onstage

Lend Me a Tenor

By Ken Ludwig

It’s the biggest night in the history of the Cleveland Opera Company. World-renowned tenor Tito Merelli, aka “Il Stupendo,” is singing the lead in the company’s benefi t performance of Otello. But things quickly go Il Bad-O for the operatic star.

First there’s the scantily-dressed, love struck autograph seeker hiding in his hotel closet. Then there’s his not-so-happy wife who fi nds this aforementioned babe in the closet and storms out of the hotel demanding a divorce. Oh yea, there’s a little incident with Il Stupendo accidentally overdosing on tranquilizers, causing his assistant to get into costume and make-up and pass himself off as the opera star, while… Il Stupendo makes a miraculous comeback! He gets to the theater for the second act and decides to go on – while his replacement is on stage. It’s a fast-paced, double-entendre, doorslamming good time.

FACT: It opened on Broadway March 2, 1989, and was nominated for seven Tony Awards – winning Best Play and Best Direction. It was also nominated for six Drama Desk Awards and three Outer Critics Circle awards. It has been translated into 16 languages and has been performed in 25 different countries.

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