Lend Me a Soprano is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud comedy set in 1934, when glamour, egos, and high notes rule the opera world. The Cleveland Opera Company is buzzing with anticipation for a sold-out performance starring their internationally renowned diva. But when the temperamental soprano finally arrives (hours late) she brings with her a jealous husband, a fiery personality, and enough drama to rival anything happening onstage.
As tempers flare and misunderstandings spiral out of control, the company’s carefully planned evening begins to unravel in spectacular fashion. With doors slamming, disguises flying, and identities constantly mistaken, the women step into the spotlight in this hilarious, high-energy twist on Ken Ludwig’s classic farce Lend Me a Tenor.
A sparkling screwball comedy where the stakes are high, the egos are higher, and the laughs come at a breakneck pace. By the final curtain, audiences will be wiping away tears -not from tragedy, but from pure, unstoppable laughter.
WHAT CRITICS ARE SAYING
“Fast and Furious and consistently funny, Ludwig has created
–Houston Chronicle
a showpiece of controlled chaos, relentless but deceptively thoughtful
in its dissection of performative ego and pride. Mostly, however,
it’s just a dizzying amount of fun…a singing, door-slamming,
bed-hopping whirlwind of a good time.”
CAST
Leigh Akin she/her (Jo)
Leigh is a singer, actor, and illustrator. She has performed across the US in theaters including La Jolla Playhouse, Soho Rep, North Coast Rep, Bronx Opera, and Skylight Music Theater. You may
have seen Leigh at SRT in Move Over Mrs. Markham, Love Song, or The Outsider. As an opera singer, Leigh was most recently seen playing Die Zweite Dame in Genesis Opera’s production of Die Zauberflote. During quarantine, Leigh kept herself busy by producing a series of cooking-show-cabarets from her apartment called “Leigh Sings Songs and Makes Waffles.” You can watch them all and see more of her work at leighellenakin.com.
Britania Cortez she/they (Elena)
Britania is so grateful to be debuting at SRT. Recent credits include The Plays by Young Writers Festival directed by Jacole Kitchen, Loud Fridge Theatre Group, and Teatro Tres. She thanks her teachers and family for the support as well as the SRT team for choosing to highlight the DIVAS this season!
IG: britania.cortez
Marcel Andre Ferrin (Leo)
Marcel is a San Diego–based actor grateful to continue growing within the local theater community. Recent credits include Rafael in Clydes (Moxie Theatre), Ken in Rest (Onstage Playhouse), and Jared in Ripped (Loud Fridge Theatre Company). He also appeared as Johnny in The October Night of Johnny Zero (Backyard Renaissance) and understudied with The Old Globe in Under a Baseball Sky and El Borracho. Additional roles include Witchland, American Buffalo, and Our Town. He is especially thankful to play Leo in Lend Me A Soprano, and appreciates all who support the theater community.
Durwood Murray (Pasquale)
Durwood is so excited to be working with SRT. Durwood directed The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity at OTC and appeared there in Chicken and Biscuits and Spring Awakening. Other acting credits: Miracle on 34th Street, The Servant of 2 Masters and 1222 Oceanfront (NVA); The Savoyard Murders (The Roustabouts Theatre Co); Handbagged and Our Lady of Kibeho (Moxie); The High Table and Well and One in Two (Diversionary). Durwood is the President of The San Diego Black Artists Collective whose mission is to amplify the voices of local black artists. He thanks The Usual Suspects, Wondrous Strange, and “The Corporation” for their love and support.
Dennis Peters (Jerry)
Dennis is delighted to be returning to SRT after starring in the one-man-production of Fully Committed in 2024. Select regional credits include Good People, Welcome to Sleepy Hollow (Oceanside Theatre Company); Catch Me If You Can (San Diego Musical Theatre); the world premier of Eighty-Sixed: The Musical (Diversionary Theatre); and Green Day’s American Idiot (ArtsWest in Seattle, WA). Dennis holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from CWU, and teaches at Project Performer in Encinitas. Love to the family and his new bride, Kayla.
Bobbi Randall (Julia)
Bobbi is thrilled to be performing with SRT for the first time! Recent credits: Lettice in Lettice and Lovage and Bessie Clary in Laura. In earlier San Diego area projects, she played the role of Judith Bliss in Hayfever, Ann in The Cocktail Hour, and Dorothy in Glorious! Select NYC and Regional credits include Maria in Twelfth Night, Thea Elvsted in Hedda Gabler, and Vincent in a show Bobbi developed herself – Edna St. Vincent Millay: A Celebration of the Artist. Bobbi earned her B.A in Theatre at Smith College and her MFA in Acting at The University of Connecticut.
