FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:
Scooter MacMillan, marketing director
Springer Opera House
706-256-0955
smacmillan@springeroperahouse.org

 

 

Springer Opera House Still Not Doing Opera

 

Columbus, GA—1.16.2015: The Springer We-Don’t-Do-Opera House is … not doing an opera.

But the Springer is doing a Broadway comedy about an opera.

“Lend Me a Tenor” is a madcap screwball comedy where everything that can go wrong does, but with hilarious results. Tito Merelli’s performance with the Cleveland Grand Opera becomes a problem when the world’s greatest tenor passes out after accidentally taking too many sleeping pills. When a harried assistant is pressured into going on stage as Othello, mayhem of operatic proportions ensues.

But no actual opera.

In 1871 when the Springer was built, theatres that didn’t perform operas but plays and plays with music (which came to be called musicals) were often called opera houses. The Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut which opened in 1877 is another theatre that didn’t produce operas but it is the birthplace of some of the world’s most famous musicals including “Annie” and “Man of La Mancha.”

“Lend Me a Tenor” opened on Broadway in 1989 and won three Tony Awards and nine nominations.

Playwright Ken Ludwig has earned two Olivier Awards, three Tony Award nominations, two Helen Hayes Awards and the Edgar Award. Ludwig’s work has been performed in more than 30 countries and translated into more than 20 languages.

Playing Tito Merelli is Andy Harvey who starred in the Springer productions of “Shrek The Musical” as Shrek and “Les Misérables” as Jean Valjean. Max the assistant who takes his place in the opera is played by Casey Ross who appeared at the Springer in “Dracula,” “Barefoot in the Park,” “The Full Monty” and “God’s Man in Texas.” Ross also was in State Theatre of Georgia’s national tour of “Route 66.”

“Lend Me a Tenor” will be performed at 7:30 p.m., Thursdays-Saturdays, Jan. 22-24 and Jan. 29-31 and at 2:30 p.m. this Sunday (Jan.25). For information or tickets, call 706-327-3688 or visit springeroperahouse.org or come by the Springer Box Office 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

 

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