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Health & Fitness

Coming to Westchester Broadway Theatre: Cole Porter's Kiss Me Kate

The Broadway hit show Kiss Me Kate, with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Samuel and Bella Spewack, is coming to the Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford, debuting on September 12, 2013 and running through November 3. 

Ticket prices for this revival range from $52 to $80 plus tax per person and include dinner for an evening or lunch for a matinee performance. [The top price charged for a ticket to the original Broadway version 65 years ago was $80 but it didn't include a meal.]

Often cited by critics as Cole Porter's finest achievement, Kiss Me Kate debuted on Broadway in December, 1948 starring Alfred Drake, Patricia Morison, Lisa Kirk, and Harold Lang. MGM brought it to the big screen in 1953 with a cast that included Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson, Keenan Wynn, James Whitmore and dancer Ann Miller.

Among the enduring song hits to listen for are:

Act I

  • Another Op'nin', Another Show
  • Why Can't You Behave 
  • Wunderbar
  • So in Love
  • We Open in Venice
  • Tom, Dick or Harry
  • I Hate Men 
Act II
  • Too Darned Hot
  • Where is the Life That Late I Led
  • Always True To You In My Fashion
  • From This Moment On
  • So in Love 
  • Brush Up Your Shakespeare
The WBT revival is directed and choreographed by James Brennan; Leo P Carusone is in charge of musical direction.

The play's plot involves a former husband-and-wife acting team waging war with each other as they attempt to stage a musical version of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. 

The play opened on Broadway on December 28, 1948, ran for 1,070 performances and captured five Tony awards in 1949 including the first ever for Best Musical. 
 
Cast and crew

Heading the WBT cast are William Michals (playing Fred/Petruchio), Christianne Tisdale (appearing as Kate/Lilli), Missy Dowse (playing Lois Lane/ Bianca), Brian Ogilve (as Bill/Lucentio), Darren Kelly (as Harrison Howell), and James Van Treuren (as Harry/Baptista). Michael Farina and Michael Kubala play the Gangsters.

The ensemble includes Lauren Cluett, Chris Fishburne, Kyle Erickson Hewitt, Anna Claire Hudgins, Joe T. Darrell, Krista Kurtzberg, Ryan Patrick Lingle, Roger Preston Smith, Bronwyn Tarboton, Eric Weaver and Karen Webb. 

The support team includes associate producer Lisa Tiso, set designer John Farrell, costume designer Derek Lockwood, hair/wig designer Gerard Kelly, sound designer Jon Hatton, lighting director Andrew Gmoser and production stage manager Victor Lukas. Properties are provided by Grumpy's Props.  

Prices and performances


Ticket prices include lunch or dinner and range from $52 to $80 per person plus tax, depending on day and time chosen. Beverages and tips are not included in the ticket price. Discounts are available for large groups, children, students, and senior citizens at selected performances and special offers may appear on the website. 

Show times:
• Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday Matinees: Lunch at 11:30 a.m. and show at 1 p.m.
• Thursday, Friday and Saturday Evenings: Dinner at 6:30 p.m. and show at 8 p.m.
• Sunday Matinees: Lunch at noon and show at 1:30 p.m.
• Sunday Evenings: Dinner at 5:30 p.m. and show at 7 p.m.

Kiss Me Kate will be followed by Irving Berlin's White Christmas (from November 7, 2013 to January 5, 2014). 

For reservations, call 914-592-2222. Reservations can also be made at www.BroadwayTheatre.com. For group reservations, call 592-2225. For luxury box reservations, call 592-8730. 

Photos: Christianne Tisdale and William Michals

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