Bloomfield's Own Cast as Lead in 'Kiss Me, Kate'

This summer, talented high-school and college-aged performers will team up for a rendition of Cole Porter’s Tony-award winning musical comedy Kiss Me, Kate. The show is the product of an annual collaboration between the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and the New Jersey Youth Theatre (NJYT). 

Kiss Me, Kate combines Cole Porter’s music and lyrics with Shakespeare’s comedy, The Taming of the Shrew . The show was Porter’s biggest hit and ran for more than 1,000 performances on Broadway. In addition, it won the first Tony Award for Best Musical in 1949.

The show is best described as a “play within-a-play,” with each cast member’s onstage life complicated by what is happening offstage.

The score features classic Porter tunes like “Too Darn Hot,” “Another Op’nin,’ Another Show,” “So in Love,” and “Always True to You (in my Fashion).”

This production of Kiss Me, Kate features a diverse cast of 29 highly-trained New Jersey actors and 26 orchestra musicians from all over the state.  The program's goal is to prepare aspiring performers and technicians for a career in professional theater.  Sets, props and wardrobe operations will be in the hands of professionals, who are assisted by technical interns in each area.

The audition process was especially rigorous this year, according to Cynthia Meryl of Westfield. As a result, this year's cast is full of powerhouse performers. 

“Kiss Me, Kate is a classic musical that truly challenges the skill levels of our performers; the entire cast must be “triple threats,” able to sing, dance, and act, and do them all well.  This cast is full of talent, energy and determination and will definitely rise to the occasion.  I look forward to an exciting rehearsal period and production,” said Meryl who directs the production.

The musical direction will be handled by Ilene Greenbaum of Livingston and choreography by Assistant Director Sherry Alban of Edison. 

Sandra Bowie , Vice President of Arts Education at NJPAC, said of the production, “We are excited to again partner with New Jersey Youth Theatre for a summer filled with the highest level of theater training for young artists from all over New Jersey. Kiss Me, Kate is a classic, with a story and score that has stood the test of time.”

Kiss Me, Kate ’s cast has a Bloomfield feel to it with castmembers Jared Lee, Stephen Michel and Stephen Mir all representing the township. 

The remainder of the cast includes Samuel St. Juste of Boonton; Elyse Langely of Clarksboro ; Brittany McDyer and Erica Morreale of Cranford; William Ruff of East Newark; Adam Biner, Charles Centinaro and Katy Cockrell of Fanwood ; Carolyn Ferraro and Julianne Ferraro of Lebanon ; Alex Thompson of Maplewood ; Matt Robertson and Michael Robinson of Montclair ; Alanna Smith of Montvale; Ashley Retamar and Zubaytah Bashir of Newark; Megan McGill of Pompton Lakes; James Smith of Pompton Plains; Dion Grier and Jasmine Taylor of Roselle ; Kristen Olson of Roselle Park; Caitlyn Barrows of Rutherford ; Michael Zimmerman of Somerville; Kelly McCarthy of Stewartsville Chris Gordon of Succasunna ; and Travis Przybylski of Westfield.

The Kiss Me, Kate orchestra is made up of a mix of both professionals and students. The students are: Vincent Neill of Bayonne ; Danny Conde of Kearny ; Katelyn Siobhan Hidalgo and Kelsey Mulgrew of Maplewood ; Anna Mincey of Montclair; Nathaniel Williams of Newark ; Erica Leh of Short Hills; Jack DeLucia and Ansy Francois of Union; Charlie McLellan and Olivia Rutler of Wyckoff.

Past NJPAC/NJYT Summer Musical productions include RENT, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (named by The Star-Ledger as “Best Musical Revival 2009”), 1776, Ragtime: The Musical (named by The Star-Ledger as “Best Musical Revival 2006”), Guys & Dolls, Anything Goes, West Side Story (recipient of the 2003 Music Theatre International Award of Excellence), South Pacific , Once On This Island, Brigadoon , Oliver!, Carousel and the NJYT original, Midnight Madness.

Kiss Me, Kate runs from July 15-24th at NJPAC’s Victoria Theater for a total of nine showings. Ticket prices range from $20-$30 and can be purchased at the the NJPAC Box Office in Newark, by calling 1-888-GO-NJPAC or by logging onto www.njpac.org.