Full cast for Kiss Me Kate at the Barbican

The full cast has just  been revealed for the revival of Cole Porter's musical comedy Kiss Me, Kate, starring Stephanie J Block and Adrian Dunbar which is set for a 15-week run at London’s Barbican Theatre starting on 4th June 2024 and ending on 14th September, with a press night scheduled for 18th June, . Tickets are now on sale.

The cast  is led by Adrian Dunbar (Line of Duty) as Fred Graham/Petruchio wih  Tony Award winner Stephanie J Block (Into the Woods, The Cher Show and 9 to 5) making her West End debut as Lilli Vanessi/Katharine.

Also appearing are Charlie Stemp (Crazy for You) as Bill Calhoun/Lucentio, while Georgina Onuorah (The Wizard of Oz) will play Lois Lane/Bianca, alongside Nigel Lindsay (An Enemy of the People) and Hammed Animashaun (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) who play the famous gangster pairing in the show with  Peter Davison (Dr Who) as the General.

Newly announced  are Josie Benson (as Hattie), Jack Butterworth (as Paul) and Jude Owusu (as Harry Trevor/Baptista), as well as Carl Au (Hortensio/Ensemble), Jordan Crouch (Gremio/Ensemble), Gary Milner  (Ralph/Ensemble) and James Hume (as Pops/Ensemble).

Completing the company are Alisha Capon, Shani Cantor, Maya de Faria, Amelia Kinu Muus, Jacqui Jameson, Lucas Koch, Alex Lodge, Nell Martin, Anna McGarahan, John Stacey and Harrison Wilde. Swings are Robin Kent, Barry Drummond, Emily Goodenough and Maddie Harper.

Buy tickets for Kiss Me Kate

Royal Albert Hall staging of Kiss Me, Kate on BBC4 this weekend

The 2014 Royal Albert Hall staging of Kiss Me, Kate is to be shown on BBC Four this  Sunday 21st November at 8.00 pm GMT .

With stage direction by Shaun Kerrison, choreography by Alistair David, direction by Bridget Caldwell and production by Helen Mansfield the concert is performed by the John Wilson Orchestra and has an all star  cast including  Alexandra Silber, Ben Davis, Louise Dearman, Tony Yazbeck, Jason Pennycooke, James Doherty, Michael Jibson, Ian Talbot, Louise Marshall, Alex Bourne, Christopher Howell, Michael Pickering and  Gary Watson. 

Cole Porter and Sam and Bella Spewack's play-within-a-play follows a divorced couple who find themselves starring opposite each other in a musical version of The Taming of the Shrew and features  classic numbers including "Too Darn Hot", "Another Op'nin' Another Show", "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" and "So in Love".

I

Matthew McKenna and Caroline Sheen to lead cast in Kiss Me Kate at Kilworth House

Matthew McKenna and Caroline Sheen are playing the leading roles of Fred Graham and Lillie Vanessi at Kilworth House Theatre’s production of Cole Porter and Bella Spewack's  Kiss Me, Kate in the grounds from 31st  May-16th  July.

Joining them are Justin Thomas (Bill Calhoun); Monique Young (Lois Lane); Cory English (Gangster 1); Carl Sanderson (Gangster 2); Gary Davis (General Harrison Howell) with  Andrew Gordon-Watkins; Piers Bate; Davide Fienauri; Tarinn Callender; Craig Turner; Adam Philpott; Paul Hutton; Thomas Audibert; Emily Squibb; Holly Willock; Katia Sartini; Helen Turner; Molly May Gardiner; Tash Holway; Jessica Pardoe; and Laura Ellis.

The production will be produced by Celia Mackay with  director Matthew White and choreographer Sam Spencer-Lane heading the creative team.

First staged on Broadway in 1948, Cole Porter’s  musical version of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew contains a numbers including ‘Too Darn Hot’, ‘Another Op’nin’ Another Show’, ‘Always True To You in My Fashion’ and ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare’.

Tickets for Kiss Me Kate

Cast announced Kiss Me Kate heading for London Coliseum

Updated 27th February:  The cast has just been announced:

• Baritone Quirijn de Lang (Sam Trouble in Tahiti and Count Almaviva The Marriage of Figaro) back in the role of Fred Graham / Petruchio.
• Soprano Stephanie Corley (Hanna Glawari The Merry Widow) as Lilli Vanessi / Kate. 
• Actor and singer Zoë Rainey comes to the role of Lois Lane / Bianca following the success of An American in Paris at the Dominion. 
• Dancer, singer and actor Alan Burkitt (Top Hat) returns as Bill Calhoun / Lucentio, having played the role during the Welsh National Opera run in 2016.

