Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) announces its mainstage production of Cole Porter's masterpiece Kiss Me, Kate, returning to the Paper Mill Stage after a 40 year absence. Directed by Paper Mill favorite James Brennan, Kiss Me, Kate won the very first Tony Award for Best Musical in 1949 - and has been delighting audiences ever since. Kiss Me, Kate will run at the Millburn theatre from April 16 through May 18, 2008.
Kiss Me, Kate will play the following performance schedule: Wednesdays at 7:30PM, Thursdays at 2:00PM & 7:30PM, Fridays at 8:00PM, Saturdays at 2:00PM & 8:00PM and Sundays at 2:00PM & 7:30PM. Single tickets are now on sale and range in price from $25 to $92. Student rush tickets are $20 and are available the day of performance in person with current student ID. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973-376-4343, or at the Paper Mill Box Office on Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.papermill.org. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted. Groups of ten or more can receive up to a 25% discount on tickets and should call 973-379-3636 ext. 2438. Paper Mill is proud to announce a Family Week special offer. From Wednesday, April 16 through Sunday, April 30, buy one adult ticket at full price and receive a child's ticket at half price. This offer is subject to availability, and is not valid on previous purchases.
"Kiss Me, Kate, inspired by The Taming of the Shrew, is a charming story following two musical theatre actors-once married, now divorced - as they star together in a Broadway-bound musical version of Shakespeare's play. Soon, tensions mount and tempers flare, until it seems no amount of acting can save this show. But when two gangsters arrive to settle an old score, success becomes a matter of survival," press notes state.
Kiss Me, Kate brings an all-star cast with familiar favorites and brilliant newcomers to the Paper Mill Stage. Broadway regular Timothy J. Alex (Bill/Lucentio) returns to the Paper Mill stage where he last appeared in the critically acclaimed production of Pirates!. On Broadway Mr. Alex appeared in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Never Gonna Dance, Man of La Mancha, Sweet Smell of Success, Thou Shalt Not, and Chicago. New to the Paper Mill stage is Mike McGowan (Fred/Petruchio), who most recently appeared on Broadway in The Apple Tree and The Producers. Paper Mill favorite Michele Ragusa (Lilli/Kate), a New Jersey resident, was last seen on the Paper Mill stage as Amalia in She Loves Me and recently received both Lortel and Drama League Award nominations for Christopher Durang's Adrift In Macao at Primary Stages. She appeared on Broadway in Urinetown, Ragtime, A Class Act, Titanic and Cyrano. Amanda Watkins (Lois/Bianca) most recently appeared at Paper Mill Playhouse as Maria in The Sound of Music. Her Broadway/National Tour credits include Sweet Charity, Urinetown, South Pacific (Nellie-National Theatre Best Actress nomination), Cabaret, Grease, Beauty and the Beast, and Cats.
Photo Credit: Gerry Goodstein
William Ryall and Gordon Joseph Weiss
Tiffany Janene Howard and the male ensemble
Mike McGowan and Timothy J. Alex
Tiffany Janene Howard, Wes Hart, Elliott Bradley and Kate Marilley
Mike McGowan and Michele Ragusa
Timothy J. Alex, Stephen Carrasco, Wes Hart and Amanda Watkins
Liz Kimball, Elliott Bradley, Gary Lynch, Stephen Carrasco, Wes Har, Katie Hagen, Kyle Vaughn and DesirÃe Davar
Michele Ragusa
Michele Ragusa
Mike McGowan and Michele Ragusa
