JULY 26TH - AUGUST 11TH

FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS AT 7:30 PM AND SUNDAYS AT 6:00 PM

Directed by London Griffith

Book by Sam and Bella Spewack

Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter

April 26th and 27th

Auditions

SEE SIGN UP FOR TIMES

Callbacks*

May 4th

1:00PM - 5:00PM

*Note that callbacks are by invitation and only if needed

Passions run high as leading lady Lilli Vanessi and her ex-husband, actor/director Fred Graham, battle onstage and off in a production of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. With romance, comedy, sophistication, and behind-the-scenes hijinks, Kiss Me, Kate combines the irreverent humor of four brilliant writers: Sam and Bella Spewack, Cole Porter, and William Shakespeare. Musical numbers include "So In Love," "Wunderbar," "Tom, Dick or Harry," "Too Darn Hot," "Brush Up Your Shakespeare," "I Hate Men," "Always True to You (In My Fashion)" and "Another Op'nin, Another Show."

AUDITION PREPARATION

PRINCIPAL ROLES

If you are auditioning for a principal role, you must sing a song from Kiss Me, Kate. If auditioning for an ensemble role you may sing any classical musical theater song (pre-1970) that shows your range.

NEED TO KNOW

You must prepare approximately 16-32 bars. A pianist will be provided; please bring your sheet music with your audition cut properly marked. A cappella (unaccompanied) auditions are not allowed.

All individuals auditioning for any role should be ready for a dance segment. Please wear attire that allows you to move comfortably. Character shoes are optional; you may wear them if you prefer, or feel free to dance in jazz shoes, sneakers or barefoot. The primary aim is to observe your movement abilities.

PLEASE NOTE - If you are auditioning for the roles of Paul or Bill Calhoun and have tap experience, we ask that you stay for one of the tap combo sessions at the audition. All who are auditioning are welcome and encouraged to attend these sessions.

CALLBACK INFORMATION

For callbacks, a short monologue or scene will be provided for you to read/perform appropriate to the character you are being called back for. You may be asked to read for multiple roles. Be ready to showcase your singing or dancing skills during the callback, especially if you're selected based on a video submission.

AUDITION AGE

All actors auditioning must be 16 years or older at time of audition. Note: If anyone under the age of 18 is cast the entire cast must have their clearances.

UNDERSTUDY OPPORTUNITIES

We will be casting understudies and swings for our production of Kiss Me, Kate! but will not be casting an entire “shadow” or “cover” cast. If you are being considered for one of these roles, more information will be provided before the offer is extended. 

CONFLICTS

All actors should be prepared to list their conflicts at time of auditions.

MORE QUESTIONS?

Any questions can be emailed to the director London Griffith at london.griffith@gmail.com

AUDITION INFORMATION

AUDITION TIME SLOTS

Auditions will run similarly on both Friday night and all day Saturday. Please sign up for one of the four sessions to audition. There is a max of 25 slots for Friday night and 20 slots for each session on Saturday. Please sign up as soon as possible to secure a space. Once you have picked a time slot, please arrive promptly for the start time for your session.

NOTE: All actors auditioning must attend the dance portion of the audition. Not all roles require heavy dancing but all roles do require some movement and we would love to see you do so at the auditions.

VIDEO AUDITIONS

We are currently accepting video submissions. Please prepare 16-32 bars of a song from Kiss Me, Kate if you wish to be considered for a principal role, or a cut from a classical musical theater piece (pre-1970) if only interested in the ensemble, and a 1-minute or less dance routine that showcases your abilities. Please fill out the attached Google Form with your video submissions. We will invite those we want to see in person to the callback scheduled for Saturday, May 4th.

PERFORMANCE DATES

Performances will be Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, and Sundays at 6:00 PM. Performances will run from July 26th to August 11th, 2024.

TECH REHEARSAL

Tech rehearsal will take place from July 21st to July 25th. Rehearsals will start promptly at 6pm.

Tech rehearsal is mandatory.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

We are specifically seeking out all gender identities, ethnicities, and body types for our production. Please note that some roles require a specific presentation of gender and have been noted.

LILLI VANESSI / KATHERINE

Strong mezzo-soprano, commanding presence. She is an actress of stage and screen. Plays Katherine in The Shrew. Ex-wife of Fred and engaged to General Harrison Howell.

