Broadway NewsKiss Me, Kate, Starring Kelli O'Hara and Will Chase, Ends Broadway Run June 30The revival earned four 2019 Tony Award nominations.
By
Playbill Staff
June 30, 2019
Roundabout Theatre Company’s revival of Kiss Me, Kate ends its extended limited engagement on Broadway June 30. The production opened at Studio 54 in March 14, going on to earn four 2019 Tony Award nominations.
The staging, directed by Scott Ellis,stars Tony Award winner Kelli O'Hara and Will Chase as feuding lovers Lilli Vanessi/Kate and Fred Graham/Petruchio, respectively. The revamped Cole Porter musical features an updated libretto by composer-lyricist Amanda Green and choreography by Warren Carlyle.
The principal cast also features James T. Lane as Paul, Corbin Bleu as Lucentio/Bill Calhoun, Terence Archie as Harrison Howell, Mel Johnson Jr. as Harry Trevor/Baptista, Stephanie Styles as Lois Lane/Bianca, Adrienne Walker as Hattie, and Richard Kind and John Pankow as Gangsters.
Rounding out the company of Kiss Me, Kate are Darius Barnes, Preston Truman Boyd, Will Burton, Derrick Cobey, Jesmille Darbouze, Rick Faugno, Haley Fish, Tanya Haglund, Erica Mansfield, Marissa McGowan, Sarah Meahl, Justin Prescott, Christine Cornish Smith, Sherisse Springer, Sam Strasfeld, and Travis Waldschmidt.
Kiss Me, Kate features a score by Porter and a book by Sam and Bella Spewack. The Roundabout revival has music direction by Paul Gemignani, orchestrations by Larry Hochman, dance arrangements by David Chase, sets by David Rockwell, costumes by Jeff Mahshie, lighting design by Donald Holder, sound design by Brian Ronan, and hair and wig design by David Brian Brown.
In addition to Best Revival of a Musical, the production brought Tony nods to O'Hara, Carlyle, and Hochman.
A statement from the Off-Broadway company's board of directors pledges a future "filled with diversity," and "to continue our long legacy of supporting artists of all backgrounds."