PhotosGo Inside the Opening Night of Kiss Me, Kate on BroadwayCole Porter's musical comedy gets a revamped revival from Roundabout at Studio 54.
By
Nathan Skethway
March 15, 2019
Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of Kiss Me, Kate celebrated its official opening at Studio 54 on Broadway March 14. Starring as the feuding lovers at the heart of Cole Porter's musical comedy are Tony Award winner Kelli O'Hara as Lilli Vanessi/Kate and Will Chase as Fred Graham/Petruchio.
The RTC revival, which began previews February 14, features an updated libretto by Tony-nominated composer-lyricist Amanda Green, direction by Scott Ellis, and choreography by Warren Carlyle.
The principal cast of Kiss Me, Kate 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 Lance Coadie Williams and John Pankow as Gangsters.
Rounding out the company 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.