Lend Me A Tenor
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A Comedy
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, Tito Morelli, 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, 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. In a frantic attempt to salvage the evening, Saunders persuades Max to get into Morelli's Otello costume and fool the audience into thinking he's Il Stupendo. Max succeeds admirably, but Morelli comes to and gets into his other costume ready to perform. Now two Otellos are running around in 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. It was directed on Broadway by Jerry Zaks, and in London by David Gilmore.
For 4 men and 4 women. One set.
From left, Celia Tackaberry, Doug Stender choking Seth Rudetsky, Catia Ojeda and Jim Poulos in a scene from Engeman Theater’s production of “Lend Me a Tenor.”
Reviews
“A remarkable piece of music 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.”
The London Times.
“One of two great farces by a living writer.”
The New York Times
"Ken Ludwig's 1989 Tony-winning comedy is one of only two classic farces by a living playwright, the other being Michael Frayn's frenetic "Noises Off"”
Daily News
“The most inventive, original farce in a long time …”
Punch.
“A furiously paced comedy with more than a touch of the Marx brothers … A marvelous combination of wonderful farcical moments and funny lines.”
Time Out.
“Hilariously over the top.”
The Manchester Guardian.
“Fills the theatre with the sound of laughter.”
The (London) Sunday Express.
“Free flowing honest-to-goodness unforced farce.”
New York Magazine.
“It’s hilarious … The funniest show on Broadway.”
WNEW.
“The Big Winner!”
New York Daily News.
"Non stop laughter."
Variety.
"Uproarious! Hysterical!"
USA Today.
"A rib tickling comedy."
The New York Post.
"Screamingly funny!"
CBS Radio.
"[A] three-ring circus of chaos involving celebrity worship, backstage shenanigans and mistaken identities."
Desert News
Awards
2 Tony Awards - for Best Direction of a Play and Best Actor in a Play (Philip Bosco)
5 Tony Award Nominations including Best Play
3 Outer Critics Circle Awards - for Best Set, Best Costume and Best Lighting Design
4 Drama Desk Awards - for Outstanding Actor in a play (Philip Bosco), Best Costume Design, Best Director and Outstanding Featured Actress in a play (Tovah Feldshuh)
2 Drama Desk Award Nominations
Oliver Award for Comedy of the Year (nominee)
Full Reviews
- Broadway Production
The Wall Street Journal
USA Today
New York Daily News
- John Engeman Theatre Production
New York Times
- Northern Stage Production
Times Argus
-Edge of the World Theatre Production
The Daily Herald
-Cape Playhouse Production
Cape Cod Today
News
Vienna Production of Lend Me A Tenor starring Otto Schenk Reaches 450th Performance
Articles
Caldwell changes 'Tenor' with latest show
Hunter Foster stars in Lend Me A Tenor at The Cape Playhouse
Hunter Foster's accidental tour of New England
Student Theatre Review: Bethesda Chevy Chase High School's Lend Me a Tenor
Licensing Information
Production Photos
Lend Me a Tenor at Théâtre du Vieux-Terrebonne, Terrebonne, Quebec
PC: SĂ©bastien Arbour
Dominique Pétin as Diana - Benoît Brière as Max
Adèle Reinhardt as Julia - Pierre Collin as M. Beaudet
Chantal Baril as Maria - Pierre Collin as M. Beaudet - Patrice Coquereau
as The Bellhop - Benoît Brière as Max
Cast of Lend Me a Tenor, Théâtre du Vieux-Terrebonne
Benoît Brière as Max - Dominique Pétin as Diana
Benoît Brière as Max - Nathalie Mallette as Maggie
Lend Me a Tenor at George Street Playhouse,
directed by David Saint
PC: T. Charles Erickson
Set for Lend me a Tenor at the George Street Playhouse
Garrett Long as Maggie - Peter Maloney as Saunders
Patrick Quinn as Tito - Mary Testa as Maria
Romain Fruge as Max - Patrick Quinn as Tito
Alison Fraser as Diana
Patrick Quinn as Tito - Alison Fraser as Diana
Patrick Quinn as Tito - Alison Fraser as Diana
Peter Maloney as Saunders - Romain Fruge as Max - Patrick Quinn as Tito
Mary Testa as Maria - Alison Fraser as Diana - Garrett Long as Maggie
Caldwell Theatre Company, Boca Raton, Florida
Lend Me A Tenor at the Theater in der Josefstadt in Vienna, Austria starring Otto Schenk:
