Classic Theater Guild debuted their production of Lend Me A Tenor Thursday, Feb. 27 at Congregation Beth Israel in Niskayuna. The Tony Award nominated comedy, written by American playwright, author, screenwriter, and director, Ken Ludwig,”had a good opening night (and) the actors did a fantastic job (on opening night)”, according to Rommy (Jackie) Amilivia.
The comedy was shown to the public Saturday, March 1. Additional production dates for showings are Thursday, March 6, and Saturday, March 8, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 2 and March 9, 3:00 p.m.Tickets for the comedy are $20 and can be purchased in advance on the Classic Theater Guild’s Facebook page via Eventbrite, as well as at the door on the day of the show.
“We are excited to bring this play to life with a talented cast and a terrific team,” play director Joe Bruton said, “I think audiences will enjoy the play.”
Starring in the production are Alan Angelo (Tito Merelli, the Italian opera star), Alexia Halsey (Maggie, Max’s girlfriend), George Filieau (Henry Saunders, the cranky boss), Josef Mendez (Max, a newcomer to the area), Kim Crossway (Diana, the ambitious opera soprano), Shaya Reyes (Julia,vice president of the opera company), Hannah Blakeslee (Maria, Tito’s volatile wife), and Jesse Braverman (willing-to-please bellhop).
Bruton wanted to bring Lend Me A Tenor to fruition because of his love of comedies and the need for people to escape the craziness of life for several hours to laugh at “someone else’s problems.”
“I love comedies,” Bruton said. “In this crazy world we live in, it’s important to escape for two hours and laugh about someone else’s problems and know it’s going to work out right in the end!”
Lend Me A Tenor Synopsis
Lend Me A Tenor is set in 1934 in a hotel suite in Cleveland, Ohio. Henry Saunders, the general manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, awaits the arrival of Tito Merelli, who is set to perform in Cleveland to sing the lead role in a performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Otello. Tito’s assistant, Max, is dating Saunders’ daughter, Maggie, who is infatuated with Tito. When Tito drinks too much wine and takes a few pills from Max, Max takes Tito’s place and chaos ensues with wives, girlfriends, and a wacky bellhop.
Ludwig’s Lend Me A Tenor premiered on the West End stage March 6, 1986, and later, on Broadway March 2,1989. The comedy was nominated for nine Tony Award nominations and won for Best Actor (Phillip Bosco) and Best Director (Jerry Zacs). The Broadway revival of Lend Me A Tenor opened April 4, 2010, under the direction of Stanley Tucci.
The comedy’s title is a pun on “Lend me a tenner”, aka a ten-dollar bill.
What can patrons expect from Lend Me A Tenor, according to Bruton?
“You have to root for poor Max, who even though he drugs the unsuspecting Tito, tries his best to please his boss, his Tito-enamored girlfriend, and everyone else! The other characters such as the opera-crazed bellhop, the sexually charged Julia, the contrary Diana, and Tito’s jealous wife Maria, add the humorous escapades.”
Congregation Beth Israel is located at 2195 Eastern Parkway, Niskayuna, N.Y. 12309. Tickets can be purchased early via Eventbrite: CTG Presents “Lend Me a Tenor” Tickets, Thu, Feb 27, 2025 at 7:30 PM | Eventbrite.