Opera North's production of Kiss Me, Kate is to transfer to London for a run at the Coliseum from June 20th-30th, 2018. It is the first time Opera North's production has been staged in the capital.

The show will open  Leeds Grand Theatre  from  May 23rd-26th, 2018,  before transferring to the Coliseum which is the  home of English National Opera, .

Kiss Me, Kate has music and lyrics by Cole Porter and is about the production of musical version of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and the conflict between show runner Fred Graham, and his ex-wife and leading lady Lilli Vanessi.It features classic numbers including  Another Op'nin' Another Show, Brush Up Your Shakespeare, Always True to You in My Fashion and Too Darn Hot.

With a  cast to be announced the production will be directed by Jo Davies, and feature the the full-scale orchestra and chorus of Opera North conducted by James Holmes, with choreography by Will Tuckett. It has set and costume design by Colin Richmond and lighting by Ben Cracknell.

Buy tickets for Kiss Me, Kate

Alan Burkitt, Amelia Adams-Pearce & Landi Oshinowo to star in Kiss Me Kate Tour

Casting has been announced for the Welsh National Opera's production of Kiss Me, Kate by Cole Porter and Samuel and Bella Spewack.

Jeni Bern will star as Lilli Vanessi/Katherine alongside Quirijn de Lang as Fred Graham/Petruchio and Landi Oshinowo (Hattie),

The production goes  on a UK tour starting in October, visiting Liverpool Empire,
Llandudno Venue Cymru, Bristol Hippodrome, Birmingham Hippodrome, Wales Millennium Centre, New Theatre Oxford and Southampton Mayflower. 

The cast also includes  Alan Burkitt (Bill Calhoun/Lucentio), Morgan Deare (Harry Trevor/Baptista), Amelia Adams-Pearce (Lois Lane/Bianca),  David Peart (Harrison Howell), Joseph Shovelton (1st Gunman), John Savournin (2nd Gunman), Matthew Barrow (Hortensio), Jon Tsouras (Gremio), Joseph Poulton (Gregory), Louis Quaye (Phillip), Adam Tench (Nathaniel), Max Parker (Paul), Rosie Hay (Ralph the Stage Manager), Martin Lloyd (Stage Doorman) and Julian Boyce (Cab Driver). With Alex Christian, Flora Dawson, Andrew Gordon-Watkins, Ella Martine, Jamie Emma McDonald and Matthew John Gregory.

The production will be directed by Jo Davies, and conducted by James Holmes with set and costume by Colin Richmond, lighting by Ben Cracknell, choreography by Will Tuckett and associate choreography by David Hulston.

Louise Dearman as Bianca in Kiss Me Kate with John Wilson Orchestra at Proms

Following the  success of the semi-staged performance of My Fair Lady at the Proms in 2012, John Wilson returns to perform Cole Porter’s Tony Award-winning musical Kiss Me, Kate. Joining John Wilson and his  Orchestra are Broadway stars Ben Davis/Fred Graham/Petruchio, Alexandra Silber/Lilli Vanessi/Katherine,  Tony Yazbeck/Bill Calhoun/Lucentio and West End star Louise Dearman/Lois Lane/Bianca performing an  irreverent reworking of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew – a play within a play. This is the BBC Proms debut for all four performers as they sing the energetic score in ts original 1948 arrangement.

The show takes place on  Saturday 2nd  August and will be broadcast Live on BBC Radio 3, 7.30pm

and Recorded for broadcast on BBC Two in December 2014

Returns only for seated tickets. Up to 1400 Promming (standing) tickets at £5 are available on the day for every Prom at the Royal Albert Hall. For more information please visit bbc.co.uk/proms 

Chichester's Kiss Me Kate moving into Old Vic

Trevor Nunn’s production of Kiss Me Kate which is currently rehearsal and starts previews at the Chichester Festival Theatre on June 18th (prior to an official opening on June 27th for a run through to September 1st) will re-open at the Old Vic Theatre from November 20th with press night on December 3rd. The production runs until 2nd March 2013.

Cast members currently transferring include Alex Bourne, David Burt, Adam Garcia, Clive Rowe and Hannah Waddingham. It will be choreographed by Stephen Mear.

Book tickets for Kiss Me Kate

Full Cast for Chichester's Kiss Me Kate

The full cast has been announced for Trevor Nunn's new production of Kiss Me  Kate, which is currently in rehearsal and starts performances at Chichester Festival Theatre from June 18th  to1st September, with a rumoured West End transfer.

