Kiss Me, Kate
Review by Ernest Goes To The Theatre/Ernest Edwards
I was at the second preview performance for Kiss Me, Kate last night. The show opens Saturday night. No notes. The show was absolutely fabulous.
We may be experiencing the coldest days of the winter right now in The Twin Cities. Inside the Schneider Theater at Artistry in Bloomington, the temperature is rising. To quote Cole Porter it’s “Too Darn Hot”. Artistry has a hit on their hands with Cole Porters famous musical Kiss Me, Kate.
If you are not familiar with the Broadway musical Kiss Me, Kate. It has been made into a classic 1953 movie (with Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson, Ann Miller and a young Bob Fosse can be seen in the 1953 movie). They filmed members of the original Broadway cast in a 1958 tv movie. There’s also been tv versions from 1964, and 1968 (with Robert Goulet in the 1968 tv movie). A revival was filmed in 2003 (with Rachel York & Brent Barrett). A new London Cast was recorded for film in 2024 (with Stephanie J. Block). The story is that a production company is premiering their musical version of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew in Baltimore during the summer, before taking the show to New York City. The story has a play within a play going on as part of the story. Kiss Me, Kate is a wonderful marriage between Shakespeare and musical theater.
Fred Graham is the director of the production, he also plays Petruchio. His ex wife Lilli Vanessi is playing Katharine Minola in the production. Fred is also dating young starlet Lois Lane, who plays Bianca. She is also interested in the young Bill Coulhoun, who also plays Lucentio in the production. Lucentio is one of the three suitors trying to win the hand of Bianca in the production. Events from the characters real life end up creeping into the show on stage. To disasters and humorous results. Humorous for us in the audience.
This musical has a lot of Cole Porter favorites in the soundtrack. “Another Op’nin, Another Show”, “Why Can’t You Behave?”, “Wunderbar”, “So In Love”, “We Open in Venice”, “Tom, Dick or Harry”, “I’ve Come to Wive It Wealthy in Padua”, “I Hate Men”, “Were Thine That Special Face”, “Too Darn Hot”, “Where is the Life That Late I Led?”, “Always True to You In My Fashion”, “Brush Up Your Shakespeare” and many more.
Let’s talk about this very talented cast directed by Kelli Foster Warder. Erin Capello as Lilli Vanessi/Katharine Minola has a voice of gold. John-Michael Zuerlein as Fred Graham/Petruchio. There are notes he is able to hold for a very long time. He has a great energy, charisma and a wonderful singing voice John-Michael Zuerlein and Erin Capello do a great job as the central actors/characters leading this production. Aliya Grace as Lois Lane/Bianco is a graceful dancer and has a smooth voice. Nate Turcotte as Bill Calhoun/Lucentio is an actor I’m keeping my eye on. This is the third production I have seen him in during the 2025/2026 season, so far. Nate can sing, dance and act. He is a triple threat in the theatre. This cast is a strong ensemble. Artistry has assembled a very talented cast for their production of Kiss Me, Kate.
Another thing I really liked with this production. The orchestra is on stage on the upstage half to the stage. The conductor, Elijah Leer, does interact with the cast a few times during the musical. I liked that. The interaction was a fun part of the show.
Choreography is by Joey Miller. The choreography’s is great in this production. Numbers that stick in mind are “Another Op’nin, Another Show”, “We Open in Venice”, “Tom, Dick or Harry”, “It’s Too Darn Hot”, and “Brush Up Your Shakespeare”.
There was excellent use of the aisles during the production too.
I liked the costumes by Costume Coordinator Britt Hilton, especially for the play within a play costumes.
Definitely check out Kiss Me, Kate at Artistry. You will have a fun evening. You’ll be humming/singing these memorable songs. Kiss Me, Kate runs through February 15, 2026. Check out www.artistrymn.org for tickets.
Photo of the stage, before the show begins. Photo by Ernest Edwards
