Published: July 06, 2009 08:00 am      

EKU professors directing, producing at Pioneer Playhouse

DANVILLE — An Eastern Kentucky theater professor, Homer Tracy, is directing the Pioneer Playhouse’s production of “Lend Me A Tenor” which opens tomorrow night.

Tracy teaches in EKU’s department of English and theater.

Another EKU professor, Emerson St. John, who serves on the playhouse’s board of directors, is producing the Ken Ludwig comedy. St. John teaches communications at EKU.

The university also is the play’s sponsor, said Holly Henson, daughter of playhouse founder Eben Henson.

“It’s beautiful how supportive EKU has been to the playhouse over the years,” she said.

The Pioneer Playhouse’s relationship with EKU goes back at least as far as the mid-1960s when Eastern graduate and football star Lee Majors acted for one summer at the playhouse before going off to stardom in Hollywood.

“’Lend Me A Tenor’ is a comic masterpiece, and I’m privileged to be directing a wonderfully talented cast,” Tracy said Friday during a break from rehearsals.

Cast members come from diverse backgrounds and have been drawn from across the country, from as far as Minnesota and New York, he said.

The play revolves around an opera performance, but the script calls for “two minutes of singing and 180 minutes of comedy,” Tracy said.

Some hilarious situations occur when the opera’s guest tenor, a world-famous but insufferable singer, fails to show up on opening night after taking one too many sleeping pills.

The opera manager’s assistant, an aspiring tenor who bears a striking resemblance to the flamboyant star and even dresses like him, sees an opportunity for himself. He poses as the star and the show starts on time.

After the opera is under way, the real tenor shows up, but the manager locks the door to prevent a disruption. When the frustrated singer tries to break in, the police show up, creating a true side show.

Tracy has conducted audition workshops for the Pioneer Playhouse, but this is his first time to direct for the historic theater, which is only a 45-minute drive from the EKU campus.

“We’ve had several Eastern students complete internships in recent years with the Pioneer Playhouse,” he said, “and I encourage our students to take advantage of such a great opportunity so close to home.”

The show opens Tuesday with the action getting started “under the stars” at 8:30 p.m. It runs from Tuesday through Saturday until July 18.

Tickets for the play are $15. To have dinner and attend the show, tickets are $27.

For reservations, call 1-866-597-5297 toll free, or visit pioneerplay house.com.