BACKGROUND OF COLE PORTER & KISS ME, KATE

MUSICAL
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter - Book by Bella and Samuel Spewack

MOVIE
Originally filmed in 3-D, Kiss Me, Kate was made into a film musical in 1953 by MGM. The movie starred Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson, Ann Miller, and Keenan Wynn, and featured Bob Fosse, Carol Haney, and Tommy Rall as specialty dancers.

TELEVISION
The 1999 revival of Kiss Me, Kate was taped in 2002 and directed by Michael Blakemore. It stars Brent Barrett, Rachel York, Nancy Anderson, and Michael Berresse.

AWARDS
1948-1949: 5 Tony Awards for Musical, Authors, Composer and Lyricist, Costumes and Producers
1999-2000: 5 Tony Awards for Revival, Orchestrations, Director, Actor and Costume Designer

 

 

COLE PORTER
Cole Porter was born on June 9, 1891 in Peru, Indiana. His father was a pharmacist and his mother was from a wealthy family. His mother started his musical training at an early age, with violin lessons at 6 and piano at 8. He was also writing music at a young age with his first operetta when he was 10. This was done with with help from his mother. His grandfather wanted Cole to become a lawyer, and saw that he attended Worcester Academy and then Yale University beginning in 1909. He became a member of the famous secret society, Scroll and Key at Yale. He spent a year at Harvard Law School in 1913 where he decided to concentrate on music and transferred to Harvard's School of Music.

In 1916, Porter's first Broadway production, See America First, was staged. Based on the book by Lawrason Riggs, the show was a flop and closed after two weeks. After the failure, he moved to a luxury apartment Paris. He would often tell people that he had joined the French Foreign Legion, but he really worked for the Duryea Relief Fund. He lead a playboy lifestyle and in 1918, he met Linda Lee Thomas. She was a Kentucky-born divorcée several years older than Porter and once dubbed the most beautiful woman in the world. They were married in 1919.

Although Porter was homosexual, it was not uncommon for wealthy gay men to marry wealthy socialite women at that time. They both got what they wanted from the relationship. Linda was the glamorous wife of a world famous songwriter, and Cole always had a beautiful woman on his arm when it was convenient.

In the late 1920s, Porter returned to New York and began writing some of his most popular songs, including “Night and Day,” “You're the Top,” “Begin the Beguine” and “Love for Sale.” The next decade was his most productive, working with the biggest stars of the day and writing scores for hits that include Anything Goes, Gay Divorce, and Born To Dance. After moving to Hollywood in the early 1930s, Porter and his wife separated. Porter's sexuality became more and more open during this time and many of his affairs became public knowledge. The children of his longtime friend Ray Kelly still receive half of Porter's royalties copyrights.

In 1937, Porter crushed his legs in a riding accident. Although Porter underwent more than forty surgeries on his legs that left him in constant pain, he continued to write hit musicals. Can Can, Silk Stockings and, what many consider to be his finest work, Kiss Me, Kate. He was often in severe depression from the pain and underwent the latest treatment for depression, electric shock therapy, which at that time would be considered barbaric by today's standards. He died in Santa Monica on October 15, 1964 and was interred in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Peru, Indiana.

In 1946, Cole Porter's life was made into the movie Night and Day starring Cary Grant and Alexis Smith and directed by Michael Curtiz. His life was again put to celluloid in the 2004 movie. De-Lovely, starring Kevin Kline as Porter and Ashley Judd as Linda. Cole Porter left a legacy of sophisticated lyrics, clever rhymes, and complex forms.

SYNOPSIS OF KISS ME, KATE

Another Op'nin' Another Show welcomes you to Baltimore and to the opening of a musical version of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew." The cast is on stage and receiving final instructions from Fred Graham, the director. A play-within-a-play unfolds, where each of the four main cast member's on-stage performance is complicated by what is happening in his off-stage life. Fred takes the roles of director and male lead, Petruchio. His ex-wife Lilli, now a movie star with a reputation for being difficult to work with, plays Katharine, the shrew. Fred's current love interest, Lois, plays the role of Bianca, and the other man in Lois' life, Bill, plays the role of Lucentio.

Before the curtain rises on "The Shrew" we find out that Bill has a gambling problem. He tells Lois that he signed a $10,000 IOU for a debt in Fred's name, instead of using his own name. Not long after Lois begs Bill to stop gambling, two thugs show up at the theater to make it clear that Bill will have to make good on that IOU. But they confront Fred instead of Bill, since Fred's name is on the gambling debt. Lois asks Bill Why Can't You Behave? Fred and Lilli reminisce nostalgically about their other performances together, and their warm feelings for each other return -Wunderbar. When flowers sent by Fred to Lois mistakenly get delivered to Lilli, Lilli falls even more deeply in love with Fred -So in Love.

We are brought into Shakespeare's world with We Open in Venice. It is not long before we are told that Lucentio (Bill) may not marry his love Bianca (Lois), until Bianca's older sister Katharine (Lilli) the shrew is married off. Bianca enjoys flirting with her gentlemen callers in Tom, Dick or Harry. Fortunately for Bianca and Lucentio, Petruchio (Fred) comes to town looking for a wealthy wife and is not scared off by Katharine. Petruchio explains his goal in I've Come to Wive It Wealthily in Padua and Katharine makes her feelings clear in I Hate Men. Lilli finally discovers that the flowers Fred sent her were actually intended for Lois, and we hear her shriek in outrage from offstage. In Were Thine That Special Face Petruchio sings of his strong feelings for Katharine. Lilli threatens to walk out of the show, but is forced to stay. Fred convinces the two gangsters that he will be able to pay them the money he allegedly owes them, if they can make sure Lilli continues to play her role. The gangsters put on costumes and become part of the cast of "The Shrew" to stay close to Lilli. Lilli uses her anger toward Fred to express herself as Katharine for the rest of the show. Fred is forced to get tough with Katharine as he plays Petruchio. Kiss Me, Kate closes the first act.

