Another op’nin’, another show…
Tony winner Kelli O'Hara (The King and I) and Tony nominee Will Chase (Something Rotten!) will brush up their Shakespeare tonight at Roundabout Theatre Company's Studio 54 for their one-night-only benefit performance of Kiss Me, Kate.
O'Hara and Chase star as exes Lili Vanessi and Fred Graham, who, while putting on a musical version of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, can't decide if they're enraged, enamored, or enormously confused whenever they cross paths out of character.
The cast of the concert performance also includes Robert Fairchild (Bill), Heléne Yorke (Lois), Chuck Cooper (Harry Trevor and Baptista), Richard Kind (Gangster), Norm Lewis (Harrison Howell), and John Pankow (Gangster), as well as Amber Iman, James Lane, Cameron Adams, Phillip Attmore, Preston Truman Boyd, Will Burton, Derrick Cobey, Jesmille Darbouze, Rick Faugno, Leslie Donna Flesner, Jenifer Foote, Jessica Lee Goldyn, Nathan Keen, Michael Lowney, Marissa McGowan, Linda Mugleston, Hayley Podschun, and Aaron Ramey.
The creative team includes David Rockwell (set design), Jeff Mahshie (costume design), Donald Holder (lighting design), Brian Ronan (sound design), and John Barrett (hair and makeup design).
Written by Sam and Bella Spewack with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, Kiss Me, Kate earned the first-ever Tony Award for Best Musical. This evening's benefit performance is directed by Roundabout Theatre Company's associate artistic director Scott Ellis (She Loves Me).
Proceeds from the concert will support Roundabout's many programs and initiatives, including the Musical Theatre Fund.