From our friends at the Shakespeare Theatre Company...
The Shakespeare Theatre Company announces an extension of its current production of Kiss Me, Kate directed by STC Associate Artistic Director Alan Paul, with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Samuel and Bella Spewack. Kiss Me, Kate now plays through January 10, 2016, at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street, NW.)
As they try to stage a musical version of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, sparks fly on and off stage between Fred Graham (Douglas Sills), the show's director and star, and Lilli Vanessi (Christine Sherrill), his leading lady - and ex-wife. Add to the mix passionate young lovers - ingénue Lois Lane (Robyn Hurder) and her gambler boyfriend Bill Calhoun (Clyde Alves) - plus a few musically inclined gangsters’ heavies, and the result is a sharp and witty night with some of Cole Porter’s most immortal songs.
This “vintage Broadway-style entertainment” (The Washington Post) has been tapping its way into audience members’ hearts since previews began on November 17 and will now continue to charm STC audiences through January 10. Under STC Associate Artistic Director Alan Paul’s direction (Man of La Mancha and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) and Michele Lynch’s choreography (Washington National Opera’s Show Boat), this run of Kiss Me, Kate has been hailed as “a great gift for the holidays” (DC Metro Theater Arts.)
According to the Georgetown Dish, the stars of this classic musical, Christine Sherrill and Douglas Sills, are “superb” and “can make you laugh and cry on cue” in this musical that “reminds us what we love best about golden-age musical theatre” (Two Hours Traffic.)
Casting Notice: Beginning Thursday, January 7, the role of Hattie will be played by Nova Y. Payton. Payton has performed regionally at Signature Theatre as Melpomene and Medusa in Xanadu, Effie in Dreamgirls, and Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray (2012 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Resident Musical). She has also performed for Washington Savoyard, Adventure Theatre, Flat Rock Playhouse, and Prince Music Theater. Beginning Monday, January 4, the stage manager for Kiss Me, Kate will be Cristine Anne Reynolds.
WHEN: New Extension performances will be:
Thursday, January 7 at 8 PM
Friday, January 8 at 8 PM
Saturday, January 9 at 8 PM
Sunday, January 10 at 2 PM
Saturday, January 9 at 8 PM
Sunday, January 10 at 2 PM
WHERE: Shakespeare Theatre Company, Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004
TICKETS: ShakespeareTheatre.org, (202) 547-1122
Musicals at the Shakespeare Theatre Company are made possible by the Beech Street Foundation. Kiss Me, Kate is sponsored by the HRH Foundation.
