Kiss Me, Kate is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. This is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Musical first awarded in 1949 The Tony Award for Best Original Score is the Tony Award given to the Composers and Lyricists of the best original score written for a musical The Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical has been awarded since 1994 The Drama Desk Award, created in 1955, is an award which recognizes shows produced on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-off-Broadway, and The Evening Standard Theatre Awards, established in 1955 are presented annually for outstanding achievements in London Theatre. The Critics' Circle is a Professional association of British critics of dance drama film music visual arts and architecture Musical theatre is a form of Theatre combining Music, Songs spoken Dialogue and Dance. Cole Albert Porter (June 9 1891 &ndash October 15 1964 was an American Composer and songwriter from Peru, Indiana. It is structured as a play within a play, where the interior play is a musical version of The Taming of the Shrew. The Taming of the Shrew is an early comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written between 1590 and 1594

Kiss Me, Kate was a comeback and a personal triumph for Cole Porter. After several successful musicals in the 1930s, notably Anything Goes, Du Barry Was a Lady, and Panama Hattie, he experienced an equestrian accident in 1937 that left him in constant pain. Anything Goes is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. DuBarry Was a Lady (1939 is a Broadway musical, starring Bert Lahr, Ethel Merman and Betty Grable with music and lyrics Panama Hattie is a theater musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Herbert Fields and B For the Roman class see Equestrian (Roman Equestrianism refers to the skill of riding or driving Horses This broad description Following the accident, he continued to write songs and musicals but with limited success, and some thought he was past his prime. Kiss Me, Kate was a response to Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! and other integrated musicals, and it proved to be his biggest hit and the only one of his shows to run for more than 1,000 performances on Broadway. Richard Rodgers (1902 &ndash 1979 and Oscar Hammerstein II (1895 &ndash 1960 were a well-known American songwriting duo Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. ^[1] It won the first Tony Award presented for Best Musical, in 1949. The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented

Productions

After a 3½ week pre-Broadway tryout at the Shubert Theatre in Philadelphia starting December 2, 1948, the original Broadway production opened on December 30, 1948 at the New Century Theatre, where it ran for nineteen months before transferring to the Shubert, for a total run of 1,077 performances. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Events 1409 - The University of Leipzig opens 1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The New Century Theatre was a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 932 Seventh Avenue at West 58th Street in midtown Manhattan. The Shubert Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 225 West 44th Street in midtown- Manhattan, New York, United States Directed by John C. Wilson with choreography by Hanya Holm, the original cast included Alfred Drake, Patricia Morison, Lisa Kirk, Harold Lang, Edwin Clay, Charles Wood, Annabelle Hill, Lorenzo Fuller, Eddie Sledge, Fred Davis, Harry Clark and Jack Diamond. John C Wilson ( August 19, 1899 - October 29, 1961) was an American Theatre director and producer. See also, Choreography (literally "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" (circular dance see chorea) and "γραφή" Hanya Holm (birth name Johanna Eckert born in March 3, 1893 in Worms Germany and died November 3, 1992 in New York City Alfred Drake ( October 7, 1914 - July 25, 1992) was an American Actor and Singer. Patricia Morison (born March 19, 1915 Her mother Selena Morison (née Fraser worked for British Intelligence during World War I. Lisa Kirk ( February 25, 1925 – November 11, 1990) was an American actress and Singer. Harold Lang ( December 21, 1920 - July 26, 1985) was an American Dancer and Actor.

The original West End production opened on March 8, 1951 at the Coliseum Theatre, and ran for for 400 performances. West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London 's "Theatreland" Events 1618 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion. Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January The Coliseum Theatre (also known as the London Coliseum) is on St Directed by Sam Spewack with choreography again by Hanya Holm, this production starred Patricia Morison, Bill Johnson, and Julie Wilson. Bill Johnson may refer to Bill Johnson (jazz musician (1874–1972 American jazz musician Bill Johnson (entrepreneur (1905-1962 Julie Wilson (born October 21, 1924) is an American Singer and Actress.