Principal, Female Presenting (30-50)

FRED GRAHAM / PETRUCIO

Strong baritone, commanding presence. He is an actor, director, and producer of The Shrew and plays Petruchio—he has the lion’s share of Shakespearean dialogue. He is also Lilli’s ex-husband.

Principal, Male Presenting (30-50)

LOIS LANE / BIANCA

Strong mezzo belter. She is an actress, the quintessential airhead ingénue but with lots of charisma and charm (think Adelaide from Guys and Dolls). She also plays Bianca in The Shrew.

Principal, Female Presenting (18-30)

Very strong dance abilities (tap experience a plus)

BILL CALHOUN / LUCENTIO

Good tenor or baritenor. He has a bit of a gambling problem and is a Broadway hoofer. He also plays Lucentio in The Shrew.

Principal, Male Presenting (18-30)

Very strong dance abilities (tap experience a plus)

HATTI

Sood voice. She is Lilli’s dresser and sings “Another Op’nin’, Another Show” and sings in “Too Darn Hot.” Opens the show, so should have a good voice and charisma.

Supporting, Female Presenting

Strong mover

PAUL

Tenor, or baritenor. He is Fred’s dresser and is usually a featured singer/dancer in “Too Darn Hot”.

Supporting, Male Presenting

Very strong dance abilities (tap experience a plus)

FIRST MAN, SECOND MAN

Comic baritone or tenor. They are the archetypical gangsters complete with accents. Also appear in The Shrew, unexpectedly.

Supporting, Both Male Presenting (20-50+)

Strong movers (hip-hop/street style dancing a plus)

GENERAL HARRISON HOWELL

Dignified gentleman, very political, a general, and everyone knows it. He is engaged to Lilli Vanessi.

Supporting, Male Presenting (50+)

ENSEMBLE / CHORUS

Actors, stage crew, wardrobe, etc, who sing in the ensemble throughout, both in modern day and in The Shrew. Many opportunities for small sung and danced solos. Some of the many small roles have names such as Truckman, Chauffeur, Singing Girls, Messenger and Cab Driver. The Ensemble will also include the actors playing Nathaniel, Gregory, Phillip, Haberdasher, Hortensio, Gremio, Paul, Stage Doorman, Ralph, and Hattie. 

GREMIO AND HORTENSIO (Ensemble)

Tenor or baritenor. Actors who appear in The Shrew. They will also sing in the ensemble of The Shrew. They are featured in several numbers, including “Tom, Dick or Harry” and “Too Darn Hot”.

Supporting, Male Presenting (18+)

Strong dance abilities (tap experience a plus)

RALPH (Ensemble)

Sings in the ensemble in “Too Darn Hot” and “Another Op’nin’, Another Show,” and may be a featured soloist as well. Is the stage manager of The Shrew.

Male Presenting (18+)

HARRY TREVOR / BAPTISTA (Ensemble)

Sings in the ensemble. He is an actor who appears mostly in The Shrew as Katherine and Bianca’s father, Baptista. He has mainly Shakespearean dialogue.

Male Presenting (40+)

STAGE DOORMAN (Ensemble)

Referred to lovingly as “Pops” and keeps things civil backstage. Sings in the ensemble in “Too Darn Hot.”

Male Presenting (40+)

NATHANIEL, GREGORY, AND PHILLIP (Ensemble)

Actors who sing in the ensemble throughout and play Petruchio’s “man-servants" in The Shrew. Experience with physical/slapstick comedy is a plus.

Male Presenting (18+)

HABERDASHER (Ensemble)

An actor who sings in the ensemble throughout and plays the Haberdasher in The Shrew.

Gender not specified (18+)

INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY

INCLUSIÓN Y DIVERSIDAD

Become a part of the Playhouse. Here at Pennsylvania Playhouse, we rely on the community to do what we do. Each year we run six shows, three plays, and three musicals. We welcome anyone regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identification, age, socio-economic status, national origin, sexual orientation, or ability.

Conviértete en parte de Playhouse. Aquí en Pennsylvania Playhouse, confiamos en la comunidad para hacer lo que hacemos. Cada año presentamos seis espectáculos, tres obras de teatro y tres musicales. Damos la bienvenida a cualquier persona independientemente de su raza, color, religión, género, identificación de género, edad, nivel socioeconómico, origen nacional, orientación sexual o capacidad.

REQUIREMENTS TO AUDITION

  • All principal roles require some level of physical intimacy and/or physical confrontation on stage. To ensure the mental and physical safety of the actors, an intimacy and fight choreographer will be present during the rehearsal process. Actors auditioning for the roles of Lilli and Fred should be comfortable with engaging in both types of material. We kindly ask you to carefully consider your willingness to be involved in the production based on this information. Please be open to discussing your boundaries on either topic with us during the audition process.

  • We are currently requiring all cast members to provide proof of COVID vaccination to the director or stage manager. If you are unable to be vaccinated, you may discuss this privately with the director.

    Actualmente requerimos que todos los miembros del elenco proporcionen prueba de vacunación COVID al director o director de escena. Si no puede vacunarse, puede comentarlo en privado con el director.

  • All those auditioning for a Pennsylvania Playhouse show/production must present proof of vaccination to the stage manager and/or director at the time of auditions.

    Individuals who are unable to be vaccinated may privately discuss this with the director.

    Members of a show’s production staff (Director, Stage Manager, Choreographer, Costumer, Set Construction, Lighting Designer) must provide proof of vaccination to the Playhouse Production Chair. The Director and Stage Manager are responsible for verifying the vaccination status of any additional crew members (backstage, assistants, board operators). Individuals in these job categories who are unable to be vaccinated may privately discuss this with the Production Chair.

    The choice on whether or not to wear masks during the rehearsal process may be made as a mutual decision by the cast and crew of each individual production, based on their consent and comfort level. Currently, our performers are unmasked for shows, unless CDC, state and county guidelines change again.

    Following Current CDC guidance, masking is optional for our patrons, but this policy may change based on CDC, state and county guidance going forward.

    Todos aquellos que audicionen para un espectáculo/producción de Pennsylvania Playhouse deben presentar un comprobante de vacunación al director de escena y/o al director en el momento de las audiciones.

    Las personas que no puedan vacunarse podrán discutirlo en privado con el director.

    Los miembros del personal de producción de un espectáculo (director, director de escena, coreógrafo, vestuario, escenógrafo, diseñador de iluminación) deben presentar un comprobante de vacunación al presidente de producción de Playhouse. El director y el director de escena son responsables de verificar el estado de vacunación de cualquier miembro adicional del equipo (entre bastidores, asistentes, operadores de mesa). Las personas en estas categorías laborales que no puedan vacunarse pueden discutir esto en privado con el presidente de producción.

    La elección de usar o no máscaras durante el proceso de ensayo puede ser una decisión mutua entre el elenco y el equipo de cada producción individual, en función de su consentimiento y nivel de comodidad. Actualmente, nuestros artistas no usan máscaras para los espectáculos, a menos que las pautas de los CDC, el estado y el condado cambien nuevamente.

    Siguiendo las pautas actuales de los CDC, el uso de mascarillas es opcional para nuestros usuarios, pero esta política puede cambiar según las pautas de los CDC, el estado y el condado en el futuro.

  • Anyone who is cast in a show with any one under the age of 18 must receive both their Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance and the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Clearance. Both clearances can be obtained online. Please note, while uncommon, some clearances may take more than 14 days. Also note that as a volunteer for the theatre there should be no cost. If you do not obtain your clearances you WILL NOT be able to act in a show with anyone under 18 in the cast.

    Cualquier persona que sea elegida para un programa con alguien menor de 18 años debe recibir tanto su autorización de antecedentes de abuso infantil de Pensilvania como la autorización de antecedentes penales de la policía estatal de Pensilvania. Ambas autorizaciones se pueden obtener en línea. Tenga en cuenta que, aunque poco comunes, algunas autorizaciones pueden tardar más de 14 días. También tenga en cuenta que, como voluntario para el teatro, no debería haber ningún coste. Si no obtienes tus autorizaciones, NO podrás actuar en un espectáculo con nadie menor de 18 años en el reparto.

    Clearance Website: https://www.dhs.pa.gov/KeepKidsSafe/Clearances/Pages/default.aspx