Burlington High School is pleased to announce that it will present Cole Porter’s multiple award-winning musical Kiss Me Kate on March 23, 24, 30 and 31 at 7:30 pm and April 1 at 2:00 pm. All performances will take place in the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center of the high school.
A high-spirited and raucous musical within a musical based on William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, Kiss Me Kate follows the relationship twists and turns of actors and former spouses Lilli Vanessi and Fred Graham as they go head to head both on stage and off in a hilarious battle of wills. Mixed with a dose of mistaken identity, a mistaken delivery, some mistaken yet oddly charming mobsters and some larger than life characters, Kate becomes one of the best-loved pieces of comedic American musical theatre that has stood the test of time.
With music and lyrics by the great American composer Cole Porter, the production is filled with musical gems, including “Another Openin’, Another Show,” “Too Darn Hot,” “So In Love,” “Wunderbar,” “From This Moment On,” “Always True To You In My Fashion,” and “Brush Up Your Shakespeare.”
Leading the cast of Kiss Me Kate are Futaba Shioda in the role of Lilli Vanessi/Kate and Zaven Ovian as Fred Graham/Petruchio, two exciting performers who will ignite the stage with their presence. Joining them are Emily Martin as Lois Lane/Bianca, Eddie Gelberg as Bill Calhoun/Lucentio, Nicollette Moody as Hattie, Edward Chilliest as Paul, Stuart Gelin as General Harrison Howell, and Patrick Hanafin and Jonathan Elins as Gunman Enforcers/Aids to Katharine. Also in the cast are Andrew Kolifrath as Flynt/Gremio, Nick Silva as Pops/Padua Priest, Keith Walker as Riley/Hortensio, Sharif Mendi as Harry Trevor/Baptista and Danielle Schissler as Stage Manager.
Cast members also include Eric Salina, Jonathan Chellali, Xavier Little, Michael Garcia, Alex Heisler and Reilly Waldron.
Featured as Select Singers in Kiss Me Kate are Kerri Biagiotti, Emily Bertolami, Cassi Cacoyannakis, Danielle Calder, Melanie Canales, Marissa Cote, Rachel Czerwinski, Giovanna Fernandes, Emily Frost, Justina Hiney, Samantha Hovasse, , Caroline Kashgegian, Kristin Markuson, Mikayla Merrill, Rachel Murgo, Elana Schlansky, Rachel Seeley, Ashley Shafman, Sharleen Varghese and Jessica Villalta-Santana.
Select Dancers are Julianne Fitzgerald, Gabriella Gonzalez, Kristin Healey, Jill Keaney, Jessica Morey, Amanda Roth, Lexi Sheldon and Katherine Tracy.
Dance ensemble members are Kailee Abeshaus, Kerry Alexander, Allison Cassidy, Cecilia Chiang, Caroline Fitzgerald, Christina Grattan, Erin Hardy, Alison Heffler, Ashley Jones, Kelliann Keaney, Sara Keelan, Nayiri Manjikian, Amanda O'Donnell, Elizabeth Perna, Samantha Porter, Catherine Sheldon, Samantha Sheppard, Kristina Smith, Meghan Welch.
Vocal ensemble members are Kara Amuzzini, Kayleigh Barrucci, Teresa Belmonte, Sarah Burnham, Natasha Chatterjee, Jill Daniels, Stephanie Desrochers, Kylie DeVarney, Cassaundra DiGregorio, Sarah Jamal-Eddine, Dora Kadish, August Kaminski, Yeva Khachatryan, Michelle Lee, Elisabeth Maiorana, Emily Murgo, Krutika Nayak, Sabrina Pereira, Catherine Pouche, Juliana Purvis, Laura Reale, Meaghan Roper, Rachel Salina, Rebecca Salina, Laura Simon-Pearson, Iselle Simonet.
Crew members for Kiss Me Kate are all BHS students, well-trained in their duties to provide set and prop placement, backdrop/curtain movement, as well as lighting and sound. Led by stage manager Edward Chilliest and assistant stage manager Sarah Parker, stage hands are Andrew Frost, Andrew Trofimow, Cassaundra DiGregorio, Dan Conely, Gabby Semeraro, Lina Saterial, MacKenzie Waisnor, Matt Martin, Paul Terranova, Rachel Merullo, Sam Cote and Vrinda Patel. Booth chief/lighting tech is Jonathan DiRusso; sound crew members are Jessica Olin and Joe Sateriale. Deck chiefs are Jaime Cahoon and Sam Cote and props managers are Jacinda Pederson and Sabrina Pederson.
Artistic director and producer John Middleton-Cox has pulled together a creative team of professionals who have worked together for several blockbuster years. Kate’s team includes choreographer Leanne Reardon, awarding-winning costume designer Maureen Tierson-Krebs and set designer Peter Waldron. Special assistance for this production is also provided by photographer Chet Maguire and videographer Alan McRae. Additionally, all performances will feature a full professional orchestra.
Tickets for
Kiss Me Kate are now on sale and can be purchased at
www.BurlingtonTickets.org or at 781-A-FUN-TIC (781-238-6842). Ticket prices are $15 adults and $10 students/senior citizens. All performances will take place in the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center of Burlington High School located at 123 Cambridge Street in Burlington, a handicapped accessible facility.