Hayden St. Clair (Bellhop)
SRT acting debut! San Diego acting: Swing for The Apiary (New Village Arts), Mopsa in Head Over Heels (CPH), Joseph in Joseph… Dreamcoat (Vanguard), Sebastian in Twelfth Night of the Living Dead (Loud Fridge), Clio/Kira in Xanadu (CPH), and Jenny in Company (CPH). Education: Theatre BA, Concordia University Irvine. They are grateful to the cast, crew, & creative team for all their effort on this “suite” production. Many thanks to those that support live theatre, like you!
Wendy Waddell (Mrs. Wiley)
SRT: Brooklyn Boy, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Communicating Doors. Select credits: The Prom, Xanadu, Matilda (SDMT); Appropriate (Old Globe); Fiddler on the Roof (San Diego Critics Circle nominee, Welk); Carrie, Admissions (OnStage); Sunday in the Park with George (ion); The Savoyard Murders (The Roustabouts Theatre Co); All My Sons, Hamlet, King John (Intrepid); American Hero, The Full Monty, Three Sisters (NVA); Brave Smiles, Bunbury (Diversionary); Bluebonnet Court (MOXIE/Diversionary); The Diary of Anne Frank, The Butcher of Baraboo (MOXIE); The Miser, The Car Plays (La Jolla Playhouse); Company (Cygnet). BFA in Acting from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
PRODUCTION CREW
Timothy Benson (Stage Manager)
Timothy is ecstatic to be returning to Scripps Ranch Theatre for this masterpiece. He was recently seen on stage at SRT as Stagehand in Master Class. A decorated combat veteran of the Marines, he has foregone the seasons of his native New England for the sunny locale of San Diego and continued to pursue his theatrical aspirations. Tim has worked as an actor all over San Diego County in theaters such as the Welk Resort, Diversionary, Vista’s Broadway Theater, and the Avo, just to name a few, performing in shows such as Puffs, Arsenic and Old Lace, and Evil Dead the Musical. Please sit back, silence your phones, and enjoy the show!
Andy Benumea (Set Design Assistant)
Andy is a fourth semester, technical theater student, currently at Southwestern College. Although she has done technical work for the stage, this is her first time indulging in the design process. She thanks Producer, Ruth Russell and Set Designer, Dixon Fish.
Jacob Bruce (Fight Choreographer)
Jacob is a San Diego-based director, fight choreographer, and staging consultant whose work has been featured at local theatres such as The La Jolla Playhouse, The Old Globe, San Diego REP, Diversionary, Loud Fridge, USCD, and USD, where he teaches stage combat, acting, and serves as the Operations Manager of the Theatre Department. You may have also seen his work as an actor both onstage and on camera
Jennifer Burch (Assistant Director)
Jennifer is thrilled to be the Assistant Director for Lend Me A Soprano. Jennifer attended the 2025 La MaMa Umbria Directing Symposium and was a directing fellow at the 2024 Kennedy Center Directing Intensive. She has previously taught acting classes at SDMT and is currently a House Manager at Diversionary Theatre. Jennifer has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Theatre from CSU Fullerton, where she specialized in directing and dramaturgy.
Kandace Crystal she/her (Intimacy Director)
Kandace is a multi-hyphenate theatre maker with a BFA in Acting from Florida State University and former Teaching Artist at Intimacy Directors and Coordinators, Inc. Select intimacy credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (The Old Globe), Airness (Loud Fridge Theatre Group), Spring Awakening (Oceanside Theatre Company). She hopes to continue advocating for safe spaces and reducing harm in our industry. Feel free to keep up with her journey on social media, @KandaceCrystal on all platforms.
Dixon Fish (Set Design)
Dixon is a native Californian. He holds an MFA from DixArizona State University. Dixon has taught studio art, art history and photography at the high school and college levels. Besides printmaking, much of his creative time has been spent doing theatre set design and painting for a variety of professional regional theatres including Moonlight, The Avo, MiraCosta College and San Diego Junior Theater. For SRT he has designed: Master Class, Kimberly Akimbo, The Dining Room, Lettice and Lovage, She Loves Me, Fully Committed, Tiny Beautiful Things, and Mary’s Wedding. His art and design work has been recognized with awards both regionally and nationally.
Natalie Gelb (ASM)
Natalie is thrilled to be working with SRT again alongside such a talented team. She has been involved with many other theaters in the community. Some of her recent work includes stage managing Finding Nemo at Maraya Performing Arts, Love Among The Ruins at PowPAC, and Jasper In Deadland at Tenth Ave.
Josie E. Gerk (Lighting Design)
Josie is thrilled to be working with SRT again. Recent design credits include Kimberly Akimbo (SRT), Winter Wonderettes, 13 (SDMT), Alice by Heart, Twelfth Night The Musical (Valhalla High School) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bayfront Charter).
