London's Kiss Me, Kate revival, starring Tony winner Stephanie J. Block and directed by Tony winner Bartlett Sher, completes its West End run at the Barbican Theatre September 14. The production was recently filmed for an upcoming international movie theatre release, with details to be announced.
Along with Block as Lilli Vanessi and Katharine, the cast is led by Adrian Dunbar as Fred Graham and Petruchio, Charlie Stemp (Crazy for You; Hello, Dolly!) as Bill Calhoun and Lucentio, Georgina Onuorah (Oklahoma!) as Lois Lane and Bianca, Hammed Animashaun as Gangster, Nigel Lindsay as Gangster, and Peter Davison as General Harrison Howell.
The company also includes Josie Benson as Hattie, Jack Butterworth as Paul, Jude Owusu as Harry Trevor and Baptista, Carl Au as Hortensio, Jordan Crouch as Gremio, Gary Milner as Ralph, and James Hume as Pops, along with Alisha Capon, Shani Cator, 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.
With music and lyrics by Cole Porter and a book by Sam and Bella Spewack, Kiss Me, Kate is a meta adaptation of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, following the contentious but ultimately romantic connection between actors Fred and Lilli offstage as they're appearing in a touring production of the Shakespeare classic onstage. Porter's score introduced such favorites as "Another Op'nin', Another Show," "Why Can't You Behave?," "So in Love," "I Hate Men," "Too Darn Hot," "Always True to You in My Fashion," "Brush Up Your Shakespeare," and others.
The musical premiered on Broadway in 1948, becoming a smash hit and spawning a 1953 film adaptation and several television productions in the U.S. and U.K. The show has since become a favorite to revive on the Main Stem, with heavily revised versions hitting the stage in 1999 and 2019. London's West End has been a welcome home for the work, too, with 1970, 2001, and 2012 revivals following the 1951 premiere.
Sher is directing the revival after making a name for himself helming splashy revivals of classic musicals on Broadway, including South Pacific (for which he won a Tony Award), The King and I, My Fair Lady, Camelot, Fiddler on the Roof, and others. The London revival is Sher's first major staging of the Porter classic.
Joining Sher on the creative team are choreographer Anthony Van Laast, costume designer Catherine Zuber, scenic designer Michael Yeargan, lighting designer Donald Holder, sound designer Adam Fisher, and music supervisor Stephen Ridley.
Howard Panter produced the revival for Trafalgar Theatre Productions in association with Barbican Theatre.
Visit KissMeKateMusical.com.
Adrian Dunbar and company of Kiss Me Kate
Adrian Dunbar and company of Kiss Me Kate
Hammed Animashaun, Nigel Lindsay, and Adrian Dunbar in Kiss Me Kate
Charlie Stemp, Georgina Onuorah, and company of Kiss Me Kate
Charlie Stemp and company of Kiss Me Kate
Peter Davison and Stephanie J. Block in Kiss Me Kate
Stephanie J. Block and Adrian Dunbar in Kiss Me Kate
Company of Kiss Me Kate
