Brace yourself for a whirlwind of operatic absurdity, backstage shenanigans, and one disastrously hilarious case of mistaken identity—Ken Ludwig’s Lend Me a Tenor is farce at its finest. It’s 1934, and the Cleveland Grand Opera Company is preparing for the biggest performance in its history: the legendary tenor Tito Merelli will sing Pagliacci—until he mysteriously goes missing just hours before curtain. In a desperate attempt to save the evening, the opera manager’s anxious assistant is shoved into costume and forced to impersonate the star. But when the real Tito shows up, unconscious and very confused, chaos erupts in a frenzy of slamming doors, love triangles, and two clowns in the same opera. As the night spirals into madness, no one is who they seem—and nothing goes according to plan.ep inside, if you dare, and descend into the shadows with Sweeney Todd—where every blade tells a story, and every pie has a secret. In the heart of Victorian London, a wronged barber returns from exile, bent on revenge against the corrupt judge who destroyed his life. Teaming up with the enterprising Mrs. Lovett, whose meat pies soon gain a suspicious popularity, Sweeney sets up shop above her bakery, sharpening his razors—and his vengeance. As love, madness, and obsession intertwine, the streets echo with haunting melodies and darker intentions. With each unsuspecting customer, the line between justice and monstrosity grows thinner.

Will the curtain rise on triumph or total disaster?

And how many tenors is too many tenors?

Ken Ludwig’s genius for fast-paced dialogue, impeccable timing, and wildly escalating situations shines brilliantly in Lend Me a Tenor, a masterclass in modern farce that leaves audiences breathless with laughter. Festival favorite Brian Warren returns to direct, guiding a top-tier cast led by Michael Vasilevich as the delightfully frazzled Max. Natalie Hining once again brings her signature flair to the set design, creating a luxurious hotel suite where the chaos unfolds, while Merrie Lawson Smith’s elegant costumes perfectly capture the glamorous 1930s. Richard Sprecker returns to bathe the mayhem in dramatic, theatrical lighting, and newcomer Christofer Sands makes a memorable debut as the uptight executive of the Cleveland Grand Opera. With this dream team behind the madness, hilarity is guaranteed from overture to final curtain.