Theater D, a division of Deerfield Family Theater, will present the Tony Award-winning comedy Lend Me a Tenor at the Patty Turner Center on March 12-14 and March 19-21, 2010.

If you need a break from reality, and who doesnt these days, where better to go than Cleveland especially for the Cleveland Opera Companys 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, not to mention women running around in lingerie, that took Broadway by storm.

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

At Theater D we believe that laughter is the best medicine, says Producer Donna Price. Lend Me a Tenor truly is the tonic for today. It is a brilliantly-written, hysterical farce. And, when you add in our complimentary towering chocolate fountain and grand dessert buffet at intermission, this fantastic show might just be the greatest entertainment value around.

Debra Goldman returns as Director for Tenor, and she is looking forward to topping last years acclaimed show. Audiences who enjoyed our 2009 production of Neil Simons 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 isnt bad, either!

Lend Me a Tenor is a remarkable piece of music theater a masterpiece.
The London Times

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 was also 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 in the fall of 2010.

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/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 Company. Will Loftus (Max), is very active in theater as a performer, director and stage manager, and previously appeared in Theater Ds 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 Ds 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.

Dont miss these hilarious hijinks of operatic proportions. 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 Street, in Deerfield. All seats are reserved and cost $20 each. The ticket price includes drinks and desserts at intermission -- with 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.
 

Story and photos submitted by Jeff Berman