Joe Calarco to Direct Barrington Stage's KISS ME, KATE, 6/11-7/12

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, has announced the creative team for the company's 20th Anniversary Season opener - Kiss Me, Kate, to be presented June 11 through July 12 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage (30 Union Street).

Joe Calarco and Lorin Latarro will direct and choreograph Kiss Me, Kate, which features music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Sam and Bella Spewack.

BSC Associate Artists Darren R. Cohen will music direct and Renee Lutz returns for her 20th season opener as production stage manager.

BSC Associate Artist Joshua Bergasse was previously announced to choreograph, but has had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.

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. 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'sRomance 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.

Taking its inspiration from Shakespeare, Kiss Me, Kate recounts the backstage and onstage antics of two feuding couples during a touring 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".

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.

Tickets, starting at $20, are on sale now for Kiss Me, Kate and the 2014 Season. 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.

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