Kiss Me Kate, February 2007

Ardmore Little Theatre will hold auditions at the Goddard Center for the classic American musical "Kiss Me, Kate", written by Cole Porter (music), and Bella and Samuel Spewack (book) on Monday and Tuesday, January 8 & 9, 2007 at 7:00pm, with callbacks on Wednesday, January 10th. The show calls for eleven principal singing roles, and an ensemble of SATB singers, as well as dancers and citizens of Padua, Italy. The show will be directed by Doris Simpson and Charlotte Hudgins. Production dates are February 22 - 25, and March 1 - 3, 2007.

Some of the well-known songs from the musical include: "Another Op'nin, Another Show", "I Hate Men", "Wunderbar", "Tom, Dick Or Harry", "So In Love", "Were Thine That Special Face", "Too Darn Hot", "Where is The Life That Late I Led", "Always True to You in My Fashion", "From This Moment On", "Bianca" and "Brush Up Your Shakespeare".

The show contains a play within a play about the out-of-town tryout of a musicl version of Shakespeare's "Taming of th Shrew", directed by and starring a hammy actor named Fred Graham alongside his ex-wife Lili Vanessi. Cole Porter confined himself to the sweeping emotions of the leaading characters. Banking on the convention of two lovers "who can't live with each other and coan't live without eaachother", Porter briliantly captured the slf-delusion and everwrought masochism or romantic egotism. Porter's renderings of the outsized, melodramatic personalities of Fred and Lili were the most truthful things he ever wrote. Thrown together in the out-of-town tryout, Fred and Lili discover the love that binds their considerable egos together, even though Lili is engaged to marry a powerful senator and Fred is involved in a dalliance with a sexy youg thing in the show. They realize, much like Kate an Petruchio is the original play, that they are bound to each other.

Audition Procedure

1. If you are auditioning for a singing role, please be able to sing at least 32 measures of a number from KISS ME KATE or any other BROADWAY show with a similar voice range. (Call Mary Ann Keester at 223-6387 for a copy of songs from the musical.

2. If you auditioning for a chorus part, we will go over parts before the auditions to familiarize you with the music.

3. Range, cast of characters and musical number information are available in the ALT office at the Goddard Center, as well as copies of scenes that will be used for readings during auditions. Call 223-6387 to see when someone will be at the office.

4. Those who wish to audition for dancing parts will be taught a series of steps during the audition. Please wear appropriate clothing and soft-sole shoes.

5. Actors are encouraged to read for a variety of roles of their choice and may also be asked to read for specific parts by the Directors.