Photo Flash: First Look at Beef & Boards' LEND ME A TENOR, Opening Tonight

By: Dec. 28, 2013
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Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre starts off its new season on the right note as it presents Lend Me A Tenor, the Ken Ludwig comedy marking its 25th Anniversary in 2014. Opening tonight, this Tony Award-winning madcap farce was called "uproarious" and "hysterical" by USA Today, and is sure to have you pealing with laughter! BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Lend Me A Tenor is set in Cleveland in 1934 where the world-famous tenor Tito Morelli is scheduled to perform as Otello. But he arrives late and, through a series of mishaps, is given a double dose of tranquilizers! His pulse is so weak that Saunders, the general manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, and his assistant, Max, believe he's dead. Desperate for the show to go on, they try to salvage the evening by dressing Max in one of the Otello costumes to fool the audience. But Morelli comes to, dresses in his other costume and prepares to perform. Now there are two Otellos being chased by women in lingerie who each think they're with Tito Morelli!

Starring as Saunders is longtime Beef & Boards favorite Eddie Curry, with David Schmittou (last seen in The Sound of Music as Captain Georg von Trapp) as Max. Craig Underwood, who just made his Beef & Boards debut in A Christmas Carol, stars as the famous tenor Tito Merelli. Another Beef & Boards favorite, Jeff Stockberger, is the bellhop. Returning to the stage are Jill Kelly in the role of Maria and Erin Cohenour as Diana. Rounding out the cast are Erin West as Maggie and Gerri Weagraff as Julia.

Directed by Darrin Murrell, Lend Me A Tenor is on stage for 36 performances through Feb. 2 in the intimate space of Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. Tickets range from $38.50 to $63.50 and include Chef Odell Ward's dinner buffet, prepared in-house for each performance, and select beverages. Parking is always free. A special New Year's Eve performance is scheduled for Dec. 31, which includes the dinner buffet, show, party favors, dancing to live music, balloon drop, champagne toast at midnight, and Chef Odell Ward's breakfast buffet. Tickets to this special celebration are $77.50.

For reservations, call the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre Box Office at 317.872.9664 anytime between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays. Discounts are available to groups of 20 or more; contact the Group Sales Department for more details. For more information, including complete show schedule, visit beefandboards.com.

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, Indiana's only year-round professional dinner theatre, has been serving up exceptional entertainment since 1973.

Photo Flash: First Look at Beef & Boards' LEND ME A TENOR, Opening Tonight
The Bellhop (Jeff Stockberger), left, practices a little opera while waiting to see world-famous tenor Tito Merelli

Photo Flash: First Look at Beef & Boards' LEND ME A TENOR, Opening Tonight
Diana (Erin Cohenhour) gives Max (David Schmittou) a message for world-famous tenor Tito Merelli

Photo Flash: First Look at Beef & Boards' LEND ME A TENOR, Opening Tonight
Listening at his bedroom door to see what the world-famous tenor Tito Merelli might have to say are (from top) Julia (Gerri Weagraff), Maggie (Erin West) and the Bellhop (Jeff Stockberger)

Photo Flash: First Look at Beef & Boards' LEND ME A TENOR, Opening Tonight
In a rage that world-famous tenor Tito Merelli (Craig Underwood), laying down, has appeared to take his own life, Saunders (Eddie Curry), the general manager of the Cleveland Opera Company, leaps at Tito as Max (David Schmittou) watches, stunned



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