News

Theater D presents madcap 'Tenor'

Posted March 11, 2010 10:00 pm

Theater D, a division of Deerfield Family Theater, will present the Tony Award-winning comedy "Lend Me a Tenor" starting tonight.

If you need a break from reality - and who doesn't these days? - where better to go than Cleveland - especially for the Cleveland Opera Co.'s gala 1934 opening night. World famous tenor Tito Merelli (Il Stupendo) is set to perform his greatest role, Othello. Or, he was, until things began to go wildly, dreadfully wrong. Through a series of riotous mishaps, Merelli is incapacitated (perhaps permanently) and mayhem ensues. What follows is a zany chain-reaction of mistaken identity, slapstick humor, double-entendres, innuendos and door-slamming pandemonium.

Debra Goldman returns as director for "Tenor," and she is looking forward to topping last year's acclaimed show.

"Audiences who enjoyed our 2009 production of Neil Simon's 'Rumors' will love this madcap, screwball comedy brought to life by a fabulously talented cast that is second to none," says Goldman. "Doors slam, tempers flare and chaos rules, but laughter and love prevail in this rib-tickling farce about a day in the life of an opera gone wrong. The script is wonderful, the actors are fantastic and music isn't bad, either!"

Considered one of the funniest productions ever staged on Broadway, "Lend Me a Tenor" premiered at the Royale Theater in New York in 1989, ran for 476 performances and received seven Tony Award nominations, winning two. It also was honored with four Drama Desk Awards. A Broadway revival is being prepared for a spring 2010 launch, featuring Anthony LaPaglia, Tony Shalhoub and Justin Bartha. A new musical version of the show also is being developed. A West End (London) premier run of the musical is anticipated to begin this fall.

Veteran Theater D performers Gerry Nevin, Bryan Frischer, Sandy Greenberg, Will Loftus and Amy Ticho return for "Tenor," and they are joined in a power-packed cast by Geoff Isaac, Shannon Day and Sandee Greene.

Gerry Nevin (Saunders) has a resume chock full of national stage and screen credits spanning several decades, including appearances on the ABC daytime drama "All My Children."

Sandee Greene (Diana), a frequent stage performer, is a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and includes 30 film and television projects among her credits. She recently appeared in the film "Public Enemies," and also can be seen in episodes of "The Beast" and "My Boys" and in films such as "Stranger Than Fiction" and "Weird Science."

Geoff Isaac (Tito Merelli) has been performing in Chicago theaters and improv clubs for more than 25 years; he also helped found, and served on the boards of, three veteran performing arts groups: ComedySportz of Chicago, Free Associates and Actors Theatre Co.

Will Loftus (Max) is very active in theater as a performer, director and stage manager, and previously appeared in Theater D's production of "Any Number Can Die."

Shannon Day (Maggie), making her Theater D debut, has performed as Ophelia in "Hamlet" and Ti Moune in "Once on This Island."

Sandy Greenberg (Maria), who has had many principal roles in local theater, appeared as Cookie in Theater D's 2009 production of "Rumors."

Amy Ticho (Julia) is well-known to Theater D audiences, having appeared in "Rumors," "Any Number Can Die," "Moon Over Buffalo" and "Affluenza;" Amy has performed a wide variety of roles in local theater productions throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.

Bryan Frischer (Bellhop), returning for his second Theater D show, also has appeared in several recent productions of Deerfield Family Theater.

Performances of "Lend Me a Tenor" are at 8 p.m. March 12, 13, 19 and 20 and at 3 p.m. March 14 and 21 at the Patty Turner Center, 375 Elm St. in Deerfield. All seats are reserved and cost $20 each. The ticket price includes drinks and desserts at intermission, including a chocolate fountain. Tickets are available at the Patty Turner Center and at Jewett Park Community Center, 836 Jewett Park Drive, Deerfield.

For more information, call Producer Donna Price at (847) 650-6598 or e-mail donna@theaterd.com.

Theater D is a division of Deerfield Family Theater, a Deerfield Park District program partly sponsored by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

If you go

What: Theater D's production of "Lend Me a Tenor"

When: 8 p.m. March 12, 13, 19 and 20; and 3 p.m. March 14 and 21

Where: Patty Turner Center, 375 Elm St. in Deerfield.

Tickets: All seats are reserved and cost $20 each. The ticket price includes drinks and desserts at intermission, including a chocolate fountain. Tickets are available at the Patty Turner Center and at Jewett Park Community Center, 836 Jewett Park Drive, Deerfield.

More info: Call Producer Donna Price at (847) 650-6598 or e-mail <a href="mailto:donna@theaterd.com">donna@theaterd.com</a>.

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