Tryon Little Theater Director Carol Cox has done it: found eight talented people crazy enough to jump head first into the wild farce “Lend Me A Tenor” with every intention of living through it! Audiences, be forewarned, you will laugh so hard you’ll be in pain. Performances at the Workshop are set for Sept. 15-18 and 22-25.

As Henry Saunders, general manager of the Cleveland Opera, a blowhard who often loses his temper and goes bonkers over Tito, is Lou Buttino, last seen for TLT in “Picasso at the Lapin Agile.” As Julia, chairwoman of the Cleveland Opera Guild, a grande dame who is gaga over Tito, is Sandie Bright, who delighted audiences in TLT’s “Calendar Girls” as Jessie, the retired schoolteacher.

Joel Perkin plays Max, Saunders’ long-suffering assistant who finds himself having to replace Tito onstage as Othello and get away with it! Joel was last seen for TLT as the title character in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Michelle Fleming is Maggie, Saunders’ daughter and Max’s somewhat reluctant girl friend. Michelle charmed audiences in “The 1940’s Radio Hour,” and as an emergency understudy in “Love, Sex, and the IRS.”

Then there’s Sarah Hurley as the opera’s ingénue soprano, Diana, who is notoriously flinging her way to the top, and has her tentacles out for the world-famous Tito.  New to TLT, Sarah has performed regionally, often contributing her wonderful singing voice to musicals.

And Maria, Tito’s long-suffering wife, whose Italian temper is on full display as she fumes over her husband’s latest philandering, TLT veteran Tina Greene-Porter will bring her well known comedic skills to this very juicy role.

And as the man himself,  Tito Merelli, Il Stupendo, the most famous tenor in the world, is Ed Harrelson, another TLT veteran with roles ranging from Bill Sykes in “Oliver” to a savvy convict in “My Three Angels” to a studio head in “The 1940s Radio Hour.”

And last, of course, there’s the Bellhop, who keeps fighting with Saunders as he keeps showing up at inappropriate times, trying to get an autograph and photo of Il Stupendo. Matthew Alexander returns to the TLT stage for this delicious role, quite a change from his wise, blanket-loving Linus in “Charlie Brown.”

Tickets for “Lend Me A Tenor” may be booked now online at TLTinfo.org. The box office at the Workshop will open in early September.

– article submitted by Connie Clark