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| Matthew Kelly in Lend Me a Tenor The Musical |
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Kelly & Humbley Star in West End Lend Me a TenorDate: 14 April 2011
Matthew Kelly, Damian Humbley, Michael Matus and Sophie-Louise Dann will reprise their roles in the West End transfer of the musical adaptation of Ken Ludwig’s play Lend Me a Tenor, which is now confirmed to open, as previously reported, at the Gielgud Theatre on 15 June 2011 (previews from 2 June).
Coincidentally, Ken Ludwig’s original award-winning play premiered at the same address (then called the Globe Theatre) in 1986 before going on to receive its Broadway premiere in 1989 and to win two Tony Awards. In March 2010, it was revived on Broadway, directed by Stanley Tucci with a cast including Anthony LaPaglia.
Lend Me a Tenor The Musical had a try-out last September at the Theatre Royal Plymouth and was nominated for Best Regional Production in this year’s Whatsonstage.com Awards.
Set in 1934, Lend Me a Tenor The Musical revolves around renowned tenor Tito Merelli, known as "Il Stupendo", as he prepares to perform his greatest role, Otello. Things go wrong at the final dress rehearsal though, as a case of mistaken identity, double entendres and innuendoes threaten to ruin the show. When Tito is incapacitated, the director’s meek assistant Max is given the daunting task of finding a last-minute replacement.
The 27-strong cast is led by Matthew Kelly (as Henry Saunders, the general manager of the opera company), just seen in the West End in Tim Firth’s comedy Sign of the Times, Michael Matus (Tito), Damian Humbley (Max) and Sophie-Louise Dann (prima donna Diana Divane), all reprising their performances from Plymouth, where the musical ran from 24 September to 6 October 2010.
Sally Ann Triplett, also who starred in Plymouth as Tito’s wife Maria, will not be appearing in the transfer as she's taking over as Donna Sheridan in the Abba musical Mamma Mia! in the West End. Further casting is still to be announced.
The musical has book and lyrics by Peter Sham, with music by Brad Carroll. It’s directed by former Open Air Theatre artistic director Ian Talbot, with musical supervision by Paul Gemignani, musical direction by Colin Billing, choreography by Randy Skinner, designs by Paul Farnsworth, lighting by Tim Mitchell, sound by Terry Jardine and Nick Lidster and orchestrations by Chris Walker.
Lend Me a Tenor The Musical is produced by Martin Platt and David Elliott, in association with Eileen and Allen Anes.
** WOULD YOU LIKE TO ATTEND A WHATSONSTAGE.COM OUTING TO LEND ME A TENOR? REGISTER YOUR INTEREST BY EMAILING US HERE. IF THERE’S ENOUGH DEMAND, WE’LL TRY TO ORGANISE AN EVENT & WILL ALERT YOU WHEN WE HAVE. ALL OUTINGS GO ON SALE FIRST TO MEMBERS OF OUR THEATRE CLUB, WHO GET AN ADDITIONAL £1 SAVING ON EVERY TICKET BOOKED DURING THEIR PRIORITY BOOKING PERIOD. **
- by Terri Paddock
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