World-renowned tenor Tito Merelli has signed on to sing Pagliacci at a Cleveland opera company in the fall of 1934. He arrives late and, through a set of crazy circumstances, passes out after mixing wine with a huge dose of tranquilizers. Believing that the divo is dead, the excitable opera manager taps his hapless assistant, an aspiring singer named Max, to suit up as the clown and replace Merelli. Through a series of mishaps, two clowns are soon running around in costume. Meanwhile, the tenors jealous wife, his ambitious female co-star, Maxs young girlfriend and the flirtatious head of the opera guild are on the scene fightingsometimes literallyfor the stars attention. The winner of 3 Tony Awards and 4 Drama Desk Awards, this madcap, screwball comedy is guaranteed to leave audiences teary-eyed with laughter.