Studio Theater season opens with ‘A Comedy of Tenors’ . . .
Actors Theatre of Indiana has announced the cast for the upcoming season opener, A Comedy of Tenors, scheduled to run through Sept. 30 at the Studio Theater in Carmel at the Center for the Performing Arts.
Four new faces will join a cast of veteran actors in the 14th season opener for Central Indiana’s home for Broadway in Your Backyard.
In its Indiana Premier showing, A Comedy of Tenors is currently sweeping the country and playing to sold-out audiences as the characters from the 1986 Tony Award-winning Lend Me A Tenor are back in this fast-paced, over-the-top farce.
One hotel suite, four tenors, two wives, three girlfriends and a soccer stadium filled with screaming fans. What could possibly go wrong?
It’s 1930s Paris and the stage is set for the concert of the century – as long as producer Henry Saunders can keep Italian superstar Tito Merelli and his hot-blooded wife, Maria, from causing runaway chaos.
Prepare for an uproarious ride, full of mistaken identities, bedroom hijinks, madcap delight and the music of La Traviata. A Comedy of Tenors evokes the classic screwball comedies of an earlier time.
Below is the cast for ATI’s season opener of the Indiana premiere of Ken Ludwig’s hysterical farce, A Comedy of Tenors.
Cast (in order of appearance)
- Saunders – Mark Fishback (ATI debut)
- Max – Nic Eastlund
- Maria – Amy Bodnar (ATI debut)*
- Tito – Don Farrell*
- Mimi – Jenny Reber
- Carlo – Jacob Gerard Barnes (ATI debut)
- Racon – Brynn Tyszka (ATI debut)
* Designates member of Actors’ Equity Association
Artistic/Production Team
- Director – Darrin Murrell
- Production Stage Manager – Kevin Casey*
- Production Assistant – Jessica Hall
- Scenic Designer – Paul B. Killian (Bernie)
- Lighting Designer – Quinten James
- Costume Designer – Katie Cowan-Sickmeier
- Sound Designer – Zach Rosing
- Wig Designer – Andrew Elliot
- Musical Advisor – Brent E. Marty
DC TUX is a sponsor of this production. Information on DC Designers Tux Shop can be found at dctux.com.
Meet the Cast
Bodnar
Amy Bodnar (Maria) is excited to be making her ATI debut. She has starred as Laurey in the Trevor Nunn/Susan Stroman Broadway revival of Oklahoma and has played Evelyn Nesbit in the original Broadway company of Ragtime. Off Broadway, she originated the role of Sally in the 2017 world premiere play What We Wanted, originated the role of Laura in the New York premiere of The Realm and originated the role of Leila in the world premiere musical Sessions at Playwright’s Horizons. Amy has starred in the national tours of White Christmas as Betty Haynes; and The Scarlet Pimpernel as Marguerite. In 2018, she played Tessie Tura and Miss Cratchitt in Gyspy and Hannah in Newsies at Broadway Sacramento; Truvy in Steel Magnolias at Cape Playhouse, Tanya in Mamma Mia at Pioneer Theatre and Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia opposite ATI artistic director, Don Farrell, at Beef and Boards. She was featured in the independent film The Mustard Seed and has appeared on As the World Turns.
Reber
Jenny Reber (Mimi) is thrilled to be returning to the ATI stage. Recent credits include: Hairspray (Booth Tarkington Civic Theater), Shear Madness (Beef & Boards Dinner Theater), Unnecessary Farce (ATI) and Xanadu (ATI). Jenny grew up in the Midwest and now resides in Indianapolis, working as a professional actress while also working as an actor/interpreter at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Read more about her at jennyreber.net.
Barnes
Jacob Barnes (Carlo) is a Frankfort, Ind. native and is thrilled to be making his ATI debut. Jacob is a recent graduate from Ball State University’s acting program where he was last seen as Pericles in Pericles, Prince of Tyre and Haunt Johnny in The Tall Girls. Regional credits include Tarzan, Lost In Yonkers, Urinetown and Boys Next Door. As well as acting, Jacob loves to sing and write. His last self-produced work was seen at The Raven Theatre in Chicago. Follow him on Instagram @jacobgbarnes.
Fishback
Mark Fishback (Saunders) also comes to ATI from Ball State University. He has appeared in the national tours of 42nd Street (Abner Dillon), Elf (3x, Santa) and West Side Story (Broadway revival, Doc). Fishback dedicates Tenors to his family, without whom he says this career would be impossible.
Eastlund
Nic Eastlund (Max) Nic is very excited to return to ATI where he was last seen as Marty in It Shoulda Been You. Nic is visiting from Chicago, where he lives and works as an actor. Some past Chicago credits include Hairspray (Corny Collins), Tick Tick Boom (Jon) and Hair (Berger).
Tyszka
Brynn Tyszka (Racon) is thrilled to be starting her Indianapolis theater journey with ATI. A native of Rochester, N.Y., she has toured nationally with NETworks and ArtsPower productions and has enjoyed working regionally with Geva Theater Centre and Playhouse on Park. Favorite experiences include Into the Woods (Witch), Falsettos (Trina), John & Jen (Jen), Cabaret (Sally Bowles), Heathers the Musical (Heather C.), and Chicago (Director/Choreographer). Before relocating, Brynn also taught several teen/adult acting courses with Rochester Association of Performing Arts.
Farrell
Don Farrell (Tito) has more than 31 years working as a professional singer, dancer, actor, director, choreographer and producer with credits that include Off-Broadway, International and National Tour, Las Vegas, Regional productions and concerts with major national symphonies. Don made his Off-Broadway debut as Jimmy O’Flaherty at the Sylvia & Danny Kaye Playhouse in Irene starring Lee Roy Reams, George S. Irving and Ruth Warrick. His subsequent returns to the stage have been as varying as they were lauded, from the vengeance seeking title role in Sweeney Todd to the guilt-ridden John Proctor in The Crucible. He originated the role of “Louis” in the world premiere of Last of the Red Hot Mamas, the Sophie Tucker Revue-sical and “Ruby Waxman” in the world premiere of TUNING IN. For ATI: Forbidden Broadway, Million Dollar Quartet (Sam Phillips), La CageAux Folles (Albin/Zaza), Sweeney Todd (Sweeney), A Year with Frog and Toad (Toad), among others. Other favorite roles include MAMMA MIA! (Harry Bright) and Into The Woods (The Baker) both at Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre and Damn Yankees! (Mr. Applegate) for the Indiana Theatre Festival. A graduate of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Don is a co-founder of Actors Theatre of Indiana and serves as its Artistic Director.
About Actors Theatre of Indiana
Actors Theatre of Indiana was co-founded in 2005 by Cynthia Collins, Don Farrell and Judy Fitzgerald with a mission to celebrate the power of theater and contribute to life in central Indiana by offering high quality professional theater performances and programs that engage, inspire, educate and entertain. One of only four Equity Theater companies in central Indiana, Actors Theatre of Indiana is the resident professional theater company of The Studio Theater at The Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel and has provided 13 seasons of high-powered musical theater productions, world premieres and innovative community works.
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