Three Montclair Residents Perform in KISS ME KATE at NJ PAC This Weekend

Montclair residents Michael Robinson, Anna Mincey and Matt Robertson will be performing in the New Jersey Youth Theater's (NJYT) production of KISS ME, KATE to be performed at NJPAC in Newark starting this weekend. 

Kiss Me, Kate, which runs July 15-24, combines Cole Porter’s music and lyrics with Shakespeare’s timeless comedy, The Taming of the Shrew. Talented high school and college-age actors and musicians from across New Jersey will perform in the cast as part of this summer’s annual musical collaboration between the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and the New Jersey Youth Theatre (NJYT).   

Robertson and Robinson appear as cast members in the musical, while Mincey plays violin in the orchestra.   

Other cast Essex County cast members are: Jared Lee, Stephen Michel and Stephen Mir of Bloomfield, William Ruff, Ashley Retamar and Zubaytah Bashir of Newark and Alex Thompson of Maplewood.  

The Kiss Me, Kate orchestra is a mix of professionals and students; among the students are Katelyn Siobhan Hidalgo and Kelsey Mulgrew of Maplewood, Anna Mincey of Montclair and Nathaniel Williams of Newark. 

See Patch coverage of the Kiss Me Kate , including video footage of Robinson’s and Thompson’s auditions here. 

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.”

In fact, the classic show proved to be Porter’s biggest hit, running for more than 1,000 performances on Broadway and winning the first Tony Award for Best Musical in 1949.  A “play within-a-play,” the musical features an engaging plot, memorable characters and a score with beloved Porter tunes like “Too Darn Hot,” “Another Op’nin,’ Another Show,” “So in Love,” and “Always True to You (in my Fashion).” 

Cynthia Meryl directs the production, with musical direction by Ilene Greenbaum of Livingston and choreography by Assistant Director Sherry Alban of Edison.  

New Jersey Youth Theatre, formerly known as the Westfield Young Artists Cooperative Theatre, provides young artists with professional level theatrical experience and musical education. Performers learn firsthand about musical theater by participating in a full-scale, professional level production. Learn more at www.njyouththeatre.org

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is the sixth largest performing arts center in the United States.  Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts.  NJPAC has attracted over 6 million visitors (more than one million children) since opening its doors in 1997.  Visit www.njpac.org for more information. 

Kiss Me, Kate takes NJPAC’s Victoria Theater stage July 15-16th at 7:30 p.m.; July 17th at 2 p.m.; July 20th at 12:30 p.m.; July 21st at 12:30 and 7:30 p.m.; July 22-23rd at 7:30 p.m. and July 24th at 2 p.m.

Tickets range from $20-$30 and are available by telephone at 1-888-GO-NJPAC (1-888-466-5722), at the NJPAC Box Office at One Center Street in downtown Newark, or by visiting the www.njpac.org.

Programming has been made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, and by Discover Jersey Arts. 

NJPAC is a wheelchair accessible facility and provides assistive services for patrons with disabilities.  For more information, call 888-GO-NJPAC.