Below is a breakdown of roles in KISS ME, KATE. Please note that most actors will be playing double roles: their character in the Baltimore Company that performs SHREW (or their "real" personae) and the characters they play in SHREW (if any).

BALTIMORE COMPANY	SHREW CHARACTER	DESCRIPTION	VOCALS
Pops	can double in SHREW ensemble	The friendly doorman who minds the stage door during the show. Helps Bill Calhoun out with his cab fare and gets caught in the crossfire when General Howell arrives. Room for lots of character work and comedic bits.	not specific
Hattie		Hattie has been Lilli Vanessi's dresser for many years and travels with her from job to job. She's a seasoned and soulful woman, very loyal and devoted to Lilli and well-appreciated by the rest of the company for putting up with her. She also sings lead in Another Openin', Another Show.	alto, brassy, belty, must hit A below high C
Paul		Paul is Fred Graham's loyal dresser. He's friendly, upbeat and well-appreciated by the company. Even though Paul works behind the scenes, he has tremendous talents as a singer and dancer as is demonstrated when he takes the lead in Too Darn Hot.	smooth and jazzy, must hit high G
Ralph		Ralph is a frenzied and frantic stage manager who is trying to maintain control of the show while Fred and Lilli battle it out. Room for lots of physical comedy and great background gags.	not specific
Lois Lane	Bianca Minola (Katharine's tormented sister)	No, not Superman's love interest. Lois Lane is a nightclub showgirl turned musical actress when Fred Graham casts her in SHREW as Bianca, the tormented sister of Katherine. Lois is a true flirt and knows how to use it to get what she wants, even though she loves Bill Calhoun and will "always be true to him in her fashion." Has two big solo numbers, Why Can't You Behave? and I'll Always Be True to You In My Fashion, as well as her big dance number with Bianca's suitors, Tom, Dick or Harry and other numbers with the full company.	alto, sultry but also brassy, must hit A below high C
Bill Calhoun	Lucentio (suitor to Bianca)	Bill Calhoun is a "Broadway hoofer," meaning he's a big-time dancer. He loves Lois and Lois loves him in spite of his minor character flaws like his gambling problem. In fact, his problem helps set the plot rolling when he signs Fred Graham's name to an IOU that he can't pay and two Gangsters show up to collect. He has charm, charisma and is quick on his feet. He's featured in Lois' number, Why Can't You Behave, Bianca's number with the suitors, Tom, Dick or Harry and his big, solo, song-and-dance number, Biancaas well as numbers with the full company.	baritone, crooner style, low B flat to high F
	Gremio (suitor to Bianca)	One of Bianca's suitors, who competes for her affection and her father's approval to marry her. Performs with Bianca and all her suitors in the number, Tom, Dick or Harry. Also fills into the ensemble.	low F to A below high C
	Hortensio (suitor to Bianca)	One of Bianca's suitors, who competes for her affection and her father's approval to marry her. Performs with Bianca and all her suitors in the number, Tom, Dick or Harry. Also fills into the ensemble.	tenor, must hit A below high C
Lilli Vanessi	Katharine Minola (the "shrew")	Lilli Vanessi was once married to Fred Graham, producer, director and co-star of SHREW. Years ago, their careers went in different directions and so did their marriage. When they divorced, Lilli went on to become a big, Hollywood actress, but her career took a dive when Hollywood could no longer tolerate her tremendous attitude, which parallels with the monstrous temperment of Katharine, the character she plays in SHREW. While she and Fred battle throughout the show, she ends up realizing that she still truly loves him. She sings Wunderbar with Fred, From This Moment On with General Howell, as well I Hate Men, So in Love, I Am Ashamed That Women Are So Simple and several numbers with the full company.	classical soprano, must hit high B flat
Dance Captain	can double in SHREW ensemble	Leads a dance break with Lois, Bill and other dancers in the opening number	not specific
Fred Graham	Petruchio (tamer of the "shrew")	Fred is an arrogant, egotistical, but talented actor who was once married to Lilli Vanessi. Their marriage drifted apart as did their careers: while Lilli moved on to Hollywood, Fred insisted on staying true to his "art." Fred also became a stage director and producer, but never became a big star. He's cast his ex-wife Lilli when Hollywood grew tired of her attitude, is having an affair with Lois Lane and suffers the additional drama of contending with two Gangsters who show up to collect on an IOU that Bill Calhoun signed in Fred's name. But he quickly turns the situation around and utilizes the Gangsters to keep Lilli from leaving the show: no show, no dough. Petruchio is equally arrogant, egostistical and smarmy, believing he can tame the wild Katharine and turn her into an obedient wife. Sings Wunderbar with Lilli, I've Come to Wive it Wealthily in Padua with the men, Were Thine That Special Face, Where is the Life That Late I Led?, So in Love (Reprise)as well as several numbers with the full company.	classical baritenor, must hit high G
Harry Trevor	Signor Baptista Minola (Katharine and Bianca's father)	Harry Trevor is a veteran character actor who's worked with Fred before and is cast in the role of Baptista Minola, the forlorn father to Katharine and Bianca. Harry is a kind, warm and lovable old actor, full of humor. As Baptista, he is tormented since he cannot marry off his younger daughter, BIanca, who is sweet, kind and beautiful, until he's married off his elder daughter, Katharine, who has a monstrous temper and no tolerance for her father's (or any man's) orders.	not specific
Cab Driver	can double in SHREW ensemble	A typical New York cab driver who chases Bill Calhoun down in the theatre when Bill stiffs him for the cab fare.	not specific
First Man	"Aides" to Katharine	Two gangsters who arrive at the theatre to collect on a gambling IOU in Fred Graham's name, which was really made by Bill Calhoun. When the gangsters question Fred, he of course denies knowing anything about the IOU, but then changes his mind and plays along, convincing the gangsters that in order for them to get their money, they have to keep Lilli from leaving the show. The gangsters go so far as even join the show, disguised as Katharine's "Aides" and physically keep her at bay on stage. But they soon learn new appreciation for the theatre and Shakespeare as noted in their infamous number, Brush Up Your Shakespeare. Great comedic, character roles!	baritone, vaudeville-style, character singers
Second Man
	Nathaniel, Gregory and Phillip	servants to Petruchio who suffer his wrathe in Act Two. Stunt work involved.	not specific
	Haberdasher	A seller of women's hats who comes to Petruchio's house in the middle of one of his and Katharine's arguments.	not specific
General Harrison Howell		A career military man with political aspirations. He and Lilli are engaged to be married. He is loud, boisterous, gruff and a bit older than Lilli. He arrives when Lilli calls him in a frenzy claiming she's been abused. Sings with Lilli in From This Moment On.	bass to baritone, must hit A below high C
Driver	can double in SHREW ensemble	General Howells' driver, also a soldier.	not specific
Flynt and Reilly	can double in SHREW ensemble	General Howell's aides and motorcycle escorts, also soldiers.	not specific
Chorus	the ensemble of SHREW	Various actors, actresses, singers and dancers in the chorus of Fred Graham's production of SHREW, who play various townspeople of Padua. Looking for actors with lots of character and personality. Lots of big ensemble numbers.	various
Stage Hands, Wardrobe Ladies, Technicians, etc.	can double in SHREW ensemble for certain scenes	Various men and women behind the scenes of SHREW. They share in some of Ralph's insanity trying to hold the show together and getting caught in the crossfire of Fred and Lilli's battle. Looking for actors with lots of character and personality. Lots of big ensemble numbers.	various