Kiss Me, Kate: Vocal Score

This vocal score captures Porter at his most versatile, moving seamlessly from comedic patter songs and rousing production numbers to genuinely tender love ballads. The integration of Shakespeare within Porter's own theatrical story gives directors rich opportunities for creative staging, and the range of musical styles means every voice type and personality in your cast gets a moment to shine.

Kiss Me, Kate swings between clever theatrical mischief and genuine romantic warmth, with Porter's jazzy harmonies giving everything a sophisticated shimmer. There's a confidence in these songs, a sense of a master craftsman at the height of his powers, blending Shakespeare's timeless story of romantic sparring with Cole Porter's own worldly, witty sensibility.

This vocal score serves music directors mounting full or concert productions of Kiss Me, Kate, as well as singers preparing auditions or solos from the show. Pianists and conductors will find Porter's orchestrations (here in vocal score format) both playable and genuinely theatrical, with enough harmonic interest to keep accompaniment engaging.

• Pay close attention to Porter's lyrical prosody in numbers like 'Brush Up Your Shakespeare' and 'Always True to You in My Fashion'. The rhythm of the words drives the music, and rushing the text will flatten the humor.
• Balance the ensemble sound in 'Another Op'nin', Another Show' and 'Too Darn Hot' by keeping the comedy grounded in the acting, not shouted over the orchestra.
• The romantic duets ('So in Love', 'Wunderbar') need genuine vocal legit singing; resist the temptation to play only the comedic surface when the music asks for warmth and sincerity.
• Layer Porter's sophisticated harmonic movement thoughtfully, especially in modulations between keys. The accompaniment shapes the emotional arc, so pianists should lead gently rather than pound.

This works beautifully as a concert or mainstage production for community theater, university theater, or advanced high school programs. You can program individual songs as audition pieces or concert selections, or commit to the full show, which rewards strong acting ensembles and allows for creative direction that plays with the play-within-a-play structure.

• Performing legit singing with comedic timing and character specificity
• Navigating Porter's sophisticated harmonic language and chromaticism
• Executing rapid-fire patter singing with clear diction
• Blending romantic ballad singing with theatrical comedy
• Coordinating ensemble passages with precise rhythmic and harmonic alignment