Kiss Me, Kate is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and a book by Bella and Samuel Spewack. The story involves the production of a musical version of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and the conflict on and off-stage between Fred Graham, the show's director, producer, and star, and his leading lady, his ex-wife Lilli Vanessi. A secondary romance concerns Lois Lane, the actress playing Bianca, and her gambler boyfriend, Bill, who runs afoul of some gangsters. The original production starred Alfred Drake, Patricia Morison, Lisa Kirk and Harold Lang.
Kiss Me, Kate was Porter's response to Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! and other integrated musicals; it was the first show he wrote in which the music and lyrics were firmly connected to the script. The musical premiered in 1948 and proved to be Porter's only show to run for more than 1,000 performances on Broadway.Stempel, 322-324 In 1949, it won the first Tony Award for Best Musical.
Conception Producer Arnold Saint-Subber conceived the idea for Kiss Me, Kate after witnessing the on-stage/off-stage battling of husband-and-wife actors Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne during their 1935 production of The Taming of the Shrew. In 1947, he asked the Spewacks (undergoing their own marital woes at the time) to write the script; Bella Spewack in turn enlisted Cole Porter to write the music and lyrics.
Porter's score drew from musical styles of the Italian Renaissance, Verdi's operas, blues, the Viennese waltz, and, in "Brush Up Your Shakespeare", the 1897 hybrid "Bowery waltz". In writing the lyrics for Kiss Me, Kate, Porter drew from Shakespearean themes and language, without creating something esoteric, and the song "Always True to You in My Fashion" was inspired by the Ernest Dowson poem "Non Sum Qualis Eram Bonae Sub Regno Cynarae”, with its refrain "I have been faithful to thee, Cynara, in my fashion". (originally published in Center Stage Magazine, Winter/Spring 2002)
Productions
Original Broadway production
After a 3½-week pre-Broadway tryout at the Shubert Theatre in Philadelphia starting December 2, 1948, the original Broadway production opened on December 30, 1948, at the New Century Theatre, where it ran for nineteen months before transferring to the Shubert, for a total run of 1,077 performances. Directed by John C. Wilson with choreography by Hanya Holm, the original cast included Alfred Drake, Patricia Morison, Lisa Kirk, Harold Lang, Charles Wood and Harry Clark. Brooks Atkinson of The New York Times praised the "authentic book which is funny without the interpolation of gags. Cole Porter has written his best score in years, together with witty lyrics. Under Hanya Holm's direction, the dancing is joyous. And Lemuel Ayers has provided carnival costumes and some interesting scenery." The production won 5 Tony awards including Best Musical. The 1949 original cast recording has been inducted into the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry for the album's "cultural, artistic and/or historical significance to American society and the nation's audio legacy".
Original London and Australian productions The original West End production opened on March 8, 1951, at the Coliseum Theatre, and ran for 400 performances. Directed by Sam Spewack with choreography again by Holm, this production starred Patricia Morison, Bill Johnson, Adelaide Hall and Julie Wilson.
The original Australian production played from February 1952 at His Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, before seasons in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide until 1954. The production featured Hayes Gordon and Joy Turpin (later replaced by Evie Hayes).
