A Comedy ~

Main Character Summary:

DIANA: The lead soprano of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, Diana wishes nothing more than to be the most well-known name in the classical world—including seducing the most well-known tenor in the world, Tito Merelli, on his visit to Cleveland. Diana is young and exuberant, using her talents off-stage as often as she sings on stage, or more so. She is stunningly beautiful and rather voluptuous, and she's not afraid to use it.

JULIA: The Chairman of the Opera Guild in Cleveland, Julia's many years in opera have caused her to become stubborn and spacey. Despite her age, she, too, would love a chance with Tito to launch her into a brighter spotlight. She's always encouraging Maggie, who calls her Aunt Julia. Rather oblivious to many things, including her own age, Julia is quite a calm contrast to over-stressed Saunders' announcements and rages.

MAGGIE: Maggie Saunders, daughter of Cleveland Grand Opera Company's artistic director, tries her best to look after her father while herself getting into a bit of mischief. Constantly sought after by Max, the company's gofer, she would prefer to live a little, saying she wants a "fling"—her prime target being the famous Italian tenor Tito Merelli. Somewhat naive and more so not, Maggie discovers an interesting surprise when her fling becomes realised.

MARIA: Maria, wife of the opera singer Tito Merelli, goes with her husband everywhere, and Cleveland is no exception. She and Tito argue constantly, and eventually Maria leaves "for good." She is very fiery, and very Italian in every respect. Very self-confident and suspicious of Tito, she reciprocates her husband's stubbornness.

MAX:  Assistant to Saunders who is prompted to take on the role of  Il Stupendo.  Max is the male lead, and is involved with much of the intrigue in the plays plot twist and turns.

SAUNDERS: The artistic director for the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, Henry Saunders is ecstatic about world-famous Italian opera divo Tito Merelli flying into Cleveland to perform in Othello—almost too ecstatic. Saunders wants to be sure nothing goes wrong during Il Stupendo's stay, but finds himself caught in the center of several deceptions. An older gentleman whose temper sometimes gets the best of him, Saunders constantly tries to keep his cool and do things in the "appropriate manner."

TITO: Tito Merelli is the hottest Italian opera singer in the world. Accompanied by his ever-jealous wife, Maria, Tito travels to star in the Cleveland Grand Opera Company's production of Othello. He is a large, thick man who speaks with a thick Italian accent that the ladies of the company cannot help but find attractive—especially since he may hold to key to their advancement in the opera world. He is always a divo, especially during his many arguments with his wife.
 

 

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.