Aurora schools present musical
Marmion Academy and Rosary High School students will stage "Kiss Me, Kate" this weekend in Aurora.
The musical will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday in the Academy gymnasium at 1000 Butterfield Road.
Tickets for the production are reserved seats: $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors, or bleacher seats: $5. To purchase reserved tickets in advance contact Sally Studlo at (630) 406-1244.
The Cole Porter musical is a play within a play. Egotistical performer Fred Graham (Greg Liske of Bristol) is reunited with his ex-wife Lilli Vanessi (Gabriella Mercado of North Aurora) in the leading roles of Petruchio and Kate in Taming of the Shrew.
A fight on the opening night threatens the production. Two thugs (Conor McDonnell of Winfield and Peter Studlo of Batavia), who have the mistaken idea that Fred owes their boss money, insist on staying next to him all night. Also, two former cabaret performers cast in Taming of the Shrew, Lois Lane (Mary Doctor of Aurora) and Bill Calhoun (Bryson Hope of Sugar Grove) struggle to keep their romance alive. The show features the songs "Another Op'nin', Another Show," "Wunderbar" and "So In Love."
The director is Tom Jesse, with choreography by Michelle Butler and orchestra direction by Stephen Thurlow.
Cast list
Zack Stefanski of Wheaton (Pops)
Andrew Ferrer of Plano (Stagehand 1/Nathanial)
Brian Thornton of Aurora (Stagehand 2/Hortentio)
Paul Cepynsky of Lisle (Stagehand 3/Gremio)
Carly Oros of Batavia (Hattie)
Shannon O'Shea of Aurora (Wardrobe Lady)
Robert Rodriguez of North Aurora (Paul)
Mary Doctor of Aurora (Lois/Bianca)
Bryson Hope of Sugar Grove (Bill/Lucentio)
Gabriella Mercado of North Aurora (Lilli/Katherine)
Greg Liske of Bristol (Fred/Petruchio)
Jack Spirou of St. Charles (Ralph)
Chris West of Montgomery (Harry Trevor/Baptista)
Jeff McLean of Batavia (Cab Driver/Gregory)
Felipe Rangel of Oswego (Padua Priest)
Margaret Beccavin of Lisle (Seamstress/Waitress)
Justine Petesch of Aurora (Dance Captain)
Tim Handell of Aurora (Gen. Howell)
Peter Studlo of Batavia (1st Man)
Conor McDonnell of Winfield (2nd Man)
Eric Schwendner of St. Charles (Flynt/Philip)
Steven Kluber of Aurora (Riley/Haberdasher)
Ensemble: Emily Delaney of St. Charles, Traci Evers of Sugar Grove, Lauren Hoss of Sugar Grove, Mary Hurrell of Aurora, Molly King of Aurora, Erin Kofron of Batavia, Erin Kolb of Aurora, Alex Kukla of Yorkville, Kelan McDonnell of Winfield, Hannah O'Connor of Sugar Grove, Olivia O'Connor of Sugar Grove, Julie O'Donnell of Aurora, Emily Roberts of Sugar Grove, Anne Spoden of Aurora, Ryan Whittington of St. Charles and Claire Ziegler of Aurora.