Auditions for Northeast Drama Playhouse

Find audition information for upcoming productions at the Northeast Drama Playhouse.

Spring 2024 Productions

Lend Me a Tenor

By Ken Ludwig

Directed by Susan Sargeant

Auditions

Auditions will consist of readings from the script.

For script/sides, please email theresa.furphy@tccd.edu.

You will be asked to provide your schedule and all conflicts during the rehearsal/performance time. Conflicts need to be determined in advance for production staff so a rehearsal schedule can be adhered to.

Dates and Times for Auditions
  • Date: Thursday, March 7 and Friday, March 8
  • Time: 2–5:30 p.m.
  • Location: Theatre NFAB 1205 (Sign up in the theatre lobby; resume/headshots optional)

Rehearsals

  • Dates: March 18–April 16
  • Times:
    • Mondays–Thursdays: 4–7 p.m.
    • Saturdays: 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Performances

  • Dates: April 17–20

Synopsis of Play

Winner of 3 Tony Awards and 4 Drama Desk Awards, Lend Me A Tenor is set in September 1934. Saunders, the general manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, is primed to welcome world-famous singer Tito Merelli, known as Il Stupendo, the greatest tenor of his generation, to appear for one night only as the star of the opera. Tito arrives late, and through a hilarious series of mishaps, he is given a double dose of tranquilizers and passes out. His pulse is so low that Saunders and his assistant Max believe he's dead—and in a frantic attempt to salvage the evening, Saunders persuades Max to get into Merelli's costume and fool the audience into thinking he's Il Stupendo. Max succeeds and lives up to his idol, but Merelli regains consciousness and gets into the identical costume, ready to perform. Now two opera singers are running around in the same costume and two women are running around in lingerie, each thinking she is with Il Stupendo.

A sensation on Broadway and in London's West End, this madcap, screwball comedy is guaranteed to leave audiences teary-eyed with laughter.

Characters

Max (male, 17–35): A socially awkward but highly talented operatic tenor who must find his self-confidence in order to move from company go-fer to renowned star. Ability to sing. Ethnicity: All ethnicities.

Maggie (female, 16–35): An innocent, beautiful ingenue, in love with the idea of love. Max's presumed girlfriend and the rebellious daughter of the head of the opera company.

Saunders (lead, male, 40–85): The head of the opera company, Maggie's father and Max's boss. Explosive personality and comfortable with physical comedy. Ethnicity: All ethnicities.

Tito (lead, male, 35–60): The greatest tenor in the world. Must have believable Italian accent and be comfortable with physical comedy. Ability to sing.

Diana (lead, female, 18–45): Sexy small town opera diva who has no problem sleeping her way to the middle. Ethnicity: All ethnicities.

Julia (lead, female, 40–75)

Bellhop (lead, 16+): Ethnicity: All ethnicities.

Maria (female, 30–55): Tito's voluptuous, and very jealous, wife. Goes to murderous rage to lustful passion in the blink of an eye. Must have a believable Italian accent. Ethnicity: All ethnicities.

Contact

For questions, contact neplayhouse@tccd.edu

Updated February 23, 2024