Lend Me a Tenor to close 15 Aug 2010

The Broadway revival of Ken Ludwig's Lend Me a Tenor will conclude its limited Broadway engagement on 15 Aug 2010 at the end of the actors' contracts. An extension through to Labor Day (6 Sep 2010) is under discussion and subject to the actors' schedules.

Lend Me a Tenor opened at the Music Box Theatre on 4 Apr 2010, following previews from 12 Mar.

It received mixed, but mostly positive reviews: "There are tweaks and surprises sprinkled in like hot peppers in General Tsao's chicken, only these beauties make you scream in the good way" (www.newyorktheatreguide.com); "Labor-intensive but laugh-deficient (NY Times); Lots of laughs and lots of lulls (NY Daily News); "hilarious" (NY Post) Evening full of belly laughs (Back Stage); A hoot (Variety).

Directed by Stanley Tucci, Lend Me a Tenor stars Anthony LaPaglia (Tito Merelli), Tony Shalhoub (Saunders), Brooke Adams (Julia), Mary Catherine Garrison (Maggie), Jennifer Laura Thompson (Diana), Jay Klaitz (The Bellhop), Jan Maxwel (Maria) and Justin Bartha (Max). The comedy plays at the Music Box Theatre.

Lend Me a Tenor has received three Tony Award nominations (Best Revival of a Play, Best Costume Design (Martin Pakledinaz) and Best Featured Actress (Jan Maxwell), four Outer Critics Circle Award nominations (Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Director of a Play (Stanley Tucci), Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play. and Outstanding Costume Design (Martin Pakledinaz). It received three Drama League Award nominations as well: Distinguished Revival of a Play and two Distinguished Performance Awards (Jan Maxwell and Tony Shalhoub).

Set in the 1930s, Lend Me a Tenor is a madcap screwball comedy that takes place when Tito Merelli, the fiery-tempered and world famous Italian superstar, arrives in Cleveland, Ohio to make his debut with the local opera and promptly goes missing. As Saunders, the show's presenter, conspires to cover for Tito's absence, placate his hot-blooded wife, and distract his most passionate fans, chaos on a truly operatic level ensues.

Lend Me a Tenor's design and creative team is John Lee Beatty (set designer), Kenneth Posner (lighting design), Martin Pakledinaz, (costume design) and Peter Hylenski (sound design).

The comedy is produced on Broadway by The Araca Group, Stuart Thompson, Carl Moellenberg, Rodney Rigby, Olympus Theatricals, Broadway Across America, in Association with Lisa Cartwright, Wendy Federman/Jamie deRoy.

Lend Me a Tenor premiered on Broadway in 1989 and received seven Tony Award nominations, winning two. It was also honored with four Drama Desk Awards. Prior to Broadway, Lend Me a Tenor played London's West End where it received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Comedy. The play has been translated into sixteen languages and produced in more than twenty-five countries.