Leslie Leytham (Music Director)
Leslie is a San Diego-based mezzo-soprano, voice teacher, director, and producer. Leslie has performed as a featured artist with San Diego Opera, The Industry, WildUp, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Monday Evening Concerts, La Jolla Symphony, wasteLAnd, Bach Collegium San Diego, and Guerilla Opera. Leslie earned her D.M.A. in experimental music performance at UC San Diego, her Masters in Vocal Performance at the Boston Conservatory, and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Leslie is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Project [BLANK], an experimental concert series in San Diego.
Robert May (Sound Design)
Robert is a freelance sound designer whose credits include: at SRT – Lost in Yonkers, Love Song, Move Over Mrs. Markham, Deathtrap, Blithe Spirit, The Last Night of Ballyhoo; for New Village Arts – The Miss Firecracker Contest; for Portland Stage Company – Halpern and Johnson; for North Coast Rep – The Rainmaker, The Last Five Years, Halpern and Johnson; Renaissance Theatre – The Gingerbread Lady, Shirley Valentine; Playwrights Project, and various productions at San Diego Junior Theatre. Robert is also an award-winning director and actor.
Rhiannon McAfee (Dialect Coach)
Rhiannon is delighted to be working with SRT again as a dialect coach. Her work centers on clarity, consistency, and character-driven storytelling, supported by detailed research and actor-friendly rehearsal tools. Numerous regional productions feature British and European dialects, American regional speech, and period voices. She also works as an actor, director, and dramaturg. When not in rehearsal, she is usually deep in vowel charts or cheering on bold acting choices. Endless love to Greg, Rudy, Bella, and Gracie May.
Yma o hyd!
Duane McGregor (Props, Set Dressing, Scenic Painting)
Duane is delighted to return to farcical theatre at SRT! Recent credits include: Donna Orbits the Moon, Master Class, Kimberly Akimbo, Mary’s Wedding, Unnecessary Farce, and Fully Committed. Other credits: Stew, White, Black Nativity (Common Ground Theatre); Carrie, A People’s Cuban Christmas, Blue Period, Masa, Mugre at OnStage Playhouse, as well as Craig Noel nominations for The Other Place and Knock Loudly. Thank you to everyone at SRT for their never ending creativity, support, and insight. They are what make working in the theatre a joy!
John Owen (Set Construction)
John is a retired construction Superintendent with over 40 years in the construction industry. He’s not sure how he ended up in theatre, but he’s here and loving it. John’s SRT credits include: Master Class, Kimberly Akimbo, Mary’s Wedding, Tiny Beautiful Things, Chapatti, Lost in Yonkers, and The 39 Steps. He spends much of his time playing board or card games, camping in the desert, and enjoying time with friends and family. Much love to his wife Diana.
Christy Terrill Reid (Wigs/Hair/Makeup Design)
Christy recently did set design/build/paint/dress for: Little Women (John Paul the Great Catholic University), Gods of Comedy (PowPac), The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Patio Playhouse), and Anything Goes (Center Stage Productions). Christy won the Aubrey awards for the Best Set Design, Best Prop Management and Best Special Effects last year. When not building or painting a set she enjoys acting, time with her husband and 4 kids, and performing with Off the Cuff Improv troupe.
Follow on Instagram @palettedreamerartistry
Kate Rose Reynolds (Director)
Kate is a multi-hyphenate theatre maker and the Director of Operations for Loud Fridge Theatre Group. Recent directing credits include: Mary’s Wedding (SRT); We Lovers, Twelfth Night of the Living Dead, Ripped, The Pandemusical Diaries, Straight (Loud Fridge); Misery, the world premiere of It’s a Small World, or, The Robot Play, Mala (Bristol Valley Theatre); and co-directing gUnTOPIA (The Roustabouts Theatre Co). She was most recently seen on stage in The Counter (Moxie), and stars in the independent horror film Soul to Keep, currently streaming on various platforms. She also serves as the resident Technical Director for Chequamegon Children’s Theatre in northern Wisconsin.
Ruth Russell (Producer)
Ruth is grateful that you’re here! Producing credits at SRT: Master Class, Kimberly Akimbo, Unnecessary Farce, Mary’s Wedding, White, Tiny Beautiful Things, Fully Committed, Vanity Fair, Stew, Chapatti, The 39 Steps, Lost in Yonkers, Neat, Extreme Home Makeover, The Outsider, The Taming, and The Dining Room. Recent acting credits: Kimberly Akimbo (SRT), Reservoir Dolls staged reading (Riot), I Hate Hamlet (Broadway Vista), and Little Shop of Horrors (Patio). Up next: San Diego premiere of the fully-staged and bloody Reservoir Dolls (support at riotproductions.art).
IG: @TheRuthRussell for personal updates and @CityDoggosSD for professional doggie daycare/boarding.