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From the Director…
One of the greatest joys of working in the theatre is traveling the road of discovery. Working exclusively with the plays of William Shakespeare is an open window into the human mind…the human heart…the human soul…the metaphysical. Each time we visit one of Will’s plays, sonnets and long poems, we learn something new. We come away from the experience a better and wiser human being. No one, past or present, understands the human condition better than William Shakespeare.
My desire to re–discover this play required me to check my previous experience with it at the door—from the casting of the actors, to the pre–production meetings with the design team, to the rehearsal process.
I directed The Taming of the Shrew for the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival in 1990. Many audience members who saw that production remember it with great fondness. Some say it is one of the best productions I have directed during my ten years with the Festival. I am honored by the compliment.
With the possible exception of Twelfth Night, I know this play better than others of Mr. Shakespeare’s plays. Besides directing it, I have performed a Petruchio monologue in my one man show. SHAKESPEARE’S CLOWNS: A Fool’s Guide to Shakespeare more than 100 times. I have both acted and directed the first meeting scene between Kate and Petruchio dozens of times for Boy Meets Girl Meets Shakespeare, another of our educational outreach productions. In short, I am exceedingly familiar with The Taming of the Shrew.
The beauty of exploring the works of a great writer like Shakespeare is that we can return to them again and again at different points during our life's journey and discover new insights…new epiphanies…new understanding of the human condition. What a journey this has been for all of us. Other than our talented scenic designer, Brenda Kiefer, who designed our 1990 production, the entirety of our staff, cast, and crew is brand spankin’ new! Now is the moment in which we share our journey with you. Enjoy it. Come back and see us again, and the next time, bring family, friends, and neighbors to the best theatre bargain in the region…free Shakespeare under the stars in Central Park.
Curt L. Tofteland
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Learn More:
The Taming of the Shrew synopsis
View this page for a scene-by-scene summary
The Taming of Pantalone
Commedia at its best
Past Productions
Our productions listed by Season, since 1960
Production Statistics
Our productions by Play
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