Accompanied by a live orchestra, Studio Connections' Da Vinci Players brought to life the music and lyrics of Cole Porter in his take on William Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" during a performance of "Kiss Me, Kate" Friday at St. Francis in the Foothills Theater, 4625 E. River Road.
The musical, directed by Debbie Runge, focuses on a pair of divorced actors starring in a musical version of the Shakespeare play. Various events offstage affect their onstage performances as their real lives mimic those of their characters.
Kit Runge and Amy DeHaven star as actors Fred and Lilli in the show, which is filled with song and dance numbers that take place both backstage and onstage in the play-within-a-play.
The two go on a roller-coaster ride of emotions as a bouquet of flowers intended for Fred's new girlfriend, Lois, played by Jennifer Ackerley, is mistakenly delivered to Lilli.
People are also reading…
On top of that, two gangsters, played by Jacob Brown and Rob Roberts, add some comic relief when they show up to collect on a debt owed by Fred, which really belongs to Lois' other boyfriend Bill, played by Brian Levario.
The play continues Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Contact photographer Greg Bryan at gbryan@azstarnet.com or 307-1709.
