Musical Kiss Me Kate to open at YMCA

Cole Porter’s classic backstage musical celebrates 70 years since its triumphant 1948 Broadway premiere, winning the first ever Tony Award for a musical.

It followed long runs in New York and London with the hit 1953 MGM film, and constant productions around the world ever since, including three this year in Yorkshire alone.

It’s 1948 and in a stifling heatwave, a company comes together for the opening night of its new musical version of Shakespeare’s comedy The Taming of the Shrew.

Tensions mount and romantic complications ensue, as the on-stage sparring of Kate and Petruchio, played by a recently divorced starring couple, spills over backstage.

An ambitious nightclub singer is determined to become a Broadway star at any cost, despite her feckless boyfriend’s antics, the leading lady threatens to quit, and the show is saved only by the unexpected intrusion of two gangsters with Shakespearian enthusiasms of their own.

Cole Porter’s hit-packed score includes Another Op’nin’ Another Show, Too Darn Hot, Why Can’t You Behave?, So In Love, Always True To You In My Fashion, Wunderbar, I Hate Men… and, of course, Brush Up Your Shakespeare.

Under the musical direction of Bill Scott, Kiss Me, Kate is directed by Tim Tubbs and choreographed by Katrina Flynn.

The show’s 29-strong cast includes: Rebecca Kelly-Evans as Kate: Damon Hotchin as Petruchio; Georgie Samuels as Bianca; Liam Galashan as Lucentio; Kathryn Irwin as Hattie; Charlie Simon-Shaw as Paul; Nathan Mundey as Gremio, Andrew Clay as Hortensio and Robin Newman as Baptista.

Jonathan Jeeves and Tim Tubbs as the Two Gangsters.

A great Broadway classic, Kiss Me Kate promises an amusingly witty story of egocentric actors, backstage feuds and Shakespearian shenanigans, with gorgeous costumes, songs and dances.

It is Thursday October 25, Friday October 26 and Saturday October 27 at 7.30pm and Sunday October 28 at 3pm

Tickets from YMCA box office: 01723-506750 or at www.ymcascarborough.uk