Bella Spewack News

Following closely on the heels of Shakespeare Festival St. Louis' sparkling 1950's update of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, audiences at the Muny get the unique opportunity to compare and contrast the original with the musical remake as KISS ME KATE takes the stage in wondrous fashion. The chance to hear a swinging ensemble play Cole Porter's terrific score is reason enough to take in this production of Kiss Me Kate, but when you add in the eye-catching costumes, enthusiastic performances and lively dance numbers, you have the complete package.

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Cole Porter's Kiss Me Kate is a delightful musical romp that can be seen again and again. It's timeless and an overblown, yet joyous account of two egotistical actors, once married to each other, who adore one another but just cannot be around each other very long without catastrophic, calamitous results. It's also a play within a play, as Lilli Vanessi (Lesli Margherita) and Fred Graham (Tom Hewitt) are on tour essaying Katharine and Petruchio in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Above all, the silly contrived story is overshadowed by Cole Porter's divine score with some of the most glorious tunes ever composed. Kiss Me Kate is a showcase to Porter's genius. Reprise Theatre's current revival is devastatingly hilarious with top-notch direction from Michael Michetti and a magnificent cast.

Tom Hewitt, Lesli Margherita, Meg Gillentine and Seán Martin Hingston are the Broadway and West End stars that will lead the cast of Reprise Theatre Company's third production of the 2010-2011 season, 'Kiss Me, Kate', playing May 10 to 22 (press opening May 11, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The musical - with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Samuel and Bella Spewack will be directed by Michael Michetti, co-artistic director of The Theatre @ Boston Court and choreographed by Lee Martino. Michael Paternostro will serve as musical director.

Tom Hewitt, Lesli Margherita and Meg Gillentine are the Broadway and West End stars that will lead the cast of Reprise Theatre Company's third production of the 2010-2011 season, 'Kiss Me, Kate', playing May 10 to 22 (press opening May 11, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The musical - with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Samuel and Bella Spewack will be directed by Michael Michetti, co-artistic director of The Theatre @ Boston Court and choreographed by Lee Martino. Michael Paternostro will serve as musical director.

Los Angeles' Reprise Theatre Company today announced it's 2010-2011 season, which features three classic American musicals at UCLA's Freud Playhouse: 'They're Playing Our Song' (September 28 to October 10, 2010), with music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager and book by Neil Simon, and starring Jason Alexander, the company's Artistic Director; Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's 'Gigi' (February 15 to 27, 2011); and Cole Porter's 'Kiss Me, Kate' (May 10 to 22, 2011), with book by Samuel and Bella Spewack.

There were actually those who thought Cole Porter, Broadway's fountain of divine wit and sophistication, had run dry by that winter of 1948.  Though his recent offerings like Something For The Boys and Mexican Hayride were far from flops, his kind of thin-plotted musical comedy where the book and the songs often had little more than a passing acquaintance with each other was being overshadowed by the enormous success of Rodgers and Hammerstein's integrated musical dramas.  Even in the lightest of entertainments, the public was becoming more and more enthralled by musicals with strong plots and well-developed characters.

Set in French Guiana, a region where on Christmas Eve the temperature has graciously dropped to 104 degrees, three amiable convicts are employed as roofers above the Ducotel's general store. The roof winds up being the least of the family's troubles.

Cole Porter's Tony Award-Winning musical, 'Kiss Me, Kate', opened Friday 9/25 at TheatreWorks New Milford in Connecticut.

Cole Porter's Tony Award-Winning musical, 'Kiss Me, Kate', opened Friday 9/25 at TheatreWorks New Milford in Connecticut.

Cole Porter's Tony Award-Winning musical, 'Kiss Me, Kate', opens Friday at TheatreWorks New Milford in Connecticut.

Porter, Shakespeare, and Veloudos are a winning combination as the Lyric Stage Company of Boston kicks off its 36th season

Attic Playhouse, a professional, not-for-profit theatre in Highland Park has announced their slate of the shows for the upcoming 2009-2010 season.

With their Platinum Anniversary just around the corner, Paper Mill Playhouse is celebrating the abundance of springtime with a musical comedy favorite, Cole Porter's 'Kiss Me, Kate!' James Brennan's 'wunderbar' direction and 'too darn hot' choreography by Patti Columbo take center-stage with the hard-working and high-energy cast led by Mike McGowan, Michele Ragusa, Amanda Watkins and Timothy J. Alex!

Paper Mill Playhouse, during its 2007-2008 season, will explore six outstanding titles with intergenerational appeal - some new to the Paper Mill stage and some returning favorites.

California Musical Theatre has announced its 2007 Music Circus season with seven large-scale musical productions and seasoned Broadway veterans helming casts! Nancy Opel, Laura Griffith, Adinah Alexander, James Barbour, Walter Charles, Michael Gruber and others star!

On December 26th at 8 PM, PBS will re-broadcast Kiss Me, Kate, which was originally aired some years ago as part of the 'Great Performances' series

San Francisco's PBS affiliate, KQED TV9 and DT9, has several great up-coming Broadway and theatre-related broadcasts planned for the month of December, including Great Performances of 'Kiss Me, Kate' and 'Cinderella,' plus Audra McDonald Live at Lincoln Center!

It's homicide for the holidays when WILDCAT THEATRICALS presents a special staged reading of the classic Broadway comedy MY THREE ANGELS by Sam and Bella Spewack, Sun-Tue Dec 5, 6, & 7 @ 7pm at the Producer's Club Sonnet Theatre.