The cast will feature Alex Bourne as Fred Graham/Petruchio, Kevin Brewis as Riley/Hortensio, Wendy Mae Brown as Hattie, David Burt as Gangster 1, Clive Rowe as Gangster 2, Christopher Dickins as Pops, Adam Garcia as Bill Calhoun/Lucentio, Paul Grunert as Harry Trevor/Baptista Minola, Mark Heenehan as General Harrison Howell, Samuel Holmes as Flynt/Gremio, Jason Pennycooke as Paul, Holly Dale Spencer as Lois Lane/Bianca and Hannah Waddingham as Lilli Vanessi/Katherine Minola.

The ensemble includes Michelle Bishop, Shaun Henson, Holly James, Richard Jones, Carolyn Maitland, Jo Morris, Harry Morrison, Tanya Robb, Warren Sollars and Kate Tydman.

Chichester's Kiss Me Kate to move into Old Vic?

Kiss Me Kate with Adam Garcia, HannahWaddingham, Clive Rowe and Alex Bourne is currently in rehearsal under the Direction of Trevor Munn and due to start previews at the Chichester Festival Theatre on 18th June.

It ends its run there on 1st September and word is that negotiations are currently under way for it to transfer into the Old Vic.

Hannah Waddingham & Clive Rowe join Kiss Me Kate at Chichester

As previously tipped Hannah Waddingham will join Adam Garcia (Bill Calhoun) and Holy Dale Spencer (Bianca) to play Lilli Vanessi in Trevor Nunn's Kiss Me Kate at the Chichester Festival Theatre which will open June 18th. Stephen Mear will choreograph.

Also just announced are Clive Rowe and David Burt who are inspired casting for the pair of gangsters who sing Brush Up Your Shakespeare.

Waddingham currently has a small part in the film of the musical Les Miserables and has worked with Nunn before in his production of A Little Night Music. She most recently starred in the West End revival of The Wizard of Oz as the Wicked Witch of the West.

Holly Dale Spencer to play Bianca in Chichester’s Kiss Me Kate

In the Chichester Festival Theatre Production of Kiss Me Kate the part of Bianca will be played by Holly Dale Spencer who is currently appearing in Crazy for You at the Novello Theatre.

Her musical theatre credits include: Betty Blue Eyes (Novello), Oliver! (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), The Grapes of Wrath (Chichester Festival Theatre and UK tour), Mary Poppins (UK tour), Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs (Bristol Hippodrome), Santa Claus – The Musical (Alexandra, Birmingham), High Society (UK tour), Peter Pan (New Wimbledon), Anything Goes (UK tour), The Ha’penny Bridge (Point, Dublin), It’s a Wonderful Life (Riverside Studios), Quick Step with Caroline O’Connor (Lille Opera House), Aladdin (Sheffield Lyceum) and The Nutcracker (Birmingham Royal Ballet).

This is only musical Chichester Festival Theatre is presenting this season.  Cole Porter/Sam and Bella Spewack's Kiss Me Kate will open on 18th June and run until September 1st. It will be directed by Trevor Nunn, choreographed by Stephen Mear, designed by Robert Jones with Gareth Valentine as the musical director.

The only other casting announced so far is that Adam Garcia is playing the role of Bill Calhoun. Garcia has a number of West End theatre credits including playing Doody in Grease, Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever, he created the role of Fiyero in Wicked! and starred in the musical dance show Tap Dogs.

Adam Garcia cast in Chichester's Kiss Me Kate

The only musical Chichester Festival Theatre is presenting this season is Cole Porter/Sam and Bella Spewack's  Kiss Me Kate which will open on 18th June and run until September 1st. It will be directed by Trevor Nunn,  choreographed by Stephen Mear, designed by Rober Jones with Gareth Valentine as the musical director.

The only casting announced so far is that Adam Garcia is playing the role of Bill Calhoun. Garcia has a number of West End theatre credits including playing Doody in Grease,Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever, he created the role of Fiyero in Wicked!and starred in the musical dance show Tap Dogs.

He has extensive film credits including Wilde, Coyote Ugly, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Bootmen (based on the Tap Dogs story), Riding in Cars With Boys and Standing Still. Television work includes Doctor Who, Britannia High, Mr Eleven, Hawthorne and most recently as a judge on the Sky reality show Got To Dance and as himself in Heston’s Titanic Feast.

Trevor Nunn to Direct Kiss Me Kate

According to Baz Bamigboye in today’s Mail,  Trevor Nunn will direct a new production of Kiss Me Kate at the Chichester Festival Theatre next year.

Depending on the reviews, it  is then planned to transfer into the West End.