Kiss Me Kate

Shakespeare has never been more cleverly adapted
Book by Samuel and Bella Spewack, music and lyrics by Cole Porter
September 16 – November 2

Purchase Your Tickets Here
A Note from the Director
The Cast
Scenes and Musical Numbers
Technical and Artistic Staff
Cast Biographies
Theme Buffet Menu
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Peru, Indiana’s Cole Porter is no stranger to any stage in America. But of all of his hits, Kiss Me Kate is considered universally as his masterpiece. One of the most sophisticated and finely crafted musicals of all time, it certainly can follow in the footsteps of The Fantasticks, The Music Man, and Carousel. “Night and Day,” “I Get A Kick Out of You,” “You're the Top,” “Begin the Beguine,” “My Heart Belongs to Daddy,” is a long list, but some of the cleverest, funniest, and most romantic songs ever written came from the pen of Cole Porter.

In 1948 Kiss Me Kate stormed the Tony Awards receiving the statue for Best Musical, Best Author of a Musical, Best Composer and Lyricist, Best Costume Design, and Best Producer of a Musical. The show went on to run for four years exceeding 1,000 performances.

A Note from the Director

Kiss Me Kate is a special event for me! It marks the 100th production that I’ve been a part of. About 15 years ago, I was cast in my very first musical, which was Meet Me in St. Louis. The experience would change my life completely and set me on a path toward making it my profession. I’ve participated in a lot of different aspects of the theatre in my 11 years of doing this professionally and have worked with many amazing talented people. I have done my best with this show to recreate the Broadway revival, which, as far as I’m concerned, is the definitive production. I would like to dedicate this show to my Mother, who, despite having trepidations about my career choice, supported me completely, Don Queener who helped bring me out of my shell and into where I belong, Jerry O’Boyle who has taught me just about everything I know and been a true friend, The Bird for swooping in and saving my life this year and finally to Joe Ford who has been there since the beginning both helping me get the job and being my sounding board for pretty much everything. I love you all! I would like to sum this up with a famous quote from The Will Rogers Follies that describes the last 15 years of my life perfectly:

“Give a man enough rope, and he can hang himself or not, that is the choice that he has got. He could wind up, hangin’ down from a tree, or he could spin himself a life that’s what happened to me.”

~ Jeremy Littlejohn

The Cast

Pops / Padua Priest............................Dan Johnson
Hattie...................................................Rachel Black
Paul / Nathaniel..................................Sam Brown
Ralph / Gremio....................................Lance Mullins
Lois Lane / Bianca...............................Emily Thompson
Bill Calhoun / Lucentio........................Scott Saegesser
Lilli Vanessi / Katharine......................Amber Burgess
Fred Graham / Petruchio....................Matthew Sean Callahan
Harry Trevor / Baptista......................Burke Fry
Cab Driver / First Man........................David Smith
Second Man.........................................J.D. Simper
Gen. Harrison Howell..........................Scott Emerick
Ensemble.............................................Karen Courliss
.............................................................Kelly Geisel Amish Acres

Scenes and Musical Numbers

Act I

Overture: Orchestra

Scene 1: the Stage of Ford’s Theatre, Baltimore
Another Op’nin’, Another Show - Company

Scene 2: the Backstage Corridor
Why Can’t You Behave - Lois & Bill

Scene 3: Dressing Rooms of Lilli Vanessi and Fred Graham
Wunderbar - Fred & Lilli
So In Love - Lilli

Scene 4: Padua
We Open in Venice - Katharine, Petruchio, Bianca & Lucentio

Scene 5: a Market Square in Padua
Tom, Dick or Harry - Bianca, Gremio, Hortensio & Lucentio
I’ve Come to Wive it Wealthily in Padua - Petruchio & Men
I Hate Men - Katharine
Were Thine That Special Face - Petruchio

Scene 6: the Backstage Corridor

Scene 7: Dressing Rooms of Lilli Vanessi and Fred Graham

Scene 8: a Country Road in Padua
Cantiamo D’Amore - Company

Scene 9: the Church Square in Padua
Finale Act One – Kiss Me Kate - Petruchio, Katharine, Company

Act II

Entr’acte - Orchestra

Scene 1: the Theatre Alley
Too Darn Hot - Paul, Two Musicians, Company
Shrew Entr’acte - Orchestra

Scene 2: before the Taming of the Shrew Show Curtain

Scene 3: the Main Room in Petruchio’s House
Where is the Life that Late I Led - Petruchio

Scene 4: the Backstage Corridor
Always True to You in my Fashion - Lois
Encore: Always True to You... - Lois

Scene 5: Dressing Rooms of Lilli Vanessi and Fred Graham
From this Moment On - General Howell & Lilli

Scene 6: the Backstage Corridor
Bianca - Bill & Company
So in Love (Reprise) - Fred

Scene 7: before the Taming of the Shrew Show Curtain
Brush Up Your Shakespeare - The Two Men

Scene 8: the Garden of Baptista’s House
Pavane - Orchestra
I am Ashamed that Women are so Simple - Katharine
Finale Act Two: Kiss Me Kate (Reprise) - Katharine, Petruchio & Company

Technical and Artistic Staff

Executive Producer: Richard Pletcher

Artistic Director: Jeremy Littlejohn

Director: Jeremy Littlejohn

Music Director: Katrina Stodd

Choreographers: Amber Burgess & Scott Saegesser

Technical Director: Erin Ramer

Props Master / House Mgr.: Lance Mullins

Set Designer: Erin Ramer

Costume Designer: Akron Design & Costume Co.

Costume Coordinator: Amber Burgess

Lighting Designer: Jeremy Littlejohn

Sound Designer: Paul Dodds

Master Carpenter: Alvin Yoder

Scenic Artist: Erin Ramer

Verse Coaches: Amber Burgess & Dan Johnson

Box Office Manager: Jennifer Scheffer

Marketing: The Village Group Marketing, LLC

Read the Technical and Artistic Staff Biographies

Cast Biographies

Rachel Black (Hattie) holds degrees in Vocal Performance from Vanderbilt University and The University of Kentucky. Before making the switch to musical theater, Miss Black performed the role of Meg Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Emma Jones in Street Scene, Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro, Arnalta in L’incoronazione di Poppea, and was the alto soloist in Mozart’s Requiem. She also toured internationally with the American Spiritual Ensemble. Favorite musical theater credits include Charlotte in A Little Night Music, Martha in White Christmas, and Bloody Mary in South Pacific. Thanks to supportive family and friends. To God be the Glory!

Sam Brown (Paul/Nathaniel) A Nappanee native, Sam has been performing on stage in church, school and Community Theater since elementary school. His first professional work was for a local company, Playhouse Productions which performed dinner theater for various groups and businesses. Sam has been performing at the Round Barn Theater since 1997 and has held many posts here including House Manager, Props Master and Stage Manager. This will be his ninth season on the Joseph Stein Stage. Audiences may remember Sam in such roles as Jeff Douglas in Brigadoon, Charles Thompson in 1776, Dan King in Plain and Fancy, Schroeder in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Reverend Ogelthorpe in Smoke on the Mountain, Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast and King Pellinore in Camelot. He also played the lead role of David Kolowitz in the Second Stage Production of Enter Laughing and recently played Uncle Louie in Lost in Yonkers. Sam enjoys writing as well as acting. He has written two plays and is currently working on a third.

Amber Burgess (Lilli/Katherine) is thrilled to be returning to The Round Barn Theatre for the 2008 season. A current resident of Chicago, she is originally from Jamestown, ND and has been traveling the U.S. for the past five years working in regional theatre and cabaret. Most recently she has been seen in her cabaret at the Bailiwick Theatre and in Smoke on the Mountain with the Provision Theatre Company both in Chicago. Amber has been playing stringed instruments since the age of nine and has been working in the theatre since she was eight. Her largest career goal is to perform in all 50 states. Thus far she has performed in AK, OH, KY, IN, MI, ND, SD, MN, VA, and IL. She has sung solo in every major cathedral in France, and in her spare time enjoys running, writing, reading, knitting, and dreaming about polishing her future Tony Award for Best Actress. Visit http://www.amberburgess.com.

Matthew Sean Callahan (Fred/Petruchio) is thrilled to be playing one of his dream roles at Amish Acres! Originally from Colorado, Matthew moved to Chicago to attend The Theatre Conservatory at Roosevelt University. He graduated with a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre and went on to tour nationally as Bob Baker in WonderfulTown. He has also performed regionally with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Noble Fool at Pheasant Run, Light Opera Works, Illinois Theatre Center and many others. After Kiss Me Kate, he plans to move to the “Big Apple,” with his wife Kiwi. “Thanks to Jeremy, Amber, Mom, Dad, Wife, all patrons and supporters of Theatre!”

Karen Courliss (Ensemble) is happy to be making her Round Barn debut! Karen graduated from Bethel College in 2007 with a degree in Vocal Performance. Some of her favorite roles include Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls under the direction of Jeremy Littlejohn, Mrs. Darling in Peter Pan, Antonia in Man of La Mancha and several comedic operas at Bethel. She was also seen at Elkhart Civic Theatre as Liesl in The Sound of Music. Karen currently resides in Mishawaka with her amazing husband Tim.

“Thank you Mom, Dad, Kevin, Kelli and Tim for always believing in me!”

Scott Emerick (Gen. Harrison Howell) is making his debut at The Round Barn Theatre but feels like he is coming home. He was born in South Bend, IN and raised in Osceola, IN. Favorite professional stage credits include A Midsummer Night's Dream as Oberon, 42nd Street, Crazy For You as Bobby Child, Gypsy, The Pajama Game, My Fair Lady, Phantom as Philippe De Chandon, The Music Man as Harold Hill, Damn Yankees as Joe Hardy, The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas as Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd, Oklahoma, Some Like It Hot, West Side Story, and Cabaret. TV credits include Sex And The City, New York Undercover, and Conviction-The Kitty Dodd Story. Film credits include Touched, The Stepford Wives, Mona Lisa Smile, and In The Weeds. Scott has been fortunate enough to perform worldwide putting his feet on all seven continents. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Belmont University. Much love to the family.

Burke Fry (Harry/Baptista) is making his debut with The Round Barn Theatre. He was awarded a vocal scholarship at Southern Illinois University and has sung with Muny Opera in St. Louis. He spent two and a half years after college as an Equity performer traveling the country in Variety, Convention and Industrial shows. He stopped to raise a family and became Vice President of two steel fabricating companies but eventually returned to the stage and has performed throughout the Chicago area at venues including DuPage Opera, Light Opera Works, Chicago Opera, Illinois Theatre Center, Bailiwick and more than a dozen community theatres. He was invited to sing with and solo at Coral Ridge Presbyterian church in Florida for two Easter seasons on national t.v. He can be seen as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol at the Ramada Wagon Wheel later this year.

Kelly F. Geisel (Ensemble) is a native of Mishawaka, IN. She has enjoyed being in many shows over the years, which include Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up, Peter Pan, The Scarlet Pimpernel and most recently The Music Man with RBT. She plans to pursue theatre as long as she can and go where the Lord leads.

“Thank you to all family, friends and teachers who have taught me so many lessons to help me on life’s journey.”

Dan Johnson (Pops/Padua Priest) studied for a career in classical theatre at the American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco and worked at the Oregon, Utah and Berkely Shakespeare Festivals. He toured nationally with the New Shakespeare Company and was a long time member of the Riverside Shakespeare Company of New York playing such roles as Friar Lawrence, Polonius and Falstaff. He studied First Folio technique with Patrick Tucker of the Drama Studio London and text with Cecily Berry of the RSC and worked with John Basil of the American Globe Theatre. As a verse coach Dan had private and group classes in New York City and directed productions of Measure for Measure, As You Like It and Richard II. He has a large soft spot in his heart for Cole Porter having played Moonface Martin in Anything Goes and Alonzo P. Goodhue in Leave It To Me among many other musical roles. He would like to dedicate this performance to the memory of William Ball, a great actor and mentor.

Lance Mullins (Ralph/Gremio) is 19 years old and recently graduated from Northwood High School. Favorite roles include Mereb in Aida at Northwood, Lefou in Beauty and the Beast with Elkhart Civic Theatre, Charlie in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory with Nappanee Civic Theatre. He has been featured this season at the Round Barn as Jay in Lost in Yonkers, the Mute in The Fantasticks, Tommy Djilas in The Music Man and Enoch Snow Jr. in Carousel. Some of his favorite hobbies include photography and writing music.

Scott Saegesser (Bill Calhoun / Lucentio) is in his thirteenth season at The Round Barn Theatre where he has served in several capacities including actor, director, choreographer, company manager, costume designer and artistic director. After thirteen seasons, he has worked on over sixty mainstage productions and numerous other productions such as the Staged Reading series, the Second Stage series, New Year's Eve cabarets and Theatre for Young Actors presentations. Some of the shows he is most proud of during his tenure at the RBT are Aida, The Secret Garden, 1776, My Fair Lady, Man of La Mancha, Beauty and the Beast, The King and I and West Side Story. After this season's production of Kiss Me Kate, Scott will be leaving the theatre to pursue his other passion, fitness. He has been a fitness instructor since 1989 and a personal trainer since 1997. He currently works at Maple City Racquet and Fitness in Goshen and Nappanee Health and Fitness in Nappanee. He is an internationally certified Bodypump and RPM instructor with Les Mills International and a NESTA certified personal trainer. He is extremely happy and grateful to have been working in theatre for over 25 years and wishes to express his love and thanks to everyone that he has been privileged to work with here at The Round Barn in the last thirteen years. It is with solemn resolve that he says farewell.

J.D. Simper (Second Man) is very excited to be in his first full season with the company. Recent Round Barn productions include Fred in A Christmas Carol, a member of the Cowboy Quartet in The Will Rogers Follies and Bee Doyle in Floyd Collin. He holds a degree in Criminal Justice, Music and Theatre from Bethel College. He would like to thank his friends and family for their love and support. Love you all.

David Smith (Cab Driver/First Man) recently completed his education at Indiana Wesleyan University with a BS in Elementary Education. This is his second “go round,” at The Round Barn and he is extremely excited to be back. He would like to thank his family, the Fiebigs and above all…God!

Emily Thompson (Loise Lane/Bianca) is originally from Salina, KS, and received a BFA in Musical Theatre from Emerson College. She just completed a summer at Maine State Music Theatre performing in Les Miserables, The Producers, All Shook Up and Jesus Christ Superstar, after spending 8 months on the first national tour of Irving Berlin's I Love a Piano. She has also performed regionally at the Mac-Haydn Theatre as Ado Annie in Oklahoma and Lina Lamont in Singin' in the Rain, at Gloucester Stage Co. as Rosanna in Calvin Berger, and The Great Plains Theatre Festival as Grace in Annie. She would like to thank her wonderful friends and family for their love and support.