arts & entertainment

Riverside Theatre, led by Producing Artistic Director/CEO Allen D. Cornell and Managing Director/COO Jon R. Moses, presents the uproarious comedy by Ken Ludwig, A Comedy of Tenors. Sponsored by Bill & Judy^ Schneebeck and by Riverside Theatre’s Patron Producers Group, A Comedy of  Tenors performs on the Stark Stage from February 21 – March 12, 2023.

Written by one of America’s most prolific playwrights, A Comedy of Tenors is an uproarious tale of romantic indiscretions and madcap situations. On the eve of the concert of the century, 1930’s Paris is all abuzz as four renown tenors are set to take the stage in a stadium filled with screaming fans. What could possibly go wrong? Apparently a lot, when you have one hotel suite, four tenors, two wives, and three girlfriends. Can producer Henry Saunders can keep Italian superstar Tito Merelli and his hot-blooded wife from causing operatic chaos?

Written in 2018, A Comedy of Tenors is a “sequel” to Ken Ludwig’s wildly successful 1989 comedy, Lend Me A Tenor. While Mr. Ludwig is not fond of sequels, as he sat in the audience of the Broadway revival of his award-winning play in 2010, he could see how much people around him enjoyed being in the company of his old friends from the Cleveland Grand Opera Company.

“What if I wrote a play about these characters two years after the end of Lend me Tenor?” said Mr. Ludwig. “Where would Max be? Would he be singing for a living? Would Max and his girlfriend be married? What about world famous opera star Tito Merelli and his wife Maria? Would they still be together?”

The more he thought, the more he wanted to find out the next chapter in these character’s lives. However, he wanted to make A Comedy of Tenors independent of his earlier play. He didn’t want audiences to have to see Lend Me A Tenor in order to understand or enjoy A Comedy of Tenors.

“The writing of A Comedy of Tenors has turned out to be more fun than I’d ever imagined,” said Mr. Ludwig. “I thought I had said goodbye to the characters in Lend Me A Tenor when the play first opened on Broadway so many years ago, but A Comedy of Tenors has allowed me to spend time again with some of my very best friends.  It’s been like going to the best college reunion ever.”

Riverside’s production of A Comedy of Tenors is directed by James Brennan and stars Ray DeMattis (Saunders), Ryan Jesse (Max), Jennifer Cody (Maria), Ron Bohmer (Tito), Stephanie Bacastow (Mimi), Anthony Festa (Carlo) and Susan Cella (Tatiana Racón).

The design and production crew includes: Michael Schweikardt (Scenic Design), Stephanie Genda (Costume Design), Kate Casalino (Wig Design), Todd Wren (Lighting Design), Craig Beyrooti (Sound Design), Ingrid Louise Olson (Production Stage Manager) and Dane Urban (Assistant Stage Manager).

A Comedy of Tenors performs February 21 – March 12, 2023 on the Stark Stage at Riverside Theatre. Tickets start at $45. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 772-231-6990 or online at http://www.riversidetheatre.com.

Performances are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 7:30pm; Fridays, and Saturdays at 8pm; with matinees on Wednesdays, select Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm. 

Performance Schedule:

February 21, 22, 23, 28, March 1, 2, 7, 8 & 9 @ 7:30pm

February 22, 25, 26, March 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 11 & 12 @ 2pm

February 24, 25, March 3, 4, 10 & 11@ 8pm