Kiss Me, Kate Tickets

Kiss Me, Kate Tickets

If you're looking for Kiss Me, Kate tickets, you're planning a night with one of the landmark musical comedies of the Golden Age — a witty, romantic, show-within-a-show classic with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. Winner of the first-ever Tony Award for Best Musical in 1949, Kiss Me, Kate remains a staple of professional, regional, and international theater, celebrated for its sophisticated score, backstage comedy, and sparkling Shakespearean framework.

This page covers everything you need — from what the show is and what to expect, to finding the right seats and buying with complete confidence.

Show Information

Kiss Me, Kate premiered on December 30, 1948, at the New Century Theatre in New York City before transferring to the Shubert Theatre. The musical is loosely based on William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and a book by Samuel Spewack and Bella Spewack. The original production was directed by John C. Wilson with choreography by Hanya Holm.

The show is a musical comedy that blends 1940s backstage farce with a play-within-a-play version of Shakespeare’s Renaissance comedy. Kiss Me, Kate is frequently revived and performed by professional, regional, educational, touring, and community companies around the world. The performance runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes and includes one intermission.

The original Broadway production ran for 1,077 performances, making it Cole Porter’s longest-running Broadway show. It won five Tony Awards in 1949, including Best Musical, Best Authors, Best Composer and Lyricist, Best Producers, and Best Costume Design. The acclaimed 1999 Broadway revival won five Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical, and a 2019 Broadway revival received multiple Tony nominations. A 2024 London West End revival at the Barbican starred Adrian Dunbar and Stephanie J. Block.

If you're searching for Kiss Me, Kate tickets or want to check the current Kiss Me, Kate show schedule, Box Office Ticket Sales carries inventory across touring and available productions.

Story Summary

Kiss Me, Kate takes place backstage and on-stage at Ford’s Theatre in Baltimore during a 1940s out-of-town tryout. A theatrical troupe is presenting a musical version of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, with actor-director Fred Graham starring as Petruchio and his ex-wife, Lilli Vanessi, playing Katharine. Their professional partnership quickly becomes personal as old romantic tension and unresolved arguments spill into the performance.

The backstage chaos grows when two comic gangsters arrive to collect a gambling debt mistakenly tied to Fred. At the same time, younger cast members Lois Lane and Bill Calhoun bring their own flirtations, complications, and comic momentum to the story. As the on-stage Shrew scenes unfold in Renaissance Padua, Italy, the off-stage relationships begin to mirror the battle-of-the-sexes energy of the play-within-a-play.

The result is a layered musical comedy about love, ego, reconciliation, show business, and the blurry line between performance and real emotion. No prior knowledge of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew is required — the musical stands fully on its own and gives audiences everything they need to enjoy both the backstage comedy and the Shakespearean frame.

Story Highlights

Kiss Me, Kate is known for a Cole Porter score filled with romantic ballads, comic patter, and big ensemble showpieces.

• "Another Op’nin’, Another Show" — The rousing opening number captures the excitement of launching a new production in a new town. It is one of musical theater’s great curtain-raisers and immediately sets the show’s backstage world in motion.
• "So in Love" — Lilli’s soaring romantic ballad, later echoed by Fred, serves as the emotional center of the score. The song remains one of Cole Porter’s most enduring love songs.
• "Wunderbar" — Fred and Lilli recall an old show through a mock-Viennese operetta waltz. The number mixes nostalgia, comedy, and genuine feeling as their shared history comes back into focus.
• "Too Darn Hot" — Typically opening the second act, this sizzling jazz-and-dance number brings explosive choreographic energy to the production. It is one of the show’s most famous ensemble moments.
• "Always True to You in My Fashion" — Lois delivers a flirtatious comic confession about faithfulness on her own terms. The number is a bright showcase for the character’s charm and comic timing.
• "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" — The two Gangsters offer soft-shoe advice on using Shakespeare to win romantic attention. The number is a show-stopping comic highlight near the finale.
• "I Hate Men" — Lilli, in character as Katharine, delivers a defiant comic tirade inside the Shrew play-within-a-play. It brings the show’s battle-of-the-sexes humor directly into the spotlight.
• "Where Is the Life That Late I Led?" — Fred, playing Petruchio, races through a witty patter song cataloguing past romances. It is a classic Porter showcase for verbal dexterity and theatrical swagger.

Other Theater Shows You Might Like

If Kiss Me, Kate is your kind of show, the following productions tend to appeal to the same audience — classic musical comedy fans who enjoy witty scores, romantic complications, and big theatrical style.

• Guys and Dolls Tickets
• Anything Goes Tickets
• Annie Get Your Gun Tickets
• The Pajama Game Tickets
• 42nd Street Tickets
• My Fair Lady Tickets
• On the Town Tickets
• Crazy for You Tickets
• Singin’ in the Rain Tickets
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How Much Do Tickets to Kiss Me, Kate Cost?

