AUDITION FOR:

LEND ME A TENOR
By Ken Ludwig

Artistic Director: Laura Bird

Audition Locale:               The Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron St.  Ypsilanti
Audition Dates:                June 16 and 17 at 7pm, with callbacks, if needed, on June 18
Performances:                The Riverside Arts Center  76 N. Huron St. Ypsilanti
Performance Dates:      September 19-22, 26-28

Audition Process:           

There are roles for 4 men and 4 women.  The production will be directed by Laura Bird.  If you have any questions, or cannot make these audition days, feel free to contact her.  Auditions consist of cold readings from the script.  Those auditioning for Max, Tito, and the Bellhop, please have a portion of an operatic-type song prepared that you can sing acapella. These characters do not require trained singing voices, but the actors should be able to carry a tune and sing loudly.

Synopsis:  This night in September of 1934 is the biggest in the history of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company. World famous tenor Tito Morelli is to perform Othello, his greatest role, at the gala season opener. Saunders, the General Manager, hopes this will put Cleveland on the operatic map. Morelli is late; when he finally sweeps in it is too late to rehearse with the company. Through a hilarious series of mishaps, Il Stupendo is given a double dose of tranquilizers which mix with the booze he has consumed and he passes out. His pulse is so low that Saunders and his assistant Max believe he is dead. What to do? Max is an aspiring singer and Saunders persuades him to get into Morelli's Othello costume and try to fool the audience into thinking he's Il Stupendo. Max succeeds admirably, but Morelli comes to and gets into his other costume. Now two Othello’s are running around in costume and two women are running around in lingerie, each thinking she is with Il Stupendo!

Available Roles:

Max*-Assistant to Saunders.  Late twenties-mid thirties.  Max is earnest and hard-working, and is in love with Maggie.
Maggie- Max’s girlfriend & Saunders’ daughter.  Mid twenties-early thirties.  Maggie is smart & practical, but yearns for something “wonderful and romantic” before she settles down with Max.
Saunders-General Manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company.  Late forties-mid sixties.  Saunders is brusque and authoritarian with a short fuse.
Tito Merelli*-A world-famous tenor, also known to his fans as “Il Stupendo.” Early forties-mid sixties. Tito is larger than life; full of grand gestures and grand appetites.  He has an Italian accent.
Maria-Tito’s wife.  Mid thirties-late forties.  Maria is proud, excitable, and emotional.  She speaks with an Italian accent.
Bellhop*-A bellhop.  Early twenties-mid thirties.  The bellhop is shrewd, opportunistic, and determined to audition for Tito.
Diana-The Cleveland Grand Opera’s lead soprano.  Early thirties-late forties.  Diana is sexy and forceful; she knows what she wants and how to get it.
Julia-Chairperson of the Opera Guild.  Mid forties-early seventies.  Julia is vivacious and charming and passionate about opera.

*These characters sing “opera.”  The actors need only be able to sing loudly and carry a tune; operatic training is not required.

 

** Not only are auditions on the horizon for Lend Me A Tenor, but the production is also looking for a producer, costumer, sound op and prop master -- this is your big chance to get involved with a fun summer project! The play is great entertainment, and the director is fantastic to work with. Let us know if you are interested in becoming a part of this team, and please spread the word for us!

For more information call (734) 395- 5876 or contact the director, Laura Bird at lbirdhouse@comcast.net