Musical Version of Lend Me a Tenor Set to Sing in West End

A musical version of Lend Me a Tenor, the Ken Ludwig farce that is now playing on Broadway, will be making its way to the West End. Directed by Ian Talbott and featuring book and lyrics by Peter Sham and music by Brad Carroll, the musical will play the Theatre Royal Plymouth from September 24 to October 6 prior to moving to the West End in the fall.

Lend Me a Tenor is a riotous, unpredictable explosion of mistaken identities. It’s 1934 and the world’s greatest opera tenor, Tito Merelli, has come to Cleveland, Ohio, to save its Grand Opera Company by singing Othello. When he is unexpectedly incapacitated, Max, the opera director’s meek assistant, is given the daunting task of finding a last minute replacement. Chaos ensues, including a scheming soprano, a tenor-struck ingénue, a jealous wife, shrimp gone bad and the Cleveland Police department.

Starring in Lend Me a Tenor will be Matthew Kelly as Saunders, Damian Humbley as Max, Michael Matus as Tito and Sally Ann Triplett as Maria. The cast of 27 will also feature Harry Morrison, Lee Ormsby, John Stacey and Kerry Washington. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

The production will feature choreography by three-time Tony nominee Randy Skinner, designs by Paul Farnsworth, lighting design by Tim Mitchell, sound design by Terry Jardine and Nick Lidster, orchestrations by Chris Walker and musical supervision by Paul Gemignani.

The Broadway revival of Lend Me a Tenor, which has been nominated for a 2010 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, is currently playing at the Music Box Theatre through August 15.