'Lend Me a Tenor' cast profile: Esteban Alvarez, III

Esteban Alvarez, III is THE Tito Merelli in 'Lend Me a Tenor'

GCP Girl: Tell me a bit about your character or characters.

Esteban: I play the famous tenor Tito Merelli. He is a passionate, "volcanic" Italian.

GCP Girl: Tell me about some of your previous shows.

Esteban: Some of my favorite roles include Edna in 'Hairspray', Max in 'The Producers', Pseudolus in 'A Funny Thing Happened' ... actually ... I can't think of a role I didn't enjoy.

GCP Girl: Why did you audition for "Lend Me a Tenor"? 

Esteban: Because it has been over a year since I've done a show. I had always heard great things about working with Carlos. And I didn't want to miss a chance of working with Kristin, Jan, and Henry.

GCP Girl: What is your favorite moment or scene in the show? 

Esteban: I love Tito's scene with Diana. The lines are very funny and it's great being able to work with Kristin.

GCP Girl: What are you looking forward to the most about performing in "Lend Me a Tenor"? 

Esteban: Getting to take a nap on stage for the second half of Act I.

GCP Girl: Why should people see this show?

Esteban: Because the script is funny, the set looks amazing, and we do a pretty good job.

GCP Girl: If you had to sing a song to save the day, what song would you sing? 

Esteban: Hmmm ... I don't know.

GCP Girl: Tell me something you'd like everyone to know.

Esteban: I STILL have never seen the Godfather movies.

Thanks, Esteban! 

Don't miss the magnificent Esteban Alvarez, III as 'Il Stupendo' himself, Tito Merelli in 'Lend Me a Tenor'. This is the last weekend of the run, so get your tickets now! Remember, we GCP now offers a Saturday Matinee in addition to the Saturday evening performance. Please visit the GCP Website or the Event Page on Facebook for more information.

xoxo GCP Girl

'Lend Me a Tenor' cast profile: Michael Glover

Michael Glover is the nervous and awkward Max in 'Lend Me a Tenor'.

GCP Girl: Tell me a bit about your character or characters. 

Michael: Max is a nervous wreck and doormat, unlucky in love and socially graceless. But he has a lovely singing voice. In theory.

GCP Girl: Tell me about some of your previous shows. 

Michael: My first show at GCP was 'To Kill a Mockingbird' in which I was a terrible, abusive bigot. Luckily I haven't been typecast. I've also been in 'The Producers' and 'Funny Money' at GCP as well as 'Chapter Two', 'Hunter-Gatherers' and 'An Evening of Hamlets' at the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre. I've also recently mounted 'Back to the Future: The Musical', which I perform nightly alone in my apartment.

GCP Girl: Why did you audition for "Lend Me a Tenor"?

Michael: I was told there would be ice cream at the auditions. There was no ice cream.

GCP Girl: What is your favorite moment or scene in the show?

Michael: It's truly hard to choose a favorite. Working with everyone has been a complete honor and joy. However, my girlfriend would like me to issue the following statement: "My least favorite part in Lend Me a Tenor is when I kiss pretty ladies." Thank you for allowing me to use this forum for that. Things were getting a little tense for me.

GCP Girl: What are you looking forward to the most about performing in "Lend Me a Tenor"? 

Michael: It's always fun to find out what the audience will find funny and I look forward to making people laugh with something new each night.

GCP Girl: Why should people see this show?

Michael: It's flat out funny. There isn't a moment wasted in it. Plus all the cool kids are going. You want to be a cool kid, don't you?

GCP Girl: If you had to sing a song to save the day, what song would you sing? 

Michael: "Say Hi to Your Mom for Me (Biff's Lament)" the stirring ballad of unrequited love from the aforementioned Back to the Future: The Musical.

GCP Girl: Tell me something you'd like everyone to know.

Michael: Santa Claus is real. All you have to do is open your heart and you'll find there's a little bit of Santa in all of us. The Santa in me sure likes pizza!

Thanks, Michael!

This is the last weekend to catch the show so make plans now! Don't forget that we now have a Matinee performance on Saturday at 2:00 PM. Please visit the GCP Website or the Event Page on Facebook for more information.

xoxo GCP Girl

'Lend Me a Tenor' cast profile: Laura Jackson

Laura Jackson is spoiled yet charming as Maggie Saunders in 'Lend Me a Tenor'.