The second act opens with Too Darn Hot, which gives the cast a chance to relax outside the theatre during intermission. Back at "The Shrew" Petruchio marries Katharine, and already misses his relatively peaceful single life in Where Is the Life That Late I Led? Lois and Bill sing of their relationship in Always True to You (In My Fashion) and then Bill sings Bianca. When the gangsters call their boss to 'check in,' they find out that the boss has been killed. This makes Bill's IOU worthless, so the gangsters can leave. Lilli takes the opportunity to walk off the show, and leaves with her dependable fiance Harrison, as Fred reprises So in Love. The gangsters get caught up in the limelight and pay an unusual tribute to Shakespeare in Brush Up Your Shakespeare. Bianca and Lucentio are finally married. As "The Taming of the Shrew" comes to a close, Lilli unexpectedly returns to the stage, and in Katharine's words expresses her intention of returning to Fred -I Am Ashamed That Women Are So Simple. Lilli and Fred are reunited, and Lois and Bill are together.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

DANCE NOTE:	- Yes means that this is a role for someone with some experience in dance (often with classical/jazz/tap dance training). Many of these roles are intended to be featured dancers. - Some means that there the role requires some dancing, but not necessarily a trained dancer. The ability to learn simple dance steps is neeeded. - No means no dance ability is necessary.
AGE NOTE:	The age range is a general guide to the approximate age of each character. Some characters can be played older or younger depending upon the director's vision. The plus sign (+) next to an age indicates that there is no specific upper limit on age for that role.)

 

Role Baltimore Players (* Principal singing role) Shrew Players		Voice Type (Range)	Dance	Age Range
Pops (Stage Doorman) - Ensemble part of male quartet for Opening Act One & "Bianca"	Padua Priest - 3rd Male Solo for "Cantiamo D'Amore"	Baritone/Bass	No	60+
* Hattie (Lilli Vanessi's Dresser)		(g) a — f2	Some	30+
* Paul - Fred Graham's dresser, specialty dance and leader of solo trio for "Too Darn Hot"		c — f#1	Yes	20-40
Ralph (Stage Manager)	Ensemble singer	Any	Some	20+
* Lois Lane - A night club singer in her first featured role on stage	Bianca Minola	g — f2	Yes	20-35
* Bill Calhoun - A Broadway hoofer, Lois' partner and chronic gambler	Lucentio	G — e1 (f1)	Yes	20-35
* Lilli Vanessi - A star stage and screen actress, the former wife of Fred Graham	Katharine Minola	a — g2 (bb2)	Some	35+
Dance Captain - Servant to Petruchio / Ensemble dancer & Padua recorder player	Gregory		Yes	20+
* Fred Graham - Writer, producer, director, actor and superman	Petruchio	Bb — f1 (g1)	Some	35+
Harry Trevor - A veteran character actor	Baptista Minola		No	50+
Stagehand #1 (electrician) & Cab Driver - Part of male quartet for Opening Act One and "Bianca"	Nathaniel - servant to Petruchio - Padua mandolin player & 2nd male solo for "Cantiamo D'Amore"		Some	20+
* First Man - Gunman-enforcer	"Aide" to Katherine - half of the donkey for Finale Act Two	B — d1 (f1)	Some	30+
* Second Man - Gunman-enforcer	"Aide" to Katherine - half of the donkey for Finale Act Two	B — d1	Some	30+
* Flynt — Aide to General Howell - Ensemble dancer & motorcyclist	Gremio (first suitor)	Bb — g1 (a1)	Yes	20-35
* Riley — Aide to General Howell - Ensemble dancer & motorcyclist	Hortensio (second suitor) - 1st Male Solo for "Cantiamo D'Amore	(Bb) d—a1	Yes	20-35
Stagehand #2 (assistant electrician) - Part of male quartet for Opening Act One and "Bianca" & Stage Musician — part of vocal trio for "Too Darn Hot"	Philip - servant to Petruchio - Half of the donkey for "We Open In Venice."		Some	20+
Stagehand #3 & Driver for General Howell - Part of male quartet for Opening Act One and "Bianca" & Stage Musician - part of vocal trio for "Too Darn Hot"	Haberdasher - Half of the donkey for "We Open In Venice."		Some	20+
* General Harrison Howell - Career military officer, politician and Lilli's "new" man		B — f1	No	40+
Wardrobe Lady - Part of female quartet for "Bianca."	ensemble singer		Some	18+
ensemble singer - Part of female quartet for "Bianca."	Padua Inn Waitress		Some	18+
two women_—ensemble singers - Part of female quartet for "Bianca."	two women—ensemble singers		Some	18+
four women—ensemble dancers	four women—ensemble dancers	All Ranges	Yes	18+
Ensemble: Company SATB singers & dancers	citizens of Padua	All Ranges	Some	14+

ORCHESTRA INSTRUMENTATION

Full Orchestration

LIST OF SCENES

SETTING:

LIST OF MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT TWO