The New York Times Profiles LEND ME A TENOR Artist Robert Rodriguez

Artist Robert Rodriguez has designed logos for several big name companies over the years. Most notably, he gave the famed Quaker Oats man a makeover to make him more appealing to the health-conscious masses. Most recently, Rodriguez was tapped to design the artwork for the upcoming Broadway production of LEND ME A TENOR, starring Tony Shalhoub and Anthony LaPaglia and directed by Stanley Tucci.

The New York Times recently profiled Rodriguez and his background work when looking at the 1930s and 1940s era in which the show is set. Rodriguez spent time looking at everything from the "geomettric patterns and fonts of Art Decco" to several period movies.

"Since the play takes place exclusively in hotel rooms, I also looked at old hotel postcards," Rodriguez told the Times. "I took the roof off the hotel and had the people showing through."

Rodriguez used photos taken of the actors, but instead of simply using their faces, he used his artistic ability to redraw the faces to give the art they style he was after. Rodriguez said, "The advertising agency was going for an idea of a lot of action happening, kind of like the movie ‘You Can't Take It With You.'"

To read the full article from the New York Times, click here.

Ken Ludwig's comedy LEND ME A TENOR starring Anthony LaPaglia, Tony Shalhoub, Jan Maxwell, Mary Catherine Garrison, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Jay Klaitz, and Brooke Adams, directed by Stanley Tucci, will bow on Broadway on April 4, 2010 at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street). Preview performances begin March 11. 

LEND ME A TENOR is produced by The Araca Group, Stuart Thompson, Carl Moellenberg, Rodney Rigby, Olympus Theatricals, Broadway Across America, in Association with Lisa Cartwright, Wendy Federman/Jamie deRoy.

Set in the 1930s, LEND ME A TENOR is a madcap screwball comedy that takes place when Tito Merelli, the fiery-tempered and world famous Italian superstar, arrives in Cleveland, Ohio to make his debut with the local opera and promptly goes missing. As Saunders, the show's presenter, conspires to cover for Tito's absence, placate his hot-blooded wife, and distract his most passionate fans, chaos on a truly operatic level ensues.

LEND ME A TENOR's design and creative team is John Lee Beatty (set designer), Kenneth Posner (lighting design), Martin Pakledinaz, (costume design), Peter Hylenski (sound design) and David Loud (musical supervisor).

LEND ME A TENOR premiered on Broadway in 1989 and received seven Tony Award nominations, winning two. It was also honored with four Drama Desk Awards. Prior to Broadway, LEND ME A TENOR played London's West End where it received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Comedy. The play has been translated into sixteen languages and produced in more than twenty-five countries.

Tickets will be available through Telechagre (212 239 6200) or at www.Telecharge.com on December 28. For more information visit www.lendmeatenorbroadway.com.