For Immediate Release:
Lighthouse Festival Theatre Presents Lend Me A Tenor
LFT’s 2016 Community Show
March 17, 2016. Port Dover, ON– Ken Ludwig’s farce Lend Me A Tenor, presented by Villa Nova Estate Winery, lands on Lighthouse Festival Theatre’s stage from April 21st to May 1st. The sixth annual Community Show features an all-star local ensemble, directed by favourite community show veteran actor Richard Dupp.
“Lend Me A Tenor has been providing laughter-induced tears for decades, and we are so excited to be able to showcase this community production for our LFT fans,” Dupp shares.
“Set in a Cleveland hotel suite in 1934, this period piece hits the gas pedal early and never lets up until the lights go out on this thoroughly talented cast of eight unforgettable characters.”
This is the sixth year since Lighthouse’s Artistic Director Derek Ritschel remounted the community show as an annual fundraiser for the theatre. All proceeds from the production go directly back into Lighthouse and each year audiences continue to flood the theatre. This is the third year the show will run for two weeks, with 2015’s Young Frankenstein The Musical marking the highest attended community show in Lighthouse history.
“When I re-introduced the community shows back into the calendar of Lighthouse Theatre in 2011, Richard Dupp was one of the first people to jump on board. Since that time he has been involved with every community show to date,” Ritschel explains, who usually directs the productions. “To say I am happy to see him step up to the Director’s chair would be a vast understatement. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
Dupp is accompanied by returning community show Stage Manager Heather Reichheld. Reichheld will also assume the role of Apprentice Stage Manager for her third season in Lighthouse’s first Main Stage show Fitz Happens!, which opens three weeks after Lend Me A Tenor. This dynamic duo is thrilled to work with new and veteran LFT community actors, each bringing their own flare and passion for theatre to the stage.
“We are so fortunate in Norfolk County to have the opportunity to involve our family, friends and neighbors that will be on, behind, and in front of the LFT stage for another hilarious LFT Community Show production,” Dupp shares.
“If ever there was a feel good project to be involved with, it has to be the community show. Everyone always assumes that my favourite shows are the summer shows, but that’s not true. Two of my top five have been community shows,” admits Ritschel. “I’ll never say which professional and community shows are in my top five, I will always say ‘I love all my children equally’ … but I do have a top five.”
Lend Me A Tenor opens Thursday April 21st at 8:00pm and runs until Sunday May 1st at 2:00pm. To purchase tickets, call the box office at 519-583-2221 or toll free 1-888-779-7703, visit us in person at 247 Main St. Port Dover, Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm or visit us online where we are always open at lighthousetheatre.com.
Lighthouse Festival Theatre is a professional summer theatre located on the shores of Lake Erie in beautiful Port Dover, welcoming over 40,000 patrons each summer. Lighthouse’s main season features 5 Main Stage productions, a Young Company production and a one week “Season Topper” show. The 2016 season begins May 18 to September 10. Lighthouse is a registered charity and non-profit organization.
For more information:
Nicole Campbell
Publicist
Lighthouse Festival Theatre
office- 519-583-1031 ext. 224
cell- 519-718-1100
nicole@lighthousetheatre.com
Lend Me A Tenor
“On a perfect September night in 1934, the Cleveland Grand Opera Company is about to welcome world famous tenor Tito Morelli to perform his brilliant rendition of Otello. With unforgettable comedic timing and hilarious characters, LEND ME A TENOR turns what was to be a triumph for the opera world into a spiral of non-stop, door slamming, farcical, side splitting fun. Don’t miss your chance to be mesmerized by an all star local ensemble in LFT’s 6th annual community show!
Please note, this show is recommended for 14 years and older.