San Diego Playbill

Kiss Me Kate
by Youth Summerstock Theatre

Here's your chance to Brush Up Your Shakespeare without having to read a lot of poetry. Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew gets moderned-up in this Tony Award-winning musical. A struggling theatre group is trying to put on Shakespeare's Shrew, but is running into a few snags. For one thing, the leading man, Fred Graham (Bryan Swarberg) and the leading lady, Lilli Vanessi (Annette Desrosiers and Carly Nykanen) are recently divorced. For another thing, two thugs (Travis Heath and Josh Brashars) believe that the leading man owes their mob boss $10,000. In order to make sure their boss gets paid, they aim to stop the leading lady from leaving the show. And they "aim" to do it with their guns if necessary.

Bryan Swarberg gives a terrific performance as Fred Graham, the man who must tame the shrew, or at least keep her from deserting the show. He has been in several Summerstock productions including roles as the Duke in Man of La Mancha and Sir Evelyn Oakleigh in Anything Goes. Granite Hills audiences may remember him as Schroeder in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Prince Dauntless in Once Upon a Mattress.

The role of Lilli Vanessi is shared by Annette Desrosiers and Carly Nykanen. Carly played the lead role of Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street last year. With Granite Hills Acting Workshop she has played Peppermint Patty in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and most recently one of the Doo-Wop girls in Little Shop of Horrors. Carly embued her melodic singing voice with so much emotion in both the romanctic and comedic numbers. I must admit she had me cowering a little during her impassioned I Hate Men scene. We can't wait to see her as Rizzo in Summerstock's next production of Grease!.

The talented Annette Desrosiers amazed us with her beautiful rendition of So in Love, and her large, expressive eyes tell a thousand and one words with every look. Last summer Annette played to a standing ovation as Dulcinea in Man of La Mancha thanks to her tremendous voice and powerful acting performance. As Lilli Vanessi, she proves that she can also do comedy as she hysterically fights off the embraces and the reprimands of her estranged husband. You will be able to see Annette in Starlight's Evita later this summer. Only an incoming Sophomore, expect to see a lot more of Annette at Summerstock over the next few years and for many more years as a professional actress.

The audience went crazy over the comedic talents of the two thugs, Travis Heath and Josh Brashars. They liven the show up as soon as they come on the stage with their strong-arm tactics, dead pan humor, and incredible ability to keep a straight face for long periods of time while the audience goes nuts with laughter. Their Brush Up Your Shakespeare was definitely the climax of the show. Travis was last seen in May as the sadistic Dentist in Granite Hills' production of Little Shop of Horrors.

All the actors were able to easily overcome the distractions of a few uncooperative props in the opening scenes to put on a great show. Between the thugs, Annette's singing, and some terrific dance numbers by the entire cast, the show ended as a huge success with the audience.

Directed by Barry Bosworth, Youth Summerstock Theatre has been bringing together some of the most talented youth in San Diego County for several years. We encourage you to go see and support our local young actors. You can catch Kiss Me Kate until August 1st, and we are eagerly looking forward to Summerstock's next production, Grease!, beginning August 9th.

Rob Hopper
San Diego Playbill

~ Cast ~

Fred Graham/Petrucio: Bryan Swarberg
Lilli Vanessi/Kate:
Carly Nykanen - 19, 21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 8/1
Annette Desrosiers - 20, 22, 25, 27, 29, 31
Lois Lane/Bianca:
Jennifer Volker - 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31
Betsey Boutelle - 20, 22, 25, 27, 29, 8/1
Bill Calhoun/Lucentio: Josh Laubacher
Harry Trevor/Baptista: Austin Thorpe
Hattie:
Aimee Dotts - 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31
Laura Domingo - 20, 22, 25, 27, 29, 8/1
Paul: Brian Buxton
First Gangster: Travis Heath
Second Gangster: Josh Brashars
Harrison Howell: Brandon Roesler
- Specialty Dancers -
Carrie:
Nikki McCabe - 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31
Michelle Millum - 20, 22, 25, 27, 29, 8/1
Mary:
Rachel Mink - 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31
Adina DiFede - 20, 22, 25, 27, 29, 8/1
Shelly:
Stacy Moore - 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31
Chelsea Johnson - 20, 22, 25, 27, 29, 8/1
Amy:
Brittany Zemlick - 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31
Stephanee Asch - 20, 22, 25, 27, 29, 8/1
Ashley:
Heather Ponseggi - 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31
Elizabeth Klueck - 20, 22, 25, 27, 29, 8/1
- Girls Chorus -
Lori:
Corie Bales - 19, 20, 24, 26, 28, 31
Jessi Ford - 20, 21, 25, 27, 29, 8/1
Cori:
Marla Worm - 19, 24, 26, 28, 31
Carolyn Claar - 20, 22, 25, 27, 29, 8/1
Susie:
Brandy Martindale - 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31
Crystal Bueno - 20, 22, 25, 27, 29, 8/1
Tori:
Kimberly Price - 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31
Amanda Maples - 20, 22, 25, 27, 29, 8/1
Stacy:
Chelsea Pullen - 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31
Sylvia Knorr - 20, 22, 25, 27, 29, 8/1
Sherrie:
Britney Lindsay - 19, 21, 22, 26, 28, 31
Brittany Kelly - 20, 24, 25, 27, 29, 8/1
Teri:
Andrea Parks - 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31
Ashley Jackson - 20, 22, 25, 27, 29, 8/1
Vicki:
Lori Gossett - 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31
Emilie Aguirre - 20, 22, 25, 27, 29, 8/1
Lani:
Tasha Voeltzel - 19, 21, 26, 28, 29, 31, 8/1
Katrina Shingledecker - 20, 22, 24, 25, 27
- Boys Chorus -
Ralph: Mindy Colton
Gremio: Kathy Schmidt
Hortensio: Laurelle Gowing
Danny: Karen Osborne
Jimmy: Sherry Evans
Darren: Cathy Huot
Larry: Bryan Gibson
Pete: Clint Kennedy
Bert: Chris Wilson
Joey: Theo Adams
George: Cody Graves
Johnny: Danny Lauridson

Director: Barry Bosworth
Music Direction: Ted Adams
Choreography: Chrissy Johnson
Accompanist: Nancy Casey
Costume Design: Amy Skinner
Set Design and Construction: Kendra Truett
Student Assistant Director/Stage Manager: Chelsea Whitmore

- The El Cajon Municipal Philharmonic -
Piano/Conductor: Ted Adams
Bass: Eric DeLand
Flute: Roseann Adams
Drums: Tim Staump
Trumpet: John Barnett

- Student Production Staff -
Assistant Director: Chelsea Whitmore
Lights: Marla Worm and Carolyn Claar
Sound: Katrina Shingledecker and Tasha Voeltzel
Props: Emilie Aguirre and Lori Gossett
Refreshments: Brittany Zemlick and Stephanee Asch
Costume Assistants:
Stacy Moore
Chelsea Johnson
Heather Ponseggi
Elizabeth Klueck
Stage Crew: Josh Brashears
Ushering: Chelsea Pullen
Makeup: Brandy Martindale and Crystal Bueno
Program: Brian Buxton
Sets Assistants: Andrea Parks and Ashley Jackson
Walls: Adina DiFede, Rachel Mink