1970 London and 1987 UK revivals A London revival opened in December 1970 at the London Coliseum, in a production by the Sadler's Wells Opera. The cast featured Emile Belcourt (Petruchio), Judith Bruce, Eric Shilling, Ann Howard (Kate), Francis Egerton and Robert Lloyd, with direction by Peter Coe and choreography by Sheila O'Neill. Coe did a translation for British audiences, including having "a tea wagon", and included "traditional English music hall jokes".Lewis, Anthony. "Sadler's Wells Scores Triumph With Kiss Me, Kate in London", The New York Times, December 26, 1970, p. 10 This revival had a "brief run", according to the Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre.Green, Stanley.Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre, Da Capo Press, 1980, , p. 237
The Royal Shakespeare Company staged a production which opened at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, on February 10, 1987,RSC Performances Kiss Me Kate, Stratford-upon-Avon , retrieved January 1, 2019 toured the UK from March to May,RSC Performances Kiss Me Kate, UK Tour , retrieved January 1, 2019 and then played at London's Old Vic Theatre from May 19, 1987.RSC Performances Kiss Me Kate, Old Vic , retrieved January 1, 2019 Directed by Adrian Noble and staged by Ron Field, the production starred Nichola McAuliffe and Paul Jones as Lilli/Kate and Fred/Petruchio, with Tim Flavin and Fiona Hendley as Bill/Lucentio and Lois/Bianca. The gangsters were played by Emil Wolk and John Bardon, who shared the 1987 Olivier Award for Outstanding Performance of the Year by an Actor in a Musical, while McAuliffe won the Olivier for Outstanding Performance of the Year by an Actress in a Musical.Olivier Winners 1987, retrieved January 1, 2019 The production moved to the Savoy Theatre on January 15, 1988, with a new cast.RSC Performances Kiss Me Kate, Savoy Theatre , retrieved January 1, 2019
1952 and 1999 Broadway revivals A short-lived Broadway revival ran at the Broadway Theatre in January 1952. It was directed by John C. Wilson and choreographed by Hanya Holm. Holly Harris and Robert Wright starred as Lilli and Fred.
A Broadway revival opened at the Martin Beck Theatre on November 18, 1999, and closed on December 30, 2001, after 881 performances and 28 previews. Directed by Michael Blakemore, Produced by Richard Godwin, and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall and Rob Ashford, the opening night cast included Marin Mazzie, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Amy Spanger, Michael Berresse, Ron Holgate, Lee Wilkof and Michael Mulheren. This production won the Tony Awards for Best Revival of a Musical and Best Actor in a Musical for Mitchell; Marin Mazzie received a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Musical, and Michael Berresse, Lee Wilkof and Michael Mulheren received Tony nominations for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.
2001 and 2012 London revivals A West End revival opened at the Victoria Palace Theatre on October 30, 2001, and closed on August 24, 2002. As with the 1999 Broadway revival, Michael Blakemore was the director with choreography by Kathleen Marshall. Brent Barrett and Marin Mazzie co-starred."Kiss Me, Kate listing , Victoria Palace Theatre, 2001. albemarle-london.com (archive), retrieved August 27, 2010
Chichester Festival Theatre's 2012 revival of the show transferred to the Old Vic Theatre on London's South Bank in November 2012, with an official opening in December. It starred Hannah Waddingham as Lili/Kate and Alex Bourne as Fred Graham. The production was directed by Trevor Nunn. The show received positive reviews from critics and audiences. Hannah Waddingham and Alex Bourne were both nominated for the 2013 Olivier Awards as Best Actress/Actor in a Musical for their performances.
2015 Opera North production In September 2015 Opera North presented a revival directed by Jo Davies, choreographed by Will Tuckett. The production opened at the Leeds Grand Theatre before touring to Theatre Royal Newcastle, The Lowry Salford, and Theatre Royal Nottingham. The production was co-produced with Welsh National Opera who continued to tour it in 2016, first as part of the Shakespeare400 season at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, and then to Liverpool Empire Theatre, Bristol Hippodrome, New Theatre Oxford, Mayflower Theatre Southampton, Birmingham Hippodrome, and Venue Cymru Llandudno, before returning to Cardiff. The production was revived at London Coliseum briefly in June 2018, following a return visit to Leeds Grand Theatre in May 2018.
