PBS to Rebroadcast 'Great Performances' Kiss Me, Kate

On December 26th at 8 PM, PBS will re-broadcast Kiss Me, Kate, which was originally aired some years ago as part of the "Great Performances" series.

The London production, which was taped live at the Victoria Palace, was a transfer of the hit Broadway revival of the Cole Porter classic.  It stars Rachel York (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Dessa Rose) as Lilli Vanessi, Brent Barrett (Chicago, Grand Hotel) as Fred Graham, Nancy Anderson (Fanny Hill, Wonderful Town) as Lois Lane and Michael Berresse (A Chorus Line) as Bill Calhoun.  Michael Blakemore directed the show, which on Broadway, won the 2000 Tony Award for Best Revival.

"The first Broadway revival in nearly 50 years of the musical comedy masterpiece by composer Cole Porter and authors Sam and Bella Spewack not only enchanted critics and delighted audiences...Taking its inspiration from Shakespeare, Kiss Me, Kate recounts the backstage and onstage antics of two feuding romantic couples during a touring production of The Taming of the Shrew," as the show is described in PBS notes.

The revival of Kiss Me, Kate featured choreography by Kathleen Marshall, costumes by Martin Pakledinaz, sets by Robin Wagner, lighting by Peter Kaczorowski, with orchestrations by Don Sebesky and musical direction by Gareth Valentine.

PBS' Kiss Me, Kate is a co-production of Thirteen/WNET New York, The Performance Company, and NHK. 

Visit www.pbs.org for more information.