Photo Flash: First Look at KISS ME, KATE at Maltz Jupiter Theatre

What do you get when you combine Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew with Cole Porter's music and lyrics? A musical that is just too darn hot! Follow the backstage story of feuding couples, raging egos, gamblers and gangsters in the beloved Tony Award-winning musical KISS ME, KATE, onstage now through March 27 at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. Celebrate the joys, madness and rewards of working in the theater -- both onstage and off. Brush up your Shakespeare and don't miss this witty and delightful musical. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

In addition to directing at regional theatres such as the Guthrie Theater and Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Flynn's directorial credits include staging a number of star-studded concerts on Broadway, including On the Twentieth Century, starring Douglas Sills, Marin Mazzie and Joanne Worley; Chess, starring Josh Groban; and Funny Girl, starring Whoopi Goldberg and Andrea Martin. On Broadway, Santana served as associate choreographer for On Your Feet and Rocky (Tony Award nomination) and assistant choreographer for Guys and Dolls, in addition to performing in On Your Feet, In the Heights and Guys and Dolls. He has also choreographed for the US tour of Rock of Ages and for numerous regional theatres across the nation.

Written by Samuel and Bella Spewack with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, the musical has risen to international fame and won numerous awards since opening on Broadway in 1948. Its original production (starring Alfred Drake, Patricia Morison, Lisa Kirk and Harold Lang) swept the Tony Awards with five awards, and a 1999 Broadway revival won five Tonys and received seven additional nominations (in addition to five Drama Desk Awards and five additional nominations). Its 2001 and 2012 London revivals received critical acclaim, as well.

The beloved musical's story involves the production of a musical version of The Taming of the Shrew and the hilarious on and off-stage conflicts between Fred Graham (the show's director, producer, and star) and his leading lady: his ex-wife Lilli Vanessi. A secondary romance concerns Lois Lane, the actress playing Bianca, and her gambler boyfriend, Bill, who runs into trouble with some gangsters.

Featuring a cast of 24, a nine-piece orchestra and theatrical costumes, the musical will feature Broadway's Sally Wilfert as Lilli and Katharine (Assassins, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and King David) and Peter Reardon as Fred and Petruchio (Broadway: La Cage Aux Folles, Meet Me in St. Louis, Passion, Urinetown and White Christmas). Shayla Benoit (last seen at the Theatre in The Music Man and Hello, Dolly!) will portray the roles of Lois Lane and Bianca, and Antuan "Magic" Raimone (who has appeared in the Off-Broadway, Broadway and First National Touring Companies of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical In the Heights) will portray Bill and Lucentio.

KISS ME, KATE is sponsored by Janet and Phillip Dresden, Isanne and Sanford Fisher and Admirals Cove Cares; tickets start at $55. For tickets, call (561) 575-2223 or visit www.jupitertheatre.org. For more information on bringing your group to the Theatre, contact group concierge Shannon Murphy at (561) 972-6117.

Photo Credit: Jen Vasbinder

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