"Kiss Me Kate" Starts October 17

Ashland Community and Technical College Theatre will present the Tony award-winning musical Kiss Me Kate Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 17 to 19 and Oct. 24 to 26, at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays, Oct. 20 and 27, at 2:30 p.m. Performances are in the J. B. Sowards Theatre at ACTCs College Drive Campus in Ashland.

This award winning musical combines Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew with Cole Porter's music and lyrics. It is a play-within-a-play where each cast member's on-stage life is complicated by what is happening offstage. Kiss Me Kate premiered in 1948 and became an instant classic, winning a Tony award for Best Musical in 1949.

Based on the book by Bella and Samuel Spewack, Kiss Me Kate proved to be Porters biggest hit. The last Broadway revival in 1999 received Tony Awards for Best Actor, Best Costumes, Best Director and Best Orchestrations.

ACTC Theatre productions are both laboratory experiences for ACTC students and live theatre offerings for the community. The cast is composed of area adults, college and high school students. ACTC Theatre students also assist with production crew duties and stage management.

The Director is Edward Figgins, ACTC Director of Theatre and Associate Professor of Theatre and Communications. The Assistant Director is Jane Modlin, Paul Blazer High School drama and speech teacher.

Tickets are $2 for ACTC/MSU students, $4 for ACTC employees, $8 for adults. and $5 for students, seniors and groups of 10 or more. Tickets may be reserved with a major credit card through the college bookstore, 606.326.2014. Unsold tickets will be available at the door before each performance, for cash or check (with photo ID) payment only.

For more information, call the ACTC Theatre Office at 606.326.2073.

Kiss Me Kate is the first ACTC Theatre production of the 2013-14 season.Shown from left are cast members Nancy Jackson, a Marshall University graduate assistant from Worthington, as Katherine/Lilli; Jessica English, an ACTC student from Ashland, as Hatti; Mark Barker a pharmacy technician from Ironton, as Lucentio/Bill; and Alex Castle, a Fairview High School student from Westwood, as Paul.