The Book and Blanket Players (Photo provided)

KEENE VALLEY — Ken Ludwig’s “Lend Me a Tenor” has been produced several times in the North Country but this is the first time the zany musical based on the Ludwig comedy takes center stage in this region.

The Book & Blanket Players Youth Theatre has accepted the challenge of learning this musical, which is an homage to Italian opera — in a week and performing it on Saturday, July 27 in the auditorium at Keene Central School.

“This undertaking would prove as zany as the play itself without the expertise of our guest vocal coach and Broadway veteran, Alisa Endsley, and musical director Rose Chancler (Piano by Nature),” Producer/Director Kathleen Recchia said.

Admission is free. Donations to offset production costs are welcome.

Choreographer, Maddy Runyon will be back with the team but there are also some new directorial staff members including Heather Clague (assistant director) and Gabriella Gurney (stage manager).

The orchestra includes reeds (Greg Quenel), violin (Bill Stokes), cello (Esther Rogers), trumpet (Gene Baker), bass (Matt Dunne) percussion (Kyle Murray) and piano (Rose Chancler). There may be a high school student or two assisting in the pit as well.

Once again, the Book & Blanket Players, in sponsorship with East Branch Friends of the Arts, are grateful to Stewart’s in the awarding of the Stewart’s Holiday Match to help fund the program. Other sponsors are the Pumpkin Hill Foundation, Wells Memorial Library, the Book & Blanket Bed & Breakfast, and individual donors and supporters as well as a Decentralization Grant administered by the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts.