In the constellation of musical comedy masterpieces, Kiss Me, Kate shines as perhaps Broadway's most sparkling achievement.
This is the winner of the first-ever Tony Award for Best Musical, alive with onstage romance, backstage passion, comedy high and low, a hilarious dash of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, and the songwriting genius of Cole Porter at his stylish, sexy, sophisticated best, including "Too Darn Hot," "So In Love" and "Always True To You In My Fashion." Once again, Roundabout catapults you to musical comedy heaven, with a brand-new Kiss Me, Kate.
Scott Ellis directs Kelli O'Hara, Will Chase, Corbin Bleu, and more - now thru June 2 only!
Purists may squawk - though similar changes have long since shown up in feminist productions of 'The Taming of the Shrew.' For me, the adjustments, especially Ms. Green's and Ms. O'Hara's, are completely successful. They not only reorient the story as a warning to all sexes, but also provide a workaround for a musical that our cancel culture seemed ready to throw on the bonfire of the inanities. How nice to find 'Kiss Me, Kate' rescued from that fate: still speaking to us - or better yet, singing - from the not so buried past.
If the changes dampen some of the show's comedic vitality in order to make it palatable to contemporary sensibilities, so be it. There are corresponding losses and gains, too, in O'Hara's performance. One of America's most incandescent musical-theater stars, her default setting is elegance and sincerity, so the soupcon of campy self-intoxication that seems a requirement of the role is largely missing. This is not the harrumphing hysteric that audiences familiar with the show will remember.
1948 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
1949 | US Tour |
National Tour US Tour |
1951 | West End |
London Production West End |
1952 | Broadway |
Return Engagement [Broadway] Broadway |
1965 | Off-Broadway |
City Center Revival Off-Broadway |
1987 | West End |
London Revival West End |
1999 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
2001 | West End |
London Production West End |
2012 | West End |
Old Vic Theatre Production West End |
2016 | New York |
Roundabout Theatre Company Benefit Concert New York |
2018 | West End |
Opera North Production West End |
2019 | Broadway |
Roundabout Theatre Company Revival Broadway |
2024 | West End |
West End |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Warren Carlyle |
2019 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Corbin Bleu |
2019 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Kiss Me, Kate |
2019 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Kelli O'Hara |
2019 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical | Kiss Me, Kate |
2019 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Kelli O'Hara |
2019 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Choreographer | Warren Carlyle |
2019 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | Kiss Me, Kate |
2019 | Theatre World Awards | Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance | Stephanie Styles |
2019 | Tony Awards | Best Choreography | Warren Carlyle |
2019 | Tony Awards | Best Orchestrations | Larry Hochman |
2019 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical | Kelli O'Hara |
2019 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Kiss Me, Kate |
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