Auditions

Lend Me a Tenor

Auditions for Lend Me a Tenor are Sunday, February 5 and Monday, February 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Fantasy Playhouse, 3312 Long Ave, Huntsville.

Production Dates are May 11-12, 17-19, 2012 @ 7:30 p.m.and May 13 & 19, 2012 @ 2 p.m. at the VBC Playhouse.

For informations contact director This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Synopsis:

This night in a September in the mid-1930s is the biggest in the history of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company. World famous tenor, Tito Morelli, is to perform Otello, his greatest role, at their gala season opener. Harried General Manager, Saunders, p g hopes this will put Cleveland on the cultural map. But Morelli is nowhere to be found; and when he finally arrives, it’s too late for a rehearsal. Through a hilarious series of mishaps, 'Il Stupendo' gets a double dose of tranquilizers—which mixes with the champagne he has consumed—and he passes out. His pulse is so low that Saunders and assistant, Max, believe he is dead. What to do? Saunders coaxes Max into Morelli's costume, blackface and wig, intending to fool the audience with a fake 'Il Stupendo.’ Nervous but talented amateur Max succeeds admirably, but Morelli revives and dresses for his performance. With two Otellos now in costume and two women ‘en dishabille,’ each thinking she is with 'Il Stupendo,' this farce spins out of control.

The Characters

Roles available for 4 men and 4 women, ages 20's to 60's.

  • MAX – Assistant to Saunders. An average, if a bit rumpled, guy with slightly more than average insecurities. He is very likable (and surprisingly talented) and always wants to please his boss… and Maggie. He is, however, rarely in command of his own life… much less his relationship.
  • MAGGIE – Max’s girlfriend; Saunders’ daughter. Pretty and quirky… if not also a bit naïve. She is used to having her own way… with everyone but her father. She is enamored of the idea of having a ‘fling’ with Tito… and does her dead-level best to make that happen.
  • SAUNDERS – General Manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company; Max’s boss; Maggie’s father. Very much an authoritarian… and a quick thinker—if not an outright schemer. People close to him can get to him, on an emotional level… but not frequently and not for long.
  • TITO – The Tenor; a.k.a. “Merelli” or “Il Stupendo;” Maria’s husband. A world-renowned opera star. He loves his wife and family, but he has large appetites… for food… for drink… and for other women. He’s typically in control, confident, congenial and generous… but can be flustered.
  • MARIA – Tito’s wife. A lovely woman… who is also proud and very excitable. She is cordial, congenial and forgiving with most people… but her emotions swing from doting, loving and passionate to absolutely infuriated and ‘tearily’ frustrated, when it comes to Tito and his ‘appetites.’
  • BELLHOP – The… uh, Bellhop… but far from an ‘ordinary’ or ‘typical’ toter of luggage. This one actually KNOWS opera… its arias… its roles… AND its stars—like Tito Merelli. He speaks/sings fluent Italian. And his persistence can only be described as “legendary.”
  • DIANA – The Soprano. Beautiful… talented (on more than an operatic level)… sensual… determined… and not above sleeping her way to the top (or even to The Met). But she’s also very pragmatic, knowing when it’s time to cut her losses and move to the next opportunity.
  • JULIA – Chairwoman of the Opera Guild… and she relishes in it. She is a woman ‘not to be denied’… ANYTHING. She moves and talks with utter conviction and confidence… and takes over a room when she enters it. She stills considers herself ‘seductive’ and a ‘looker