LEND ME A TENOR Opens 4/1 at Ocean State Theatre

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), currently celebrating its third season in its state-of-the-art theatre in Warwick will present Ken Ludwig's hilarious comedy, Lend Me a Tenor from April 1 - 19.

Lend Me A Tenor takes place at the Cleveland Grand Opera Company's gala season-opener of Otello, which is to be performed by world-famous tenor Tito Merelli, in the hopes that this will put Cleveland on the operatic map. Merelli is late, unable to rehearse with the company, and through a hilarious series of mishaps, is given a double dose of tranquilizers, which mix with the alcohol he has consumed, and he passes out. The company believes him to be dead and doesn't know what to do. Luckily an aspiring singer is convinced to don the Otello costume and try to fool the audience into thinking he's really Merelli. Now there are two Otellos running around! Lend Me A Tenor is non-stop laughter and door-slamming hilarity, which guarantees to leave the audience in stitches.

Ocean State Theatre Company is thrilled to welcome Broadway actor and Rhode Island native Kevin Pariseau, who appeared in OSTC's production of 9 to 5: The Musical (2012). Mr. Pariseau will be making his OSTC directing debut. Bruce Sabath, who portrayed Larry in the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's Company (2006), will make his OSTC debut in the role of Tito Merelli and Gerrianne Genga of East Greenwich, who appeared as Dorothy Brock in last season's 42nd Street, returns in the role of Tito's wife, Maria. Stage and screen performer, Alexander Cook, who appeared in OSTC's inaugural production of Fools, returns as Saunders, with Nick Gaswirth, who made his Broadway debut in the original cast of A Christmas Story and New York actress Elizabeth Boyke, making their OSTC debuts as Max and Maggie. Westerly's Rochelle Weinrauch, who appeared as Sarah Brown in last summer's production of Guys and Dolls, returns as opera diva, Diana, with Maria Tavarozzi of Cranston and Kevin Broccoli of Johnston making their OSTC debuts in the roles of Julia and the Bellhop.

Lend Me a Tenor will be presented at Ocean State Theatre from April 1 - 19. Previews are scheduled for Wednesday, April 1 at 7:30 pm and Thursday, April 2 at 2:00 and 7:30 pm. All other performances will be held Wednesday (except April 8) through Saturday evenings at 7:30 pm, with matinees on Thursdays (except April 16), Saturdays at 2:00 pm (except April 4) and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Conducting Conversations Live!, a free post-show discussion hosted by WCRI's Mike Maino, will follow the 2pm performance on Sunday, April 5.

The theatre is located at 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI. Tickets are $30 for preview performances and $34-$49 for all other performances. Discount rates for groups of 20 or more are available by calling (401) 921-1777 x112. $25 "Rush" tickets are available on a limited basis one hour prior to curtain on the day of the performance. Tickets are on sale at the box office Monday through Friday from 12 noon - 6:00 pm, Saturdays from 12 noon - 4:00 pm, and from 12 noon until curtain time on performance days. Tickets are also available online 24 hours a day at www.OceanStateTheatre.org and via telephone during normal box office hours by calling (401) 921-6800.

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