Kiss Me Gene

It had more than charmed audiences in its pre-Broadway run in Philadelphia—everyone had been downright ecstatic. Now the hottest musical of 1948 was about to arrive in New York: Cole Porter’s Kiss Me, Kate, based on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, was making its Broadway debut on December 30th at the New Century Theatre.

Gene had been given hard-to-come-by tickets to opening night by one of the show’s publicists. For him, it was an opportunity for a famous face to get his show mentioned in all the papers.

But for Gene, it was more than another opening of another show. It was an event that stirred up memories, for she had played Kate in her high school production of The Taming of the Shrew. Family and friends in the audience were thrilled as they watched sweet little Katie Marshall transform herself into Kate, the brawling scold tamed by true love. Playing Kate was one of the things that had convinced her that acting should and would be her career.

Now, as she made her way down the aisle amid the pop of flashbulbs, she thought of all the excitement and fun—and hard work—that had made her dream come true. As the audience buzzed and whispered behind their programs, smiling and gazing at their favorite Hollywood star, she took her seat. Soon the Kiss Me Kate overture began as the house lights dimmed—but her happy memories blazed on.

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Gene® is a registered trademark of The Ashton-Drake Galleries® and was created by Mel Odom. I have no affiliation with these or any other doll companies.