2019 Broadway revival The Roundabout Theatre Company presented a revised third Broadway revival of Kiss Me, Kate with Kelli O'Hara as Lilli Vanessi/Kate, Will Chase as Fred Graham/Petruchio, Stephanie Styles as Lois Lane/Bianca, and Corbin Bleu as Bill Calhoun/Lucentio. The production is directed by Scott Ellis and choreographed by Warren Carlyle,Gans, Andrew. "Corbin Bleu and More Will Join Kelli O'Hara and Will Chase in Broadway's Kiss Me, Kate" Playbill, October 10, 2018 with minor "feminist" updates by Amanda Green to make the musical "more accessible for today's audiences".Clement, Olivia. "Reworking Broadway's Kiss Me, Kate for 2019 Audiences" Playbill, February 12, 2019 Roundabout produced a benefit concert of the show with O'Hara, Ellis, and Carlyle in 2016.Clement, Olivia. "Kelli O’Hara to Return to Broadway in Kiss Me, Kate" Playbill, November 6, 2017 The revival had a limited run at Studio 54. Previews began on February 14, 2019, with the opening on March 14. The production closed on June 30, 2019."Kelli O'Hara Led Kiss Me Kate to Begin Performances February 14 at Studio 54; Full Creative Team Announced" BroadwayWorld.com, June 11, 2018Clement, Olivia. "Kiss Me, Kate Begins on Broadway February 14", Playbill, February 14, 2019" Kiss Me, Kate, Starring Kelli O'Hara and Will Chase, Ends Broadway Run June 30", Playbill, June 30, 2019
2024 London revival A revival directed by Bartlett Sher and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast ran at the Barbican Theatre in London from June 4 to September 14, 2024, with an official opening on June 18. The production starred Adrian Dunbar as Fred / Petruchio and Stephanie J. Block as Lilli / Katharine. Other cast members included Charlie Stemp as Bill / Lucentio, Georgina Onuorah as Lois / Bianca, and Nigel Lindsay and Hammed Animashaun as the gangsters.Culwell-Block, Logan. "Stephanie J. Block Stars in London Kiss Me, Kate Revival, Opening June 18", Playbill, June 18, 2024Culwell-Block, Logan. "London Kiss Me, Kate, Starring Stephanie J. Block, Completes Run September 14", Playbill, September 14, 2024 The production was filmed on stage for a November 17, 2024 release in UK cinemas and internationally.Culwell-Block, Logan. "Here's When You Can See Stephanie J. Block in Kiss Me, Kate in Movie Theatres", Playbill, September 25, 2024
Casts
Character Original Broadway cast (1948) Original West End cast (1951) 1999 Broadway revival 2019 Broadway revival Fred Graham/PetruchioAlfred DrakeBill JohnsonBrian Stokes MitchellWill Chase Lilli Vanessi/KatharinePatricia MorisonMarin MazzieKelli O'Hara Bill Calhoun/LucentioHarold LangWalter LongMichael BerresseCorbin Bleu Lois Lane/BiancaLisa KirkJulie WilsonAmy SpangerStephanie Styles First ManHarry ClarkDanny GreenLee WilkofJohn Pankow Second ManJack DiamondSidney JamesMichael MulherenLance Coadie Williams Harrison HowellDenis GreenAustin TrevorRon HolgateTerence Archie Henry Trevor/BaptistaThomas HolerDaniel WherryJohn HortonMel Johnson, Jr. HattieAnnabelle HillAdelaide HallAdriane LenoxAdrienne Walker PaulLorenzo FullerArchie SavageStanley Wayne MathisJames T. Lane
Plot Act I
The cast of a musical version of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew is rehearsing for the opening of the show that evening ("Another Op'nin', Another Show"). Egotistical Fred Graham is the director and producer and is starring as Petruchio; his movie-star ex-wife, Lilli Vanessi, is playing Katherine. The two seem to be constantly arguing, and Lilli is particularly angry that Fred is pursuing the alluring young actress Lois Lane, who is playing Bianca. After the rehearsal, Lois's boyfriend Bill appears; he is playing Lucentio, but he missed the rehearsal because he was gambling. He tells her that he signed a $10,000 IOU in Fred's name, and Lois reprimands him ("Why Can't You Behave?").