Elizabeth Stanley and Paul Anthony Stewart Star in Barrington Stage's KISS ME, KATE, Beginning Tonight

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, presents the company's 20th Anniversary Season opener - Kiss Me, Kate, to be presented today, June 11 through July 12 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage (30 Union Street).

Directed by Joe Calarco, with choreography by Lorin Latarro, the production stars Elizabeth Stanley (BSC's On the Town; Broadway: Company) as Lili Vanessi/Kate, Paul Anthony Stewart (The People in the Picture, Fiddler on the Roof, TVs Guiding Light) as Fred Graham/Petruchio, Mara Davi (A Chorus Line) as Lois Lane/Bianca, Tyler Hanes (A Chorus Line) as Bill Calhoun/Lucentio, Nyla Watson (Hattie), Matthew Bauman (Paul), Carlos Lopez (Gangster #1), Michael Dean Morgan (Gangster #2), Roger DeWitt, Fred Inkley, KC Fredericks, Calvin Cooper, Joel Robertson, Brittany Bohn, Jennifer Evans,Adrienne Howard, Jakob Karr, Amanda La Motte, Robin Lounsbury, Kyle Pressley, and BSC's Musical Theatre Apprentices Matthew Gregory,Gabriel Kadian, Jordana McMahon, Brian Sandstrom, and Ross Yoder.

Kiss Me, Kate features music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Sam and Bella Spewack. Taking its inspiration from Shakespeare, Kiss Me, Katerecounts the backstage and onstage antics of two feuding couples during a touring musical production of The Taming of the Shrew. Sparkling with 18 classic Cole Porter songs, Kiss Me, Kate includes "Another Op'nin', Another Show," "So in Love," "Always True to You in My Fashion," "Too Darn Hot," and "Brush Up Your Shakespeare".

BSC Associate Artists Darren R. Cohen will music direct and Renee Lutz returns for her 20th season opener as production stage manager. Kiss Me, Kateis designed by James Krozner (sets), Amy Clark (costumes), Jason Lyons (lights) and Ed Chapman (sound).

Award-winning director Joe Calarco returns to Barrington Stage, having previously directed the Musical Theatre Lab premieres of The Burnt Part Boys (also at Playwrights Horizons), The Mysteries of Harris Burdick and The Memory Show (also at The Transport Group). Calarco recently directed Gypsy at VA's Signature Theatre and directed Patrick Barlow's adaptation of Dickens' A Christmas Carol Off-Broadway at St. Clement's (Drama Desk nomination). Calarco is the adaptor/director of Shakespeare's R&J, which earned him a Lortel Award. Calarco will be in residence at Barrington Stage this summer directing Breaking the Code on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage starring BSC Associate Artist Mark H. Dold and the Musical Theatre Lab workshop of William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin's Romance in Hard Times.

Lorin Latarro makes her BSC debut as choreographer. Lorin recently choreographed Broadway's Waiting For Godot with Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen, City Center Encore's Fanny, Queen Of The Night (Diamond Horseshoe Theatre), Broadway's Scandalous and American Idiot (Associate), The Metropolitan Opera's Rigoletto (Associate), Hansel and Gretel for PBS Live From Lincoln Center, Hands On A Hardbody (Associate), and Broadway By The Year (Town Hall). Regional credits include Rocky Horror, Grand Night for Singing, Summer of '42, Wonderful Life (Bucks County Playhouse) and How to Succeed... (White Plains Performing Arts). As a performer: 14 Broadway shows, Twyla Tharp, Martha Graham Co. and Momix.

Cole Porter's most successful musical, the original production of Kiss Me, Kate opened on Broadway at the New Century Theatre on December 30, 1948 and ran for 1,077 performances. Starring Alfred Drake and Patricia Morrison, Kiss Me, Kate was the first musical to win the Tony Award for Best Musical. M-M-MGM's 1953 movie version, filmed in 3-D, starred Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel and Ann Miller. The production received its first Broadway revival in 1999 - starring Brian Stokes Mitchell and Marin Mazzie - winning five Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival.

Kiss Me, Kate has a Berkshires connection to composer/lyricist Cole Porter, who in 1940 purchased "Buxton Hill" with his wife Linda in Williamstown.

Cynthia and Randolph Nelson are the lead sponsors of Kiss Me, Kate. The production is also sponsored in part by Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Club.

Performances of Kiss Me, Kate are Tuesday and Wednesday at 7pm, Thursday through Saturday at 8pm, Wednesday and Friday matinees at 2pm (excluding June 11 and June 13), Sunday at 5pm. Added Saturday matinees July 5 and July 12 at 2pm. Please note Friday, July 4 there is no 8pm evening performance; there will be a 2pm matinee. Press Opening: Sunday, June 15 at 5pm. Tickets start at $20. Low priced previews June 11-13 are $15/$20. Youth ages 6-18, tickets $15/$20 all performances (subject to availability). For more information, call the Barrington Stage Box Office at 413-236-8888 (or toll-free at 855-TIX-2BSC) or visit www.barringtonstageco.org.