Community News

‘Kiss Me, Kate’ opens today at Marietta theater

MARIETTA -- "Kiss Me, Kate," the latest production of the Peoples Bank Theatre in Marietta, opens at 8 p.m. today.

"Kiss Me, Kate" runs 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday, July 1 and July 2. Tickets range from $21 to $34 and are available online at peoplesbanktheatre.com or by calling the box office at 740-371-5152.

The classic musical comedy premiered on Broadway in 1948 and is set in mid-century Baltimore. The show within a show features nearly every cast member playing two roles: an actor in a traveling vaudevillian theater troupe, and a character performing a musical production of William Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew."

The cast, crew and orchestra comprise regional talent and professionals imported from out of state. Of the lead actors, Samuel Witmer lives in Athens, Anna Caldwell is based in Chicago, but graduated from Athens High School and Avery Carlson and Aleksander Papanastasopoulos traveled from New York for their roles.

Director Geoffrey Coward, associate music director/conductor David Tadlock and choreographer Jill Ruff navigated the challenges of auditioning during COVID-19 restrictions by encouraging remote, online submissions earlier this year.

The Peoples Bank production of "Kiss Me, Kate" is visually different from past Broadway musicals that have appeared at the venue, including "Oklahoma!" in 2016, "Cabaret" in 2017, and "Guys and Dolls" in 2018.

"We decided to adopt the 'concert' approach by putting the orchestra on stage with the fully costumed, staged, and choreographed production in front, aided by occasional captions to keep the story-within-a-story on track for the audience," Coward said.

The play boasts 27 cast members and 17 musicians.

The cast is:

* Lilli Vanessi/Katherine: Anna Caldwell

* Fred Graham/Petruchio: Sam Witmer

* Lois Lane/Bianca Minola: Avery Carlson

* Bill Calhoun/Lucentio: Aleksander Papanastasopoulos

* Harry Trevor/Baptista Minola: Tyler Thress

* Pops/Doorman/Male Singer 2, Andres Moledo

* Hattie/Lilli's Dresser: Madison Merlanti

* Paul/Fred's Dresser: Benjamin Eisenhour

* Ralph/Stage Manager: Tim Tuten

* Harrison Howell: Chuck Swaney

* First Man: Beach Vickers

* Second Man: Christopher Bowmaster

* Riley/Gremio/Male Dancer 1: Orion Carter

* Flynt/Hortensio/Male Dancer 2: Tim Kelsey

* Male Dancers: Jaston Brooks, Zachary Biggs

* Male Singer: Derek Smith

* Female Dancers: Allie Sheski, Courtney Griffiths, Allyson Dietz, Julia Ruggirello.

* Female Singers: Ellie Yeater, Victoria Humphrey, Lauren Giles, Hannah Nolen, Genevieve Shaftel, Karen Parlett