GCP Girl: Tell me a bit about your character or characters.

Laura: Maggie is the daughter of Henry Saunders, manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera. She is also Max's girlfriend, but has a huge crush on the famous Il Stupendo (Tito). She's a little spoiled and quite naïve, but has just enough charm to pull it off!

GCP Girl: Tell me about some of your previous shows.

Laura: Most recently I was in "The Vagina Monologues" at the Hipp's Cinema Theatre. I have worked at the Acrosstown in "Chapter Two" and "Play It Again, Sam." I also did shows in my home state of Georgia, my favorite being "The Bald Soprano."

GCP Girl: Why did you audition for "Lend Me a Tenor"? 

Laura: I was dying to do a show, and had some free time in my schedule. I read about the play and thought it could really be challenging and fun. I had also heard great things about our director (Carlos Asse).

GCP Girl: What is your favorite moment or scene in the show?

Laura: My favorite moment is when the real Tito sees the fake Tito and runs out, bewildered and confused. Tito's reaction cracks me up every night! It's also the start of the play's climax, when everything begins to unravel...

GCP Girl: What are you looking forward to the most about performing in "Lend Me a Tenor"?

Laura: I am looking forward to working with a group of highly talented people with the added energy of an audience.

GCP Girl: Why should people see this show?

Laura: Because it is truly hilarious. It takes a lot to make me laugh and I have been working on this show for a month straight, yet I still laugh out loud whenever I get to watch parts of it.

GCP Girl: If you had to sing a song to save the day, what song would you sing? 

Laura: Right now I would sing "All I Do Is Dream of You" because it's constantly in my head (my character hums it in the show). Not sure how that would save the day, though...

GCP Girl: Tell me something you'd like everyone to know: 

Laura: This is my first show at the GCP, and I am so excited! To quote Maggie, "it was even better than I thought it would be!"

Thanks, Laura! We're glad you've joined the GCP family!

Catch Laura Jackson as Maggie Saunders this weekend in 'Lend Me a Tenor'. The show closes this Sunday, September 29, so don't miss it! Please visit the GCP Website or the Event Page on Facebook for more information.

xoxo GCP Girl

'Lend Me a Tenor' cast profile: Kate Hall

Kate Hall is the saucy and passionate Maria Merelli in 'Lend Me a Tenor'.

GCP Girl: Tell me a bit about your character or characters: 

Kate: Maria Merelli is the saucy Italian wife of opera singer, Tito Merelli. Her love for Tito is strong, but may appear questionable to others, due to their loud disagreements. She is an honest Italian woman with a hot passionate temper, whose actions are actually justifiable. In times of distress, she is not afraid to say what is on her mind, even if it is just by giving a look. Maria seems to be tough and well put together, but on the inside she is complete mush. One of my favorite qualities about Maria are her underlying insecurities that appear obvious to others, but not to her. She is not the type who would proudly own up to their insecurities. I love this about Maria, because it makes her relatable and real.

GCP Girl: Tell me about some of your previous shows. 

Kate: I have had the marvelous opportunity of performing in productions such as,"The Women," "The Vagina Monologues," performing "I was in the room," "Ladyhouse Blues," and "A New Way To Pay Old Debts."

GCP Girl: Why did you audition for "Lend Me a Tenor"? 

Kate: Well, I've always wanted to do a show at GCP! I always heard wonderful things about the company. But the main reason I auditioned for Lend Me a Tenor was simply because I desperately missed performing on stage! I had been doing shows since I was 13 years old and when I took a break from performing to focus on school at the University of Florida, I became practically homesick for it. Now that I've graduated, I now have the opportunity to do that and enjoy it!

GCP Girl: What is your favorite moment or scene in the show? 

Kate: My favorite scene in the show is the bedroom scene between Tito and Maria. I do not want to give too much of it away, but I will say this, things escalade quickly between the two and it is absolutely hilarious!

GCP Girl: What are you looking forward to the most about performing in "Lend Me a Tenor"? 

Kate: The thing I most look forward to about performing in "Lend Me a Tenor" is hearing laughter. Best sound in the world!

GCP Girl: Why should people see this show?

