Hickory – Guest director Rick Seay has just announced the cast for the Hickory Community Theatre’s upcoming production of Ken Ludwig’s farcical comedy, Lend Me a Tenor, which opens January 12th and continues through the 28th.

Lend Me a Tenor is set in September 1934. Saunders, the general manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company, is primed to welcome world famous Tito Morelli, Il Stupendo, the greatest tenor of his generation, to appear for one night only as Otello. The star arrives late and, through a hilarious series of mishaps, is given a double dose of tranquilizers and passes out. His pulse is so low that Saunders and his assistant Max believe he’s dead.

Benjamin Thomas-Reid is Max, Mark Alton Rose is Saunders and Gregg Colson is Tito. Coleson Berlin has the role of young bellhop obsessed with the famous Tito.

Carolyn Oursler plays Max’s girlfriend Maggie, Dorothy Best is Tito’s wife Maria, Hollie Sherrill plays Julia the chairwoman of the opera guild and Christy Rhianna Branch is Diana, an aspiring soprano in the opera company.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm (Jan 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 & 27); Thursdays at 7:30pm (Jan 18 & 25); and Sundays at 2:30pm (Jan 21 & 28.)

Standard adult tickets are $18, seniors are $16 and students or youth 18 & under are $10. On Thursday nights all adults are $14 and youth/students are $10. Tickets are now on sale online at hickorytheatre.org or through the Theatre box office, in person or by phone at 828-328-2283. Box office hours are 12-5 Wednesday through Friday.

HCT is a Funded Affiliate of the United Arts Council of Catawba County. The 2017-2018 Season is sponsored by Paramount Automotive and A Cleaner World. Lend Me a Tenor is produced by Commscope.

Photo: The cast of Lend Me a Tenor (from left: Benjamin Thomas-Reid, Mark Alton Rose, Hollie Sherrill, Carolyn Oursler, Coleson Berlin, Dorothy Best, Gregg Colson and Christy Rhianna Branch. The hysterical comedy begins its run on January 12th. Go to www.hickorytheatre.org or call (828) 328-2283 for more information. Photo by John Koval.