Lend Me a Tenor
by Ken Ludwig
October 5,6,12,13,19,20 @ 8:00 PM
October 7 & 14 @ 4:00 PM
Price: All tickets are $20 and can be reserved at 860.491.9988 or at www.goshenplayers.org.
A gala fund raiser at the Cleveland Opera Company featuring the renowned opera star, Tito Merelli, dissolves into chaos when “Il Stupendo” (as he is known) is accidentally tranquilized. Desperate for the show to go on, the opera company manager convinces his assistant, Max, to don the Othello costume and the makeup to take Merelli’s place. When Il Stupendo awakens and heads for the stage, complexities ensue. A door-slamming farce rife with misunderstandings, disguises and mistaken identities, this hilarious show is not to be missed!
The mix of veteran players cast in Goshen Players’ production of Ken Ludwig’s “Lend Me A Tenor” guarantee a hilarious evening of entertainment!
Though the cast numbers only eight, Director Janice Luise-Lutkus has packed this group with some of the area’s biggest talents.
The titular tenor, Tito Merelli, (also known as “Il Stupendo”) will be played by Scott Stanchfield of Torrington. Stanchfield is familiar locally as half of the musical duo “Mick and Scott” as well as being recognized as a part pf many local theatre orchestras. He last wowed audiences in Goshen in his role as Nunzio Cristano in “Over The River and Through the Woods.”
Colleen Renzullo of Torrington will portray Il Stupendo’s wife, Maria Merelli. Renzullo is also a familiar favorite with Goshen audiences, having taken the lead role in the 2011 staged reading of “Strange Snow” and contributed an outstanding performance in 2010's runaway hit, “Working.”
Saunders, the harried manager who is willing to go to any length to save his theatre, will be played by Goshen’s own Ron Dukenski. Ron is a familiar presence to Goshen audiences, having portrayed one of the fathers in “The Fantasticks” and crooned to us as a singer in Goshen’s sold out Valentine Cabarets.
Saunder’s long-suffering wife, Diana, will be brought to life my Millbrook, NY’s Juliette Garrison Koch. Local audiences will immediately recall Juliette’s hilarious, show-stopping portrayal of Miss Hannigan in the Warner’s recent production of “Annie.”
Add to this mix Michael Accuosti of Prospect as Max, the ne’er-do-well, nerdy assistant manager of the theatre. Accuosti’s previously lauded performances in Goshen include Nick in the hilarious “Over the River and Through the Woods,” and Howie in the powerful “Rabbit Hole.”
Maggie, the leading lady of the piece, will be played by the lovely Tracey Brown of Meriden. Brown is well known from her acclaimed roles at the Connecticut Cabaret Theatre, the New Britain Repertory Theatre and Cheshire and Southington Community Theatres.
Rounding out the company are two Goshen Players veterans. The Bellhop will be portrayed by the illustrious John Fabbri of Litchfield, most recently seen as Burleigh in Goshen’s production of “Mary Stuart.” Fabbri’s comic portrayal of this shrewd and opportunistic character will have audiences rolling in the aisles.
Janice Connor of Goshen finishes out the cast with a flourish, playing Julia, Saunder’s wife. Connor has delighted audiences repeatedly on the Goshen Stage, in roles as varied as Rose in “Enchanted April” all the way back to an Ascot Lady in “My Fair Lady.”
Lend Me a Tenor is presented through special arrangements with the Samuel French Company and is generously underwritten by Union Savings Bank.
Goshen Players is an all volunteer community theatre company located in Goshen Connecticut. Their beloved home is the Old Goshen Town Hall. The theatre is at 2 North Street, at the Rotary Junction of Routes 4 and 63 in the heart of Goshen, CT.