Kate: People should see this show, because it is incredibly entertaining! I don't think I've ever seen a comedy quite as entertaining as this. When I read the script for the first time, I could not put it down, because it was so clever and outrageously funny. It is impossible to become bored when watching this show.

GCP Girl: If you had to sing a song to save the day, what song would you sing? 

Kate: If I had to sing a song to save the day, it would have to be "You Only Get What You Give" by New Radicals.

GCP Girl: Tell me something you'd like everyone to know. 

Kate: I would like everyone to know that this experience of performing in "Lend Me a Tenor" has been a life changing opportunity for me! I could not have asked to have been part of a better cast and crew! I would also like everyone to know that you will not be disappointed by coming to see this show! I know a lot of people say that in order to get you to actually come to a show, but in this case, I can honestly say that you would be missing out on seeing one of the most amazing comedies you will ever see in your lifetime!

Thanks, Kate!

Don't miss GCP newcomer Kate Hall as Maria Merelli in 'Lend Me a Tenor'. The show closes this Sunday, September 29, so make your plans now! Please visit the GCP Website or the Event Page on Facebook for more information. 

xoxo GCP Girl

'Lend Me a Tenor' cast profile: Jan Cohen

Jan Cohen has more pearls than brains as Julia in 'Lend Me a Tenor'!

GCP Girl: Tell me a bit about your character or characters.

Jan: A society lady with more pearls than brains. Also gives Mrs. Malaprop a run for her money!

GCP Girl: Tell me about some of your previous shows.

Jan: A bald Mormon Sugar Bean, a British medium, a Texas grandma with a bad hair-do, and an English housekeeper. Also a few Queens--Trojan Hecuba, Gertie the Dane and that one from Scotland!

GCP Girl: Why did you audition for "Lend Me a Tenor"?

Jan:  It is exceedingly funny and Carlos Asse is an exceedingly good director.

GCP Girl: What is your favorite moment or scene in the show? 

Jan: Tito's attempt to "keel himself "!

GCP Girl: What are you looking forward to the most about performing in "Lend Me a Tenor"? 

Jan: 3 weeks with some totally wonderful actors, crew--all friends, just making people laugh.

GCP Girl: Why should people see this show?

Jan: It will make them happy!

GCP Girl: If you had to sing a song to save the day, what song would you sing? 

Jan: Nothing from opera!

GCP Girl: Tell me something you'd like everyone to know.

Jan: GCP now has special senior and student prices in advance for all performances, including new Saturday Matinees. Call us at 376-4949 and I, Julia, will personally sell you a ticket!

Thanks, Jan!

Don't miss the last week of performances of 'Lend Me a Tenor'! The show closes this Sunday, September 29. Please visit the GCP Website or the Event Page on Facebook for more information.

xoxo GCP Girl

"Lend Me a Tenor" cast profile: Henry Wihnyk

The infamous Henry Wihnyk loses his temper as the Cleveland Opera House General Manager,

Saunders in 'Lend Me a Tenor'.

GCP Girl: Tell me a bit about your character or characters.
Henry: Saunders is a nervous bully.


GCP Girl: Tell me about some of your previous shows.
Henry: I was last seen as David O. Selznick in the Golden Apple Award Winning play, 'Moonlight and Magnolias'.

GCP Girl: Why did you audition for "Lend Me a Tenor"?
Henry: I auditioned because the show is hilarious, I love the role, and Carlos is a fabulous director.

GCP Girl: What is your favorite moment or scene in the show?
Henry: My favorite scenes (I can't pick just one) are those involving mistaken identity. If I had to pick one, I'd say it's when Tito misinterprets what Diana means when she says she is a "professional."

GCP Girl: Why should people see this show?
Henry: People should see the show because it is great fun.

GCP Girl: If you had to sing a song to save the day, what song would you sing?
Henry: Oh, boy. I'm afraid that the day would not be saved.

GCP Girl: Tell me something you'd like everyone to know.
Henry: I'd like everyone to know that 5 Guys makes the best cheeseburgers in Gainesville.

Thanks, Henry!

You can catch GCP favorite Henry Wihnyk in this hilarious show until September 29. For more information, please visit the GCP Website or the 'Lend Me a Tenor' Facebook Event Page.

xoxo GCP Girl