August 28 – October 4, 2009
The Taming of the Shrew
Directed by Nick Minas
Music Director and Original Composition by Ethan Deppe
Play by William Shakespeare
Assistant Director: Brian Hunt
Text Coach: Barbara Zahora
Stage Manager: Clare Roche
Lighting Designer: Brian Hoehne
Costume Designer: Jill van Brussel
Violence Designer: R&D Choreography
Featuring: Jenny Lamb. Jeremy van Meter. Ryan Jarosch, Cheryl Roy, Steve Gensler, Mike Oleon, Benjamin Mason, J. Preddie Predmore, Matthew Sherbach, and Mikey Vines
The Taming of the Shrew is a Shakespeare comedy written between 1590 and 1594. The main plot depicts the courtship of Petruchio, a gentleman of Verona, and Katherina, the headstrong, obdurate shrew. Initially, Katherina is an unwilling participant in the relationship, but Petruchio tempers her with various psychological torments – the “taming” – until she is an obedient bride.
The play’s misogynic theme is politically incorrect for today’s sensibilities, but Minas turns it into a farce as commedia d’elle art and some gender-bender casting to present the play in a totally different light.
