Kiss Me, Kate prepares for show week

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Mrs. Hoban instructs the cast on a dance number. The actors have received coaching in dancing, singing and acting.
Mrs. Hoban instructs the cast on a dance number. The actors have received coaching in dancing, singing and acting.

Things are starting to heat up as the cast and crew of Kiss Me, Kate prepare for show week.

“Everything’s starting to come together,” said Cassie Seale, who plays the role of Lois. “We haven’t gotten to run everything – dancing, acting and singing – in a whole scene yet, but the cast works really well together, and so do the directors and stage managers.”

“This week we go off-book,” commented Courtney Elyard, assistant stage manager. “Off-book” is when the actors are no longer allowed to use their scripts. “Everyone has picked up on the combination of song, dance and acting, so I think it’s going to be a really great show.”

Kordell Draper, who plays the roles of Paul and Harry, agrees. “We have a really great cast, and everyone has been doing well with their characterization. People are starting to get stressed because we’re getting close to show week, and we have a lot of new actors who still have to get used to the routine. Being in a show, you learn how to work with people and take criticism well. Every day you receive notes [corrections] from the director, and it helps you grow as a person and as an actor.”

In the technical theatre aspect of the show, everything seems to be starting to come together. “We’ve had a couple hiccups with things not being built correctly, so that slowed us down. What makes this musical difficult is that it’s a show within a show within a show. However, this production we’ve had a lot more commitment to attendance [in the crews]. It’s a lot of hard work, but that’s what makes for an exciting, fun show,” commented Ms. Wrayno, technical director.

As always, the cast and crew will manage to bring everything together at the last minute. “Everything’s fast, and it’s a lot to learn at once, but it magically works somehow,” said Bryce Murphy, who plays Bill. Kiss Me, Kate debuts April 19 at 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale the week of the show.

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