[NEohioPAL] Lend Me a Tenor at Rabbit Run Theater

[Rabbit Run]

FOR:               Rabbit Run Community Arts Association

                        P. O. Box 235, 49 Park St.

                        Madison, OH  44057

 

CONTACT:    Karen Ziegler, Publicist

                        440-428-5913

 

DATE:            August 9, 2011

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Lend Me a Tenor Opens at Rabbit Run Theater

 

In 1934 world famous tenor, Tito Merelli, is to perform Otello, his greatest
role ever, at the Cleveland Grand Opera Company.  On opening night, however,
Merelli arrives intoxicated.  Through a hilarious maze of mishaps,
tranquilizers, mistaken identities and love triangles this uproariously
funny story spins out of control onstage and off.

 

This Tony Award winning, rib-tickling comedy by Ken Ludwig opens Friday,
Aug. 12, at Rabbit Run Theater and runs through Sunday, Aug. 28.

 

Janet Shank is the show's director.  Shank is a life-long veteran of
theatre, having earned a BFA degree at Kent State.  She also studied at Lake
Erie College and served as the Director of Performing Arts at Lake Erie
during the 1980's.  In addition, Shank studied and performed at The
Cleveland Playhouse  as well as owning a professional touring company.  

"I love directing farce." Shank said. "It's a lot of hard work because of
the physicality and the need for exquisite comedic timing.  The cast is
outstanding and, I believe, some of the most talented actors in the area.
Comedy is a demanding art form, and this cast has uniformly demonstrated the
qualities needed to pull off a show like Tenor.  The audience will have a
wonderful time with this fast-paced comedy."  

 

Tito Merelli is played by Don Knepper.  Knepper has appeared several times
at Rabbit Run including last year's production of Frost/Nixon.  He has also
performed in a number of productions at the Fine Arts Association and
Chagrin Valley Little Theater. 

 

Michael Crowley, a recent Lake Catholic graduate, plays Max, assistant to
the Opera manager.  In addition to Lend me a Tenor Crowley performed this
summer in Rabbit Run's productions of Urinetown as the lead role, Bobby
Strong, and in the ensemble of Chicago, the Musical.  This fall Crowley
plans to begin at Kent State University as a music theater major. 

 

Nancy Shimonek Brooks portrays Tito's wife, Maria.  Most recently Shimonek
appeared as Sister Aloysius in Doubt, a Parable, at Rabbit Run in June.
Roger Principe is playing Saunders, the Opera manager; Matt Mortensen is the
hotel bellhop, and Kathe Tascone plays Julia, Chairman of the Opera Guild.
Completing the cast is Caitlin Rose, as Saunder's daughter, and Evie Koh as
Diana, a soprano with the Opera.

 

Tickets are $19/adult and $17/senior, student and are available by calling
the box office at 440-428-7092 or online at www.rabbitrunonline.org
<http://www.rabbitrunonline.org/> .  Box office hours are Wednesday through
Sunday, 3 to 7 p.m.  For group dinner packages and sales call 440-428-5913.

 

All shows begin at 8 p.m.  Rabbit Run Theater is located at 5648 W. Chapel
Rd., Madison, and is one of the few remaining barn theaters in Ohio.  Rabbit
Run operates under the auspices of Rabbit Run Community Arts Association and
receives partial funding from the Ohio Arts Council.

 

 

 

  

 

 

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