Broadway NewsKiss Me, Kate Extends Broadway EngagementThe Roundabout revival, starring Kelli O'Hara and Will Chase, opened March 14.
By
Olivia Clement
March 19, 2019
Roundabout Theatre Company’s limited engagement of Kiss Me, Kate will play an additional four weeks on Broadway. The production, which officially opened at Studio 54 on March 14, will now continue through June 30.
The productionstars 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, 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 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.
The new work from playwright Liana Sonenclar follows a high school track star forced to confront some tricky feelings when she reconnects with a former teammate.