Hilarity
ensues when ladies-man Petruchio takes on the challenge of transforming
the wild and stubborn Kate into his loving bride, putting her through a
set of physical and mental hoops that grow more and more absurd. Once
the dust has settled, could what emerges be called a marriage of true
minds? Set in 1950’s America, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW boasts a
visually fun and engaging set design as well as costumes of the same era
(see photos included in this release below). DCTC Artistic Director Kent Thompson
wanted a period that exemplified defined roles for men and women, “when
men were anything they wanted to be and women were… well, housewives.”
Although the play has come under criticism by feminists, it’s still very
popular,” said Thompson who also directs the production. Thompson
views the play not as merciless gender warfare but as a battle of the
equals, “the kind of fight between two people who are outside the norms
of the conventional society…Two people with larger than life
personalities who fight their way through their romance and end up being
in love.”
The cast of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW includes Kathleen McCall (Othello) as the fiery Katherine, John G. Preston (Pierre, After Ashley) as ladies-man Petruchio, Christy McIntosh (debut) as Bianca, John-Michael Marrs (The Liar) as Hortensio, Drew Cortese (The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Liar) as Lucentio, Robert Sicular (The Liar, Superior Donuts) as Baptista Minola and Andrew Schwartz (The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, To Kill a Mockingbird) as Grumio.
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW is directed by DCTC Artistic Director Kent Thompson. Set design is by David M. Barber (Map of Heaven, Richard III) while costume design is by Susan Branch Towne (A Flea in Her Ear, King Lear). Lighting design is by Tom Sturge (White Christmas), sound design is by Craig Breitenbach (To Kill a Mockingbird, A Midsummer Night’s Dream), fight direction is by Gregory Hoffman (debut) and musical composition is by Gregg Coffin (The Liar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream). Dramaturgy is by Ely Bowlby (The Liar) while dialect and vocal coaching is by Kathryn G. Maes, Ph. D (The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, To Kill a Mockingbird). Fight captain is Andrew Schwartz.
