'Kiss Me, Kate!' starts Friday

Jul 18, 2017 at 08:11 pm by Observer-Review


'Kiss Me, Kate!' starts Friday ADVERTISEMENT

'Kiss Me, Kate!' starts Friday

PENN YAN--"Kiss Me, Kate!" goes onstage at Penn Yan Academy, July 21-23, as the Penn Yan Theatre Company (PYTCo.) presents its summer musical. With romance, comedy, sophistication, and behind-the-scenes high jinks, the "Kiss Me, Kate!" production offers something for everyone.
In PYTCo.'s musical, directed by John Christensen, passions run high as leading lady Lilli Vanessi and her ex-husband, actor/director Fred Graham, battle onstage and off in Fred's musical adaptation of Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew."
Musical numbers include "So In Love," "Wunderbar," "Tom, Dick or Harry," "Too Darn Hot," "Brush Up Your Shakespeare," "I Hate Men," "Always True to You (In My Fashion)" and "Another Op'nin', Another Show." Originally produced in 1948, "Kiss Me, Kate!" is considered one of Broadway's great treasures.
Performing those songs for PYTCo. as actors in the show (and the show-within-the-show) are some of the best musicians in the region. Music Director Brian Cerow is known throughout the area for his work with school and community shows who benefit from his piano virtuosity and his pit direction skills.
Starring as Fred Graham/Petruchio, Randy Knapp, a Dundee teacher, brings his resonant voice, charm and humor to the role.
Penn Yan teacher Jessica Kinsey steps back on the stage herself in the role of Lilli Vanessi/Kate, bringing her musical skills and voice talent to this role. She is enjoying working with many of her past and current students, now as fellow actors in PYTCo.'s summer production.
One of those current PYA students is Zack Blauvelt who plays Broadway hoofer Bill Calhoun/Lucentio.
Another young actor, Lily Schwartz, plays the role of Lois Lane/Bianca (an ambitious nightclub singer in her first stage show) is a home school student, but one who has been singing, acting and dancing in productions from Canandaigua to Corning for years.
Christensen praised the production and said, "Be sure to see 'Kiss Me, Kate!', which promises to be one of the finest shows PYTCo. has ever staged in its 39-year history of bringing live theatre and musical productions to the Penn Yan, Yates County, and Finger Lakes Communities."
What: "Kiss Me, Kate!"
When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 21-22, 2 p.m. Sunday July 23.
Where: Penn Yan Academy auditorium.
Tickets: Pre-sale, $10 available at Longs' Cards & Books; at the door, $12 adults, $10 students and seniors.

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