Kiss Me, Kate ticket prices vary by seat location, performance date, city, venue, and the specific production or revival being presented.

Kiss Me, Kate ticket prices vary based on venue, city, seat location, date, and performance time. Premium orchestra and front sections are in high demand, while rear and upper-level sections offer excellent value.

Weekend performances, special revival runs, strong theater markets, and high-demand dates can move prices upward, especially for center orchestra and front mezzanine locations. Buying earlier generally gives you a better selection of available seats and a stronger chance at finding value before popular sections sell through.

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How to Buy Kiss Me, Kate Tickets

Getting your Kiss Me, Kate tickets through BoxOfficeTicketSales.com is fast and straightforward. Here's how the process works:

• Browse Kiss Me, Kate productions — Search for Kiss Me, Kate tickets and select the production, city, and date that work for your schedule
• Pick your seats — Use the interactive seating map to compare sections, rows, views, and real-time pricing side by side
• Secure checkout — Pay with a credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, or Affirm for flexible payment options
• Receive your tickets — Digital tickets are delivered to your email or mobile wallet before the show, ready to scan at the theater entrance

Every order is backed by our 100% verified ticket guarantee and on-time delivery promise. Once your order is confirmed, you'll receive an email with your invoice and everything you need before curtain time.

Kiss Me, Kate Seating Guide

Kiss Me, Kate is performed in traditional theater venues ranging from major Broadway and West End houses to regional and touring stages. Where you sit shapes how you experience the play-within-a-play design, the dance numbers, and the balance between backstage comedy and full-stage musical spectacle.

Best Seats for Kiss Me, Kate

The best seats for Kiss Me, Kate depend on whether you want close-up character detail, full-stage choreography, or the best overall balance of view and value.

• Best value: Upper mezzanine and rear orchestra sections — these seats can provide a clear view of the full stage picture, including the shifts between backstage scenes and the Taming of the Shrew sequences.
• Closest to the stage: Front orchestra sections — ideal for seeing facial expressions, comic timing, costumes, and the character interplay between Fred, Lilli, Lois, Bill, and the Gangsters.
• Best overall experience: Mid-orchestra and front mezzanine sections — these areas typically offer a strong balance of proximity and perspective, especially for dance numbers and ensemble staging.
• For families with young children: Aisle-access seats can make the 2-hour-and-30-minute runtime easier to manage, and the scheduled intermission gives everyone a built-in break.
• For groups: Coordinate contiguous seats early, since blocks in popular orchestra and mezzanine sections can sell through quickly for well-attended performances.

Kiss Me, Kate Seating Chart

You can view an interactive seating map for Kiss Me, Kate productions directly on BoxOfficeTicketSales.com while browsing available listings. The map lets you compare sections, check row depth and distance from the stage, and see real-time pricing for what's currently available — all before committing to a purchase.

Can I See Where My Seats Are?

Yes. The interactive seat map on BoxOfficeTicketSales.com shows your exact section and row placement before you buy. Use it to understand your angle to the stage, your distance from the front, and whether you're in the orchestra, mezzanine, or balcony — so the seats you choose match exactly what you're looking for before the curtain rises.

Getting Ready for Show Night

Once your tickets are confirmed, a little preparation makes the full experience run smoothly from arrival through the final bow.

• Download your tickets before you leave. Cell service around the theater can be congested on busy performance nights. Save your tickets to your phone's wallet or screenshot them before heading out so you're ready at the door without needing a signal.
• Charge your phone fully. Digital ticketing is standard at most theaters. A portable battery pack is worth having, especially if you're combining the show with dinner or other activities.
• Arrive at least 30 minutes before curtain. Theater doors open well before the show begins; arriving early gives you time to find your seats and settle in before the house lights go down — and avoids the disruption of late seating, which many theaters restrict.
• Plan for the intermission. Kiss Me, Kate runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission, so use the break for concessions, restrooms, or stretching your legs. Lines often build immediately after the act break.
• Know the venue's phone and photography policy. Photography and recording are not permitted during the performance, as is standard for professional theatrical productions. Silence your phone before the show begins so the performance is uninterrupted.
• For families. The show is generally suitable for most audiences, though its comedy includes 1940s gender attitudes and battle-of-the-sexes themes connected to The Taming of the Shrew. Talking through the show’s classic musical-comedy style can help younger theatergoers understand the context before curtain.

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Kiss Me, Kate is one of the most consistently in-demand productions in live theater, and celebrated revivals, weekend performances, and popular regional or touring runs sell through fast. The best-value listings disappear first. If you have a specific date or city in mind, acting sooner gets you better seats at better prices. Browse Kiss Me, Kate tickets now and lock in your seats before inventory moves.

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