Judge Story’s Theatrical Troupe is pleased to present Cole Porter’s Kiss Me Kate in conjunction with Story City’s 2010 Scandinavian Days festival. The show will be presented at 7:00 pm Wednesday, June 2 through Saturday, June 5 and a matinee performance on Sunday, June 6 at 1:30 pm at the historic Story Theatre/Grand Opera House. Tickets for the production are $10 and available at Norsemen Realty, 601 Broad Street, Story City, (515)733-2922. All seats reserved – MasterCard and Visa accepted.
Kiss Me Kate boasts a unique show within a show format as modern (1948 era) performers play actors appearing in a stage production of William Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. The divorced lead characters (Lilli and Fred) still harbor bitter feelings about the failure of their marriage thereby setting up a mirror of the acrimonious couple they portray on stage. The two battle it out both onstage and off giving vent to frustrations as the lines between art and real life are blurred.
Meanwhile, the two secondary leads (Lois and Bill) are also a struggling couple offstage. Lois enjoys the romantic attentions of lots of men and Bill is addicted to gambling. Bill’s created a problem for himself as he has an outstanding I.O.U. on which he signed Fred’s name. Two enforcers arrive backstage to collect the debt, targeting Fred who knows nothing about the I.O.U., but realizes he can use the two gangsters to help ensure that Lilli (in a fit of jealous anger) doesn’t walk off the stage mid-performance.
The charming gangsters turn out to be big Lilli fans and enthusiastic theatre buffs. Fred persuades them to don Shakespearean costumes so they can keep a closer eye on Lilli to make sure the show goes on. The mayhem both onstage and off takes a wild turn when General Harrison Howell (Lilli’s new fiancé) arrives to take her away not only from the current production, but from her life as an actress.
Several new-to-the-Troupe faces join some of the more regular JSTT performers to stage this delightful show-within-a-show version of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.
| Lilli Vanessi/Katharine Minola | Erin Pederson |
| Fred Graham/Petruchio | Chris Ebke |
| Lois Lane/Bianca Minola | Lisa Webb |
| Bill Calhoun/Lucentio | Lars Skaar |
| Hattie | Denise Carlson |
| Paul/Hortensio | Tom Schultz |
| Flynt/Gremio | Dion Andrews |
| 1st Man | Patrick Nuetzman |
| 2nd Man | Tim Mortvedt |
| General Harrison Howell/Chorus | Danny Ellis |
| Wardrobe Lady/Chorus | Pam Cooper |
| Harry Trevor/Baptista Minola | Walt Hermanson |
| Pops (Stage Doorman) | Sue Braland |
| Ralph (Stage Manager) | Carol Reed |
| Padua Inn Waitress/Chorus | Julie Ferrell |
| Gregory/Chorus | Jeremy McKinley |
| Cabdriver/Chorus | Lorijo Lounsberry |
| Riley/Chorus/Phillip | Mitch Palmer |
| Haberdasher | Cheryl Murken |
| Nathaniel/Chorus | Kirk Whitmore |
| Dance Cap’n/Chorus | Whitney Olthoff |
| Driver/Chorus | Martha McIrvin |
| Chorus Girls: | Ally Brice, Kori Crabb, Maddy McMullen, Becky Shaw, Charlsea Soderstrum, Grace Steenhagen |
KISS ME KATE is led by Cathy Hermanson (Director/Producer), Rhonda Hampton (Vocal Music Director), David Ashby (Conductor) and Fran Christian (Choreographer).
Kiss Me Kate boasts an impressive musical score loaded with Porter classics including “Another Op’nin’ Another Show,” “Why Can’t You Behave?,” “Wunderbar,” “I Hate Men,” “Tom, Dick or Harry,” “Always True to You” and “Brush Up Your Shakespeare.”
Does the show go on? Can Lilli and Fred and Lois and Bill overcome their differences? Are the gangsters successful in their attempt to collect the I.O.U. and keep Lilli performing? Will there be men in tights? Get your ticket to the JSTT production and come find out!
Judge Story’s Theatrical Troupe will present KISS ME KATE June 2-6 in conjunction with Scandinavian Days 2010. Tickets will be $10 again this year and will be available for sale beginning May 10 at Norsemen Realty (515-733-2292). MasterCard/Visa accepted – all seats reserved.