Ohio Dominican University Student Theatre Group Performs the Tony Award-Winning Musical, Kiss Me, Kate!
April 15, 2008
COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio Dominican University’s student theatre group, The Panther Players, is proud to present the Tony Award-Winning Musical Kiss Me, Kate! at Ohio Dominican’s Matesich Theatre, located on ODU’s main campus, 1216 Sunbury Road. The group will perform on Friday, April 18 (7 p.m.), Saturday, April 19 (7 p.m.) and Sunday, April 20 (2 p.m.). Doors open for the Friday and Saturday show at 6:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $5.00 at the door and there will be no advance ticket sales. Children 5 years old and under are free.
Musical Synopsis: The self-centered performer Fred Graham (Phillip Rogers) is reunited with his ex-wife Lilli Vanessi (Jessical Carrier) in the leading roles of Petruchio and Kate in Taming of the Shrew. Throughout the show they fight and obviously still love each other. Also, two former cabaret performers cast in Taming of the Shrew, Lois Lane (Chista Sena) and Bill Calhoun (Chris Echesabal) struggle to keep their romance alive, as Lois has fallen for Fred and Bill has a gambling problem. Meanwhile, due to mistaken identity, two gangsters (Josh Stutz and Derrick Szarmach) harass Fred for money Bill spent gambling.
The Panther Players is completely comprised of students on both the artistic and production side. The production staff includes Derrick Szarmach (senior, Youngstown) as the director; Josh Stutz (sophomore, Upper Sandusky) serves as the assistant director and Jeremiah Guappone (sophomore, Lisbon) is the production manager. Additional team members include Anne Baker, as the artistic council; Lauren McCormick (junior, Elyria) as choreographer and Miriam Oyster (junior, Canton) as the props coordinator. Amanda Phillips (sophomore, Mansfield) and Emily Ankney (junior, Canton) are the costume managers.
Cast & Crew
Katharine/Lilli Vanessi - Jessica Carrier
Petruchio/Fredric C. Gram - Phill Rogers
Bianca/Lois Lane - Christa Sena
Lucentio/Bill Calhoun - Chris Echesabal
Hattie - Lindsay Maxwell
General Howell- Jonathan McKay
Paula - Nikki Ellis
Pops- Armando Garcia
Ralph- Jeremiah Guappone
Harry Trevor/Batista - Josh Berry
Flint/Gremio - John Erich
Riley/Hortensio- Ryan Poellnitz
Dance Captain - Sarah Krosse
Assistant - Phillip Tobin
Dancers - Janette Harland and Elana Lawson
Quintet - Brandi Dickens, Ginny Lubanski, Stephanie Elliot, Janet Griffith, Kelly Walkauskas
Wardrobe Lady - Janet Griffit
1st man - Josh Stutz
2nd Man- Derrick Szarmach
Director - Derrick Szarmach
Assistant Director - Josh Stutz
Production Manager - Jeremiah Guappone
Artistic Council - Anne Baker
Choreographer - Lauren McCormick
Props -Miriam Oyster
Costumes- Amanda Phillips and Emily Ankney
“We have an outstanding and dynamic student cast and production team that have devoted a great deal of time and energy for this year’s performance,” said Derrick Szarmach, director. “This play will feature some outstanding performances from some veteran and new students and the audience will be impressed.”
For more information: please contact ODU’s Student Activities office at (614) 251-4726. Free parking is available in the Visitor’s Lot west of Sunbury Road.
