The College of the Canyons theatre department will present its production of playwright Ken Ludwig’s timeless, farcical comedy “Lend Me a Tenor,” running May 9-12 on the main stage of the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center.

A hilarious farce set in the autumn of 1934, “Lend Me a Tenor” takes place on the night that the Cleveland Grand Opera Company is set to host the world famous tenor Tito Morelli in a gala season opening performance of “Otello.”

The hope is that the evening will help place Cleveland on the cultural map. But with Morelli nowhere to be found — and eventually arriving sick with indigestion —plans quickly begin to sour when the star of the evening mistakenly mixes tranquilizers with red wine, and things begin to spin out of control.

“With seven doors in the set and a plot filled with glamorous characters involved in complicated romantic entanglements, this play pays homage to the classic screwball comedies of the 1930s,” said Paul Wickline, chair of the COC theatre department and producer/director of “Lend Me a Tenor.”

“This production is filled with mistaken identities, double entendres, innuendos, funny costumes and just plain goofiness Everything that can go wrong in the lives of these characters, does — but with a happy ending for all of course,” added Wickline. “We know audiences will leave the theater with a wide, warm smile.”

“Lend Me a Tenor” opens on the PAC main stage at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 9, and continues at 8 p.m. Friday May 10 and Saturday May 11. A final matinee performance will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 12.

Tickets for all performances are $10 for adults and $5 for students/seniors.

For more information or to purchase tickets please visit www.CanyonsPAC.com or call (661) 362-5304.

About the Cast

The cast of “Lend Me a Tenor” is composed of a collection of community actors and students from the college’s theatre department, which audiences may recognize from other COC theatre productions.

COC theatre major Tommy Claffey has been cast in the role of ‘Tito Morelli’ after appearing in a number of productions staged locally at the Canyon Theatre Guild, College of the Canyons and Hart High School.

Actress and singer Julia Haimowitz — who is also a member of the award-winning COC Jazz Ensemble ‘House Blend’ —will portray the role of ‘Maggie’ after having made her COC stage debut during the college’s 2012 production of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

In the role of ‘Saunders’ will be veteran actor Kyle Kulish, who returns to the PAC after time spent working at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. Kulish previously appeared in the college’s production of “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” as well as several productions staged at the Repertory East Playhouse.

“Farce is such a fine art,” said Kulish. “It’s wonderful that COC is bringing this kind of comedy to the community and training students in the finer points of producing gut-busting humor. This is the perfect play to conclude a stressful day.”

The entire cast list for the COC theatre production of “Lend Me a Tenor” is listed below:

* Tommy Claffey… Tito Morelli

* Janice Crow-Christensen … Julia Leverett

* Garrett Forster … Max

* Samuel Gullo … Bellhop

* Julia Haimowitz … Maggie

* Kelsey Krosskove … Diana

* Kyle Kulish … Saunders

* Felicia Marie … Maria

The College of the Canyons theatre department will present its production of playwright Ken Ludwig’s timeless, farcical comedy “Lend Me a Tenor,” running May 9-12 on the main stage of the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center (PAC).

A hilarious farce set in the autumn of 1934, “Lend Me a Tenor” takes place on the night that the Cleveland Grand Opera Company is set to host the world famous tenor Tito Morelli in a gala season opening performance of “Otello.”

The hope is that the evening will help place Cleveland on the cultural map. But with Morelli nowhere to be found — and eventually arriving sick with indigestion —plans quickly begin to sour when the star of the evening mistakenly mixes tranquilizers with red wine, and things begin to spin out of control.

“With seven doors in the set and a plot filled with glamorous characters involved in complicated romantic entanglements, this play pays homage to the classic screwball comedies of the 1930s,” said Paul Wickline, chair of the COC theatre department and producer/director of “Lend Me a Tenor.”

“This production is filled with mistaken identities, double entendres, innuendos, funny costumes and just plain goofiness Everything that can go wrong in the lives of these characters, does — but with a happy ending for all of course,” added Wickline. “We know audiences will leave the theater with a wide, warm smile.”

“Lend Me a Tenor” opens on the PAC main stage at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 9, and continues at 8 p.m. Friday May 10 and Saturday May 11. A final matinee performance will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 12.

Tickets for all performances are $10 for adults and $5 for students/seniors.

For more information or to purchase tickets please visit www.CanyonsPAC.com or call (661) 362-5304.

More About the Cast

The cast of “Lend Me a Tenor” is composed of a collection of community actors and students from the college’s theatre department, which audiences may recognize from other COC theatre productions.

COC theatre major Tommy Claffey has been cast in the role of ‘Tito Morelli’ after appearing in a number of productions staged locally at the Canyon Theatre Guild, College of the Canyons and Hart High School.

Actress and singer Julia Haimowitz — who is also a member of the award-winning COC Jazz Ensemble ‘House Blend’ —will portray the role of ‘Maggie’ after having made her COC stage debut during the college’s 2012 production of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

In the role of ‘Saunders’ will be veteran actor Kyle Kulish, who returns to the PAC after time spent working at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. Kulish previously appeared in the college’s production of “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” as well as several productions staged at the Repertory East Playhouse.

“Farce is such a fine art,” said Kulish. “It’s wonderful that COC is bringing this kind of comedy to the community and training students in the finer points of producing gut-busting humor. This is the perfect play to conclude a stressful day.”

The entire cast list for the COC theatre production of “Lend Me a Tenor” is listed below:

• Tommy Claffey… Tito Morelli

• Janice Crow-Christensen… Julia Leverett

• Garrett Forster … Max

• Samuel Gullo … Bellhop

• Julia Haimowitz … Maggie

• Kelsey Krosskove … Diana

• Kyle Kulish … Saunders

• Felicia Marie … Maria