A Broadway revival opened at the Martin Beck Theatre on November 18, 1999 and closed on December 30, 2001 after 881 performances and 28 previews. Al_Hirschfeld_Theatre_ticket_box_NYCjpg|thumb|Ticket booth]]The Al Hirschfeld Theatre is a legitimate theatre located at 302 West 45th Street in midtown- Manhattan. Events 326 - The old St Peter's Basilica is consecrated 1302 - Pope Boniface VIII issues the Papal bull Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Directed by Michael Blakemore and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall and Rob Ashford, the opening night cast included Marin Mazzie, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Amy Spanger, Michael Berresse, Ron Holgate, Lee Wilkof, and Michael Mulheren. Michael Howell Blakemore OBE (born 18 June 1928) is an Australian actor writer and Theatre director Kathleen Marshall (born 1962 is an American Choreographer, director, and Creative consultant. Rob Ashford (born November 19, 1959) is an American Choreographer. Marin Mazzie (born October 9, 1960) is a Tony Award-Nominated American Actress and singer best known for her work in Musical theater Brian Stokes Mitchell (b 31 October, 1957, Seattle Washington) is an American stage film and television actor Amy Spanger, born 1971 in Newbury, Massachusetts, is an American Actress, Singer and Dancer. Michael Berresse (born August 15, 1964) is a Tony Award -nominated American Actor, Dancer, Choreographer, and Ronald Holgate is an American Actor and Opera singer, perhaps best known as Richard Henry Lee in the original Broadway production This production won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented

A West End revival opened at the Victoria Palace Theatre on October 30, 2001 and closed on August 24, 2002. West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London 's "Theatreland" The Victoria Palace Theatre is a West End theatre in Victoria Street, in the City of Westminster, opposite Victoria Station. Events 637 - Antioch surrenders to the Muslim forces under Rashidun Caliphate after the Battle of Iron bridge. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. As with the 1999 Broadway revival, Michael Blakemore was the director with choreography by Kathleen Marshall. Brent Barrett and Marin Mazzie co-starred.

The Italian Version opened at the Teatro delle Celebrazioni in Bologna on December 31, 2007. Bologna (boloɲa from Latin Bononia, Bulåggna in Bolognese dialect is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Directed by Franco Pulvirenti and choreographed by Ruggero Bogani. The cast included Cosetta Gigli, Edoardo Guarnera, Pippo Santonastaso, Josè Arpino, Gaia Bellunato, Italo Ciciriello, Guido Trebo, Massimiliano Drapello and Maria Grazia Valentino.

Plot

Act I

Egotistical Fred Graham is the director of a Broadway-bound musical version of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located William Shakespeare ( baptised The Taming of the Shrew is an early comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written between 1590 and 1594 He and his diva movie-star ex-wife Lilli Vanessi star opposite each other in the roles of Petruchio and Katharine. The pair argue backstage as only people in love can argue. Meanwhile, Fred's girl, Lois Lane, who plays Bianca, is romantically interested in Bill Calhoun, the actor playing Lucentio. Bill loves to gamble, and it turns out that he has signed Fred's name to a big I. O. U. Also, flowers sent by Fred to Lois mistakenly get delivered to Lilli, and Lilli realizes that she still loves Fred.

Everyone is in the middle of performing The Taming of the Shrew on stage when Lilli discovers that Fred's flowers were really intended for Lois, and she starts an all-out war mid-performance that threatens the production's success. At the same time, a pair of gangsters have come after Fred to collect the gambling debt, since his name is on the I. O. U. Only a successful show will provide the money that Fred needs to avoid getting his fingers broken. Fred slyly uses the gangsters to prevent the furious Lilli from walking out on the show. The gangsters join the cast to keep an eye on Lilli. Lilli channels her anger into a fierce performance as Katharine, and Fred is forced to spank her as Petruchio.

Act II

After intermission, "The Shrew" progresses as Petruchio marries Katharine and soon misses the single life. The gangsters find out that their boss has been killed, and so the I. O. U. is worthless, and they leave, noting that guys who know Shakespeare can impress the ladies. Lilli quits the show, walking out with her dependable fiance Harrison. On stage, Bianca and Lucentio are finally married. As "The Shrew" comes to a close, Lilli unexpectedly returns to the stage, and speaking as Katharine, she admits her love for Fred. Lilli and Fred are reunited, Lois and Bill come together, and all ends happily.

Cultural References and Lexicon

• A Chiropodist is a medical professional who treats foot ailments. Podiatry or podiatric medicine is a field of Healthcare devoted to the study and treatment of disorders of the Foot, Ankle, and the "anatomical

• In an homage to Noel Coward, Fred quotes (in part) a famous comic line from the playwright's 1930's play Private Lives saying "Women should be struck regularly like gongs. For medieval usage see Homage (medieval and Commendation ceremony, or Homage (disambiguation Homage (from the French Sir Noël Peirce Coward ( 16 December 1899 26 March 1973) was an English Actor, Playwright Private Lives is a play written by Noel Coward in 1930 Coward who also starred in the first production alongside Gertrude Lawrence and Laurence Olivier " The reference is lost to the dull character on-stage, but audiences from the 40's would have easily recognized it and laughed.

• The homonyms "aye" and "I" are used to comic effect in the second act.

Film and television

A film version of the same name was released in 1953. Kiss Me Kate is the 1953 MGM film adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name. There have been at least four television productions, the first on Hallmark Hall of Fame in 1958, with Drake and Morison reprising their Broadway roles, the second recorded for the launch of BBC Two in the UK in 1964, starring Howard Keel, Patricia Morison and Millicent Martin, the third in 1968 with then husband-and-wife team Robert Goulet and Carol Lawrence, and the fourth in 2003 on Great Performances, a high-definition shot performance of the London revival with Brent Barrett and Rachel York. Hallmark Hall of Fame is a long-running irregularly scheduled anthology program on American Television. Howard Keel, born Harold Clifford Keel ( April 13, 1919 &ndash November 7, 2004) was an American Actor Patricia Morison (born March 19, 1915 Her mother Selena Morison (née Fraser worked for British Intelligence during World War I. Millicent Mary Lillian Martin (born 8 June 1934) is an English actress, Singer and Comedian. Robert Gerard Goulet ( November 26 1933 – October 30 2007) was a Canadian Grammy - and Tony Award - winning Carol Lawrence (born September 5 1932, Melrose Park Illinois) is a Musical theater Actress, who has also made many appearances on Great Performances is a Television series devoted to the Performing arts and has been aired on the U London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Rachel York (born Rachel Lemanski on August 7, 1971 in Orlando Florida) is an American

Book

Samuel and Bella Spewack wrote a book entitled, Kiss Me Kate, loosely based on Shakespeare's, Taming of the Shrew, and both collaborated with Porter during his compostion of the musical. Samuel ( September 16, 1899 - October 14, 1971) and Bella Spewack ( March 25, 1899 - April 27, William Shakespeare ( baptised

Song list

Awards and Nominations

Original 1948 Production

• Tony Award for Best Musical (winner)
• Tony Award for Best Author of a Musical (winner)
• Tony Award for Best Composer and Lyricist (winner)
• Tony Award for Best Costume Design (winner)
• Tony Award for Best Producer of a Musical (winner)

1999 Revival

• Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical (winner)
• Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (Brian Stokes Mitchell, winner)
• Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical (Marin Mazzie, nominee)
• Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Michael Berresse, nominee)
• Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Lee Wilkof, nominee)
• Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Michael Mulheren, nominee)
• Tony Award for Best Scenic Design (nominee)
• Tony Award for Best Costume Design (winner)
• Tony Award for Best Lighting Design (nominee)
• Tony Award for Best Choreography (nominee)
• Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical (winner)
• Tony Award for Best Orchestrations (winner)
• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical (winner)
• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Brian Stokes Mitchell, winner)
• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Marin Mazzie, nominee)
• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Michael Mulheren and Lee Wilkof, nominees)
• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography (nominee)
• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical (nominee)
• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations (winner)
• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design of a Musical (winner)
• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design (winner)

2001 London Revival

• Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Production (nominee)
• Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical (Marin Mazzie, nominee)
• Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical (Brent Barrett, nominee)
• Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical (Nancy Anderson and Michael Berresse, nominees)
• Laurence Olivier Award for Best Direction of a Musical (nominee)
• Laurence Olivier Award for Best Choreography (nominee)
• Laurence Olivier Award for Best Set Design (nominee)
• Laurence Olivier Award for Best Costume Design (nominee)
• Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Musical (winner)
• Critics Circle Award for Best Musical (winner)

References

• Information from the TamsWitmark website
• Information from the Imagination website

External links

• Kiss Me, Kate at the Internet Broadway Database
• Porter information
• PBS article