This acclaimed new production of the classic Cole Porter musical opened on Broadway in late 1999, and took part in a remarkable double whereby director Michael Blakemore picked up the Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical for his work on the show, and then moments later collected the Tony Award for Best Director of a Play for Copenhagen, the transfer of the National Theatre production for which White Light provided the lighting equipment in London.
Also nominated for his work on Kiss Me Kate was lighting designer Peter Kaczorowski; Kaczorowski went on to win the Best Lighting Tony Award this year, for his work on the smash hit show The Producers. Kaczorowski has previously worked in London lighting the musicals Jackie and She Loves Me, using lighting equipment from White Light.
For Kiss Me Kate, White Light will be supplying a large rig based principally around the popular ETC Source Four along with PAR Cans and colour scrollers. The Moving Light Company will supply Martin Mac2000 automated spotlights, these replacing the Cyberlights used on the production in New York. The installation of the rig will be overseen by production electrician Simon Needle, while White Light's Jason Larcombe will act as assistant to Peter Kaczorowski.
Kiss Me Kate continues a busy Thirtieth Anniversary year for White Light and The Moving Light Company, who are already supplying equipment to shows such as My Fair Lady, The Witches of Eastwick, Starlight Express, Chicago, Blue/Orange, Art, Antarctica, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Feelgood, Noises Off, Notre Dