in London’s West End, this madcap, screwball comedy is guaranteed to leave audiences teary-eyed with laughter.
The London Times called Lend Me a Tenor, “A remarkable piece of theatre … a masterpiece … Author Ken Ludwig has verve, a sound grasp of plot mechanics and a rare ability to couple high art with low comedy.”
Tickets are available online at pentacletheatre.org and at the Pentacle Theatre Ticket office, 145 Liberty St. NE in downtown Salem. For more information, contact the Pentacle Theatre office at 503-485-4300.
Pentacle Theatre is Salem’s premier community theatre celebrating 60 years of professional-quality productions in an intimate setting. Pentacle Theatre encourage actors of various abilities and all ethnic backgrounds to participate in productions.
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