2015|2016 SEASON Issue 2 TABLE OF Dear Friend, It has finally happened. It always CONTENTS seemed that Kiss Me, Kate was the perfect show for the Shakespeare 1 Title page Theatre Company to produce. It is Recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award® one of the wittiest musical comedies 3 Cast in the canon, featuring the finest Artistic Director Michael Kahn score Cole Porter ever wrote, Executive Director Chris Jennings 4 Director’s Word stuffed to the brim with songs romantic, hilarious, and sometimes both. It is also, not coincidentally, a landmark 8 Story, Musical Numbers adaptation of Shakespeare, a work that no less a critic than and Orchestra W.H. Auden considered greater than Shakespeare’s own The Taming of the Shrew. 9 Music Director’s Word All I can say to the multitudes who have suggested this show to me over the past 29 years is that we waited 13 About the Authors until the moment was right: until we knew we could do a production that could satisfy us, with a cast that could 14 The Taming of work wonders with this material. music and lyrics by Cole Porter the Screwball book by Samuel and Bella Spewack Also, of course, with the right director. He doesn’t need 18 It Takes Two any introduction, having directed two classic (and Performances begin November 17, 2015 classically influenced) musicals for us—2013–2014’s Opening Night November 23, 2015 (Times Two) award-winning staging of A Funny Thing Happened on the Sidney Harman Hall Way to the Forum and 2014–2015’s equally magnificent 24 Mapping the Play Man of La Mancha—but nonetheless I am very happy that STC Associate Artistic Director Alan Paul has agreed to Director Fight Director 26 Kiss Me, Kate and complete his trifecta with Kiss Me, Kate. This show makes Alan Paul David Leong Shakespeare tremendous demands on a director and his entire creative team. Along with Porter’s score, there are continuous Choreographer Casting Director 33 Play in Process dance numbers, a book stuffed with tremendous gags, Michele Lynch Laura Stanczyk, CSA and oodles of moving scenery. I know this is one of Alan’s 36 Cast Biographies Music Director/Orchestrator Resident Casting Director very favorite shows, and I am thrilled to see what he has Doug Peck Carter C. Wooddell in store for us. 44 Artistic Biographies Don’t miss the rest of our season, of which I am equally Associate Music Director/Conductor Literary Manager/Dramaturg 48 For STC proud. In January, I get to have some fun with critics James Cunningham Drew Lichtenberg (after they’ve had so much fun with me), directing 50 Faces and Voices Additional Dance Music Head of Voice and Text Jeffrey Hatcher’s brand new adaptation of Sheridan’s Arrangements by Ellen O’Brien The Critic together with Tom Stoppard’s The Real Inspector 52 Michael Dansicker Support Hound in the Lansburgh. In February and March at Assistant Director Sidney Harman Hall, Ron Daniels directs Faran Tahir, 60 About STC Scenic Designer Kevin Place an extraordinary actor of Pakistani descent, in an James Noone 60 About ACA exciting new interpretation of Othello. Later in March, Assistant Choreographer Headlong theatre company’s stunning adaptation of Costume Designer Patch David 62 Up Next: The George Orwell’s 1984 comes to the Lansburgh from the Alejo Vietti Almeida Theatre in London. Last but certainly not least, Production Stage Manager Critic and The Real it felt apt to revive Shakespeare’s own The Taming of the Lighting Designer Joseph Smelser* Inspector Hound Shrew in the season we finally decided to mount Kiss Paul Miller Me, Kate. Auden may be right about the merits of the Stage Manager 64 STC Staff two respective works, but I will let you be the judges Sound Designer Robyn M. Zalewski* after you see Ed Sylvanus Iskandar’s enterprising Justin Stasiw 65 Audience Services Assistant Stage Manager reimagination. Maria Tejada* See you at the theatre. *Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers. Warm Regards, Musicals at the Shakespeare Theatre Company are made possible by the Beech Street Foundation. Kiss Me, Kate is sponsored by the HRH Foundation. Restaurant Partner: Carmine’s Michael Kahn Kiss Me, Kate is presented by arrangement with Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc., 560 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022. Artistic Director Shakespeare Theatre Company 1 CAST KISS ME, KATE BACKSTAGE, 1948 Lilli Vanessi .................................................................................................................................................. Christine Sherrill* Fred Graham ....................................................................................................................................................... Douglas Sills* Lois Lane ........................................................................................................................................................... Robyn Hurder* Bill Calhoun ............................................................................................................................................................ Clyde Alves* First Man ........................................................................................................................................................................... Bob Ari* Second Man ....................................................................................................................... Raymond Jaramillo McLeod* Harrison Howell ................................................................................................................................ Patrick Ryan Sullivan* Paul ......................................................................................................................................................................... T. Oliver Reid* Hattie ......................................................................................................................................................................... Zonya Love* Ralph (Stage Manager) ............................................................................................................................... Bev Appleton* Harry Trevor .................................................................................................................................................. Harry A. Winter* Pops ............................................................................................................................................................................. Elliot Dash* THE TAMING OF THE SHREW PLAYERS Katherine (Lilli Vanessi) .......................................................................................................................Christine Sherrill* Petruchio (Fred Graham) ...........................................................................................................................Douglas Sills* Lucentio (Bill Calhoun) ................................................................................................................................. Clyde Alves* Bianca (Lois Lane) ......................................................................................................................................Robyn Hurder* Hortensio (Second Suitor) .................................................................................................................. Brandon Bieber* Gremio (First Suitor) .........................................................................................................................Con O’Shea-Creal* Baptista (Harry Trevor) ........................................................................................................................ Harry A. Winter* Ensemble ...................................................................................................................Jay Adriel*, Kristen Smith Davis*, Susan Derry*, Carl Draper*, Heidi Kershaw*, Monette McKay*, Eliza Ohman, Alfie Parker Jr.*, Olivia Russell, Swings ....................................................... Stephanie Bissonnette, Kevin Michael Raponey, Wood Van Meter UNDERSTUDIES Bev Appleton* (Harrison Howell, Harry Trevor/Baptista), Elliot Dash*(First Man, Second Man), Susan Derry* (Lilli Vanessi/Katherine), Carl Draper* (Stage Manager), Monette McKay* (Lois Lane/Bianca), Con O’Shea-Creal* (Bill/Lucentio), Alfie Parker Jr.* (Paul, Pops), Olivia Russell (Hattie), Patrick Ryan Sullivan* (Fred Graham/Petruchio) FOR THIS PRODUCTION Dance Captain: Brandon Bieber* Overhire Carpenters: Danny Benzinger, Fight Captain: Con O'Shea-Creal* Chris Foote Lighting Assistant: Wilburn Bonnell Overhire Scenic Painters: Mariana Fernandez Production Assistant: Rebecca Shipman Laura Genson, Holly Highfill, Sam Shelton, Overhire Stitchers: Michele Macadaeg, Follow Spot Operators: Calvin Anguiano, Stephanie Goad, Belinda Haaland Christopher Stull Overhire Wardrobe: Ayanna Fox, A2: Eric Sherman Kristina Martin, Emily Price Overhire Run Crew: Kevin Crawford, Overhire Wigs: LaShawn Melton Reggie Fortune, Craig Gatling, Overhire Wardrobe Prep/ Jessica Lucey, Jess Rich Swing: Stephanie Fisher The Shakespeare Theatre Company operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States, and employs members of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and United Scenic Artists. The Company is also a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for not-for-profit professional theatre, and is a member of the Performing