Performances begin Dec. 4, 2o14 at the Mandell JCC in West Hartford.

Submitted by Larah Winn, Mandell JCC

Submitted photo

Get ready for an entertaining play-within-a-play as the Mandell JCC’s Teen Theater presents Kiss Me Kate! Performances will be held Thursday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 7, at 2 p.m. at the Mandell JCC’s Herbert Gilman Theater, Zachs Campus, 335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT.

The Mandell JCC Teen Theater Production of Kiss Me Kate! is directed by Carolyn Mostel Weiser, with musical direction by Sean Pallatroni.

What do you get when you combine Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew” with Cole Porter’s music and lyrics? “Kiss Me, Kate!” a riveting play-within-a-play in which each cast member’s on-stage life in the Shakespearean classic is complicated by what is happening offstage. Musical numbers include “Too Darn Hot,” “Brush Up Your Shakespeare,” and “Another Op’nin, Another Show.”

The show also features the talents of Zach Aldave (Fred Graham/Petruchio), Sydney Weiser (Lilli Vanessi/Katherine Minola), Melanie Klucznik (Lois Lane/Bianca), Nathan Schachter (Bill Calhoun/Lucentio), Efrat Ben-Naim (Stagehand #2 /Philip-servant to Petruchio), Gia Curran (Lopera Stagehand #3 /Haberdasher), Lani Davidson (Wardrobe Lady), Olivia Fassanella (First Gangster), Zach Goldberg (Second Gangster), Ashley Grady (Too Darn Hot Soloist), Ruthie Harrison (Cantiamo Amore Soloist), Emma Kutscher (Ralphie, the stage manager), Riley Liburd (Stagehand #1/Too Darn Hot Soloist), Sierra Mainard (Harriet Trevor/Baptista Minola), Cassie Orkin (Cab Driver/Driver/Nathaniel-servant to Petruchio), Ryan Shearin (General Harrison Howell), Samm Smith-Rapaport Hortensio/Riley-Aide to General Howell, Greg Stefanko (Gremio/Flynt-Aide to General Howell), Annie Tilden (Dance Captain/Gregory-servant to Petruchio), Taylor Turner (Hattie) and Alex van der Hulst (Paula).

Tickets for the show are on sale now, and are $10 for students and $12 for adults. New this year, seniors can purchase tickets at the door for a discounted rate (with valid ID) of $5 for Thursday and Sunday performances. For tickets, contact the Mandell JCC Member Services Center, 860-236-4571 or visit www.mandelljcc.org. For more information on the Teen Theater Program, contact Karen Wyckoff at 860-231-6317.

The Mandell Jewish Community Center is open to everyone and supported by funds raised by the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, a recipient of funding from the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford, and a member of the JCC Association of North America. For updates, follow the Mandell JCC on Facebook and Twitter. All dates and programs subject to change.