Lend Me a Tenor
June 9th & 10th 6:30 PM (Please plan on attending one date, you will be notified about attending callbacks)
Callbacks ,if needed June 11th
Location: Barnstormers Theatre
112 NE Evelyn Ave Grants Pass OR 97526
Rehearsals Begin: First Read Through June 15th
Rehearsals will be Mon-Thursday 6:30-8:30 to start and then Fridays will be added in closer to opening.
Show Run: August 14th-30th
Show Synopsis
Winner of 3 Tony Awards and 4 Drama Desk Awards, 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 singer Tito Merelli, known as Il Stupendo, the greatest tenor of his generation, to appear for one night only as the star of the opera. Tito arrives late, and through a hilarious series of mishaps, he is given a double dose of tranquilizers and passes out. His pulse is so low that Saunders and his assistant Max believe he’s dead – and in a frantic attempt to salvage the evening, Saunders persuades Max to get into Merelli’s costume and fool the audience into thinking he’s Il Stupendo. Max succeeds and lives up to his idol, but Merelli regains consciousness and gets into the identical costume, ready to perform. Now two opera singers are running around in the same costume and two women are running around in lingerie, each thinking she is with Il Stupendo. A sensation on Broadway and in London’s West End, this madcap, screwball comedy is guaranteed to leave audiences teary-eyed with laughter.
Audition Requirements
Please come prepared with 90 second comedic monologue .
You may also be asked to cold read from the script.
To help streamline the process, please complete the audition form attached to this page.
Roles
This is a high energy, face paced, physical comedy. It is preferable, but not mandatory, that the roles of Tito and Max be played by actors who can sing. This is not a musical, but there are scenes where Tito and Max sing in Italian from the opera Pagliacci.
TITO MERELLI: The World’s most renowned opera tenor, and notorious “ladies man”. Has a heavy Italian accent. Tito shares moments of passion and kissing with Diana. Age 30+
MAX: A socially awkward but highly talented operatic tenor who must find his self-confidence in order to move from company go-fer to renowned star. Ability to sing a plus. Max shares moments of passion and kissing with his girlfriend Maggie when he is playing the role of Tito.
HENRY SAUNDERS: The Cleveland Grand Opera’s general manager. Maggie’s father and Max’s boss. Explosive personality.
BELLHOP: The hotel bellhop, rabid fan, and operatic hopeful. Comic timing and quick wit required.
MAGGIE SAUNDERS: Max’s presumed girlfriend and the rebellious daughter of the head of the opera company. She has a great admiration for Tito. Maggie and Max share moments of passion and kissing.
MARIA MERELLI: Tito’s suffering wife. She has an Italian temper and accent. Very jealous – switches from rage to passion quickly.
DIANA: The opera’s ingenue soprano, sexy small-town diva, who is doing whatever she has to, to make her way to the top. Is very confident and seductive. Diana and Tito share moments of passion and kissing.
JULIA: Chairwoman of the Cleveland Opera Guild, over the top character who considers herself a “Grande dame”.
We foster a welcoming, low-pressure audition room. If you’re nervous — come anyway. We’re looking for energy, not perfection.