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Proscenium Circus The Student Theater of Acton-Boxborough Regional High School A-B Friends of Drama www.abdrama.org |
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Character Descriptions- Kiss Me, Kate
MENFRED GRAHAM / PETRUCHIO in Shrew Fred is a seasoned actor in his mid to late 30s. He was married to Lilli Vanessi, divorced for one year. He has produced and directed this new show, hoping for a hit. He’s handsome, quick-witted, a bit egotistical, hard-working, serious but playful, a director who has the respect of his cast and crew. Petruchio is a gentleman from Verona. He is loud, brash, boisterous, eccentric, quick-witted. He has come to Padua to marry a woman with a large dowry, and he thinks Katharine (Kate) is the perfect fit. He disregards everyone who warns him of her shrewishness, woos her and marries her. He eventually succeeds in reversing Kate’s ill temper by mimicking and exaggerating her bad behavior to her. BILL CALHOUN / LUCENTIO in Shrew Bill is a dancer described as a “Broadway hoofer.” He is talented but not terribly ambitious. He’s a gambler, irresponsible, dishonest, immature. Loves Lois and depends on her but is not officially committed to her. Lucentio is a young student from Pisa who comes to Padua to study at the university, but he is immediately sidetracked when he falls in love with Bianca at first sight. By disguising himself as a classics instructor named Cambio, he convinces Gremio to offer him to Baptista as a tutor for Bianca. He wins her love and they marry in secret. PAUL – Fred’s dresser and assistant. Easy-going, confident. He flirts with Hattie FIRST MAN AND SECOND MAN (Two Thugs) These are the thugs sent to collect the gambling debt from Fred. They try to be cultured and educated in the theater. Their sole objective is to guard Lilli so that she won’t leave the show and they can collect the gambling debt from Fred. They are the clowns. They also perform as two parts of the horse in We Open in Venice and during the finale. GENERAL HARRISON HOWELL – Lilli’s fiancée (Act 2) Career military officer, politician, and Lilli’s fiancee. He’s conservative, controlling, pompous, pretentious, self-absorbed, inflexible, and humorless. Wants Lilli to conform to his way of life. RALPH – company stage manager HARRY TREVOR / Baptista Minola in Shrew (older man) Seasoned Shakespearean actor. Plays Kate and Bianca’s father, Baptista Minola, a wealthy man who loves his daughters and wants them to marry successfully. He favors Bianca and is not sure how to handle Kate. Stage Doorman “Pops” FLYNT – an aide to General Howell, Act 2 RILEY – an aide to General Howell, Act 2 STAGEHAND #1: Featured singer: Another Opening, Bianca, Too Darn Hot STAGEHAND #2: Featured singer: Another Opening, Bianca, Too Darn Hot STAGEHAND #3: Featured singer: Another Opening, Bianca, Too Darn Hot CAB DRIVER (Act 1) / DRIVER FOR GEN. HOWELL (Act 2) GREMIO– first suitor to Bianca in Shrew, Act 1 HORTENSIO – second suitor to Bianca in Shrew, Act 1 PETRUCHIO’S SERVANTS in Shrew / Featured Male Soloists: Cantiamo D’Amore• NATHANIEL • GREGORY • PHILIP THE HABERDASHER in Shrew PADUA PRIEST in Shrew KISS ME, KATE – WOMENLILLI VANESSI / KATHARINE MINOLA in Shrew Lilli is an actress who has gone from stage to starring in films and had success, but she has gained a reputation for her bad temper. She is pretty, charismatic, gracious, and a bit of a diva. Was married to Fred when they both were struggling actors. Engaged to General Howell but has unresolved feelings for Fred. Katharine, or Kate, is the “shrew” of the play’s title. She is the elder daughter of Baptista Minola, with whom she lives in Padua. She is beautiful but sharp-tongued, quick-tempered, and prone to violence, particularly against anyone who tries to marry her. Her hostility toward suitors particularly distresses her father. She is angry and rude because she is insecure and miserable. She is jealous of her sister, Bianca. She does not resist Petruchio forever, though, and she eventually subjugates herself to him because she finds him smart, attractive and a worthy husband. Songs: Wunderbar, So In Love, We Open in Venice, I Hate Men, Kiss Me Kate, From This Moment On, I Am Ashamed that Women Are So Simple, Finale LOIS LANE / BIANCA MINOLA in Shrew Lois is flirty and sexy, the ingénue in the cast. She is making the jump from playing in clubs to being in a real show. She is pragmatic and will do what she can to further her career. She loves Bill but is not committed to him. Enjoys attention from many men. Bianca is the younger daughter of Baptista Minola and is the opposite of her sister at the beginning of the play: she is beautiful, sweet, and unassuming. Because of her large dowry and her mild behavior, several men vie for her hand. She marries Lucentio. Featured Songs: Why Can’t You Behave, We Open In Venice, Tom, Dick, or Harry, Always True to You Darlin’ In My Fashion + ensemble numbers HATTIE Singer / actor / general or advanced dance audition / mezzo soprano – Low G to High E Hattie is Lilli’s personal assistant. She’s level headed, practical, dependable, loves the theater. Knows the backstage crew very well. Featured singer: Another Op’nin Another Show, Too Darn Hot WARDROBE MISTRESS Wardrobe Assistant / Padua Inn Waitress Two Women–Ensemble Singers KISS ME, KATE – DANCE CORPS / advanced dance auditionThese dancers will be featured in: • Another Op’nin’, Another Show (company dance captain* + featured dancers) *NOTE: The role of company dance captain may be either male or female Possible Additional Roles: |