Broadway Veteran John Tracey Egan stars in the production!
Olney Theatre Center continues its record-breaking 81st season with Ken Ludwig’s A Comedy of Tenors on the Mainstage, running April 10 to May 12, 2019. Jason King Jones, Olney Theatre’s Senior Associate Artistic Director and Artistic Director of National Players helms the production. Jones most recently directed Annie. Press is invited to attend the performance on Saturday, April 13 at 8:00 pm.
Of the production, Director Jason King Jones said “I’m thrilled to work with these exceptional artists on this masterfully written comedy. From the first time I read this, I knew it would be a play that Olney’s audiences will love, and I can’t wait to delight and surprise them. It’s a fantastic sequel to Lend Me a Tenor that stands on its own as an exceptional play.”
Written by Olivier-award winning playwright Ken Ludwig, A Comedy of Tenors, is a farce set in 1936 Paris on the precipice of a big concert. Operatic star Tito Merelli refuses to perform at a Three Tenors-style concert at the last minute, causing chaos. Luckily, American impresario Saunders and his sidekick Max manage to stumble upon Beppo the Bellman, who just so happens to look exactly like Tito and have the voice to match. If that wasn’t already quite the story, there are a pair of young lovers caught in flagrante delicto, Tito’s fiery wife, a randy Russian diva and countless misunderstandings that result in an evening of uproarious laughter and fun.
Broadway Veteran John Tracey Egan makes his Olney Theatre Center debut as Tito. Egan has performed on Broadway in My Fair Lady, Sister Act, Casa Valentina, and more. OTC Comedy expert Emily Townley (Bad Dog) returns to play Tito’s wife Maria. Alan Wade continues an over 46 year relationship with Olney Theatre Center, playing the role of Saunders. The rest of the cast includes Allyson Boate (National Player Tour 68) as Tito and Maria’s daughter, Mimi, Patricia Hurley (Elf the Musical, Mary Poppins) as Racon, the Russian diva, Alan Naylor (On the Town) as Carlo, a rival singer and Mimi’s boyfriend, and Matthew Schleigh (Little Shop of Horrors) as Max.
The award-winning creative team marks the return of many to OTC. Charlie Calvert (Fickle: A Fancy French Farce, Dial ‘M’ for Murder) designs the set, Justin Schmitz (Carmen: An Afro Cuban Jazz Musical) is sound designing, Casey Kaleba (Sweeney Todd, Dial ‘M’ for Murder) is fight choreographer, and Sonya Dowhaluk (Dial ‘M’ for Murder, Godspell) is light designer. Seth Gilbert (Costume Designer), LaShawn Melton (Wig Designer), and Brianne Taylor (Dialect Coach) round out the creative team.
Ken Ludwig’s A Comedy of Tenors By Ken Ludwig Directed by Jason King Jones April 10 – May 12, 2019
Press Opening: Saturday, April 13, 2019 at 8:00 pm
Regular performances are Wednesday-Saturday at 8:00 pm; matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm; and Wednesday matinees at 2:00 pm on April 17 and May 1. There is no Saturday matinee on April 13.
There will be an Audio-described performance for the blind and visually impaired on Wednesday, April 24 at 8:00 pm and a sign-interpreted performance on Thursday, May 2 at 8:00 pm. Audience members who wish to use these services should contact Julie Via, Patron Services Manager (jvia@olneytheatre.org) to confirm.
Tickets begin at $42. Discounts available for groups, seniors, military and students.
Special Events: ● Behind the Scenes: A Conversation with Playwright Ken Ludwig Saturday, April 12 at 5:00pm on the Mainstage $10/Free for Olney Theatre Center members Ken Ludwig, is the DC-based, Olivier Award-winning playwright of Lend Me a Tenor, Moon Over Buffalo, Shakespeare in Hollywood, and many others. Join us for a conversation with one of America’s most successful playwrights, with works Translated into 20 languages and performed in over 30 countries around the world. ● Comedy 101 Saturday, April 27, 2019 from 11:00am-12:30pm on the Mainstage Free Admission Do you stare longingly at old Marx Brothers reruns and wish that you could just take a pie in the face with the best of them? You too, can make people laugh. Join Jason King Jones, Olney Theatre Center’s Senior Associate Artistic Director and director of Ken Ludwig’s A Comedy of Tenors, for an introduction to comedy you won’t forget. Learn some of the basic rules of comedy by watching some of the funniest clips of TV and film.
Then get on your feet and run through your comedic paces on the gorgeous set of A Comedy of Tenors. ● Afterwords will occur after the following Saturday matinee performances: April 20, April 27, May 4 and May 11.
ABOUT OLNEY THEATRE CENTER
Olney Theatre Center for the Arts produces, presents and tours extraordinary performances for a diversity of audiences, as well as educates and inspires the next generation of theatermakers. We strive every day to unleash the creative potential of our artists and audiences, and in so doing, become a nationally-prominent destination for the most impactful theater performance and education. In the past five years, Olney Theatre has twice won the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Musical Production and produced 6 world premieres, including Andrew Hinderaker’s The Magic Play and Colossal (2015 Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical), and Jennifer Hoppe-House’s Bad Dog (2015 Steinberg Award nominee). Olney Theatre places a priority on engaging our community by ensuring that we remain affordable, accessible and inviting to new and returning audiences.
Located just north of Washington, D.C. in arts-rich Montgomery County, Maryland, is situated on 14 wooded acres in the heart of the beautiful Washington-Baltimore-Frederick “triangle,” within easy access to all three cities, and is also home to National Players, America’s longest-running touring company. Olney Theatre Center is led by Artistic Director Jason Loewith and Managing Director Debbie Ellinghaus. For more information, please visit olneytheatre.org.
Follow Olney Theatre Center on Twitter and Instagram @olneytheatre and on Facebook at facebook.com/olneytheatre.
