In a press statement, producers Martin Platt and David Elliott commented, “We wish to thank the extremely dedicated cast of Lend Me a Tenor The Musical, author Peter Sham and composer Brad Carroll and everyone who has taken part in the project. Despite mostly wonderful notices from the press, great feedback from our audiences and nightly standing ovations, this has not translated into growing sales and we feel it is in everyone's best interests to close the production on August 6th."
In an earlier press statement, however, made before the show opened officially, the producers had stated that they had “been in discussions with Delfont Mackintosh Theatres with regards [to] a potential transfer at the end of our initial six months. Based on the online buzz and standing ovations at each of our previews so far, we feel this is a very real possibility and we are working closely with DMT on potential plans for the production in the West End beyond November 2011."
It was also at the Gielgud Theatre where Ken Ludwig’s original play premiered in 1986, when the theatre was called the Globe. The new musical version features book and lyrics by Peter Sham and music by Brad Carroll.
According to press materials, it is 1934, and the world's greatest tenor Tito Merelli has come to Cleveland, OH, to save its Grand Opera Company by singing Verdi's Otello. When he is unexpectedly incapacitated, Max, the opera director’s meek assistant, is given the daunting task of finding a last-minute replacement. Chaos ensues - including a scheming soprano, a tenor-struck ingénue, a jealous wife, shrimp gone bad and the Cleveland Police department.
Matthew Kelly stars as Henry Saunders (executive director of the Cleveland Grand Opera), with Damian Humbley as Max (Henry Saunders' assistant, and the opera prompter), Michael Matus as ‘Tito Merelli, 'Il Stupendo' (the great Italian tenor), Sophie-Louise Dann as Diana Divane (Prima Donna of the Cleveland Grand Opera), Joanna Riding as Maria Marelli and Cassidy Janson as Maggie Saunders (Henry's daughter). Gay Soper, Jane Quinn and Michelle Bishop are the ladies of the Opera Guild. The company also features Jemma Alexander, Karen Aspinall, Natasha J. Barnes, Nick Butcher, Kelly Chinery, Sharon Eckman, Daniel Farrow, Andrew Keelan, Kara Lane, Connor McAllister, Haydn Oakley, Stephen Oliver-Webb, Ryan Pidgen, Jeremy Secomb, Emma Sewell, John Stacey, Robert Traynor and Michelle White. It is directed Ian Talbot and Randy Skinner, designed by Paul Farnsworth, with lighting by Tim Mitchell and sound by Terry Jardine and Nick Lidster. The musical supervisor is Paul Gemignani, the musical director is Colin Billing, and orchestrations are by Chris Walker. It is produced by Martin Platt and David Elliott and Eileen & Allen Anes.
To book tickets, contact the box office on 0844 482 5130 or visit www.tenorthemusical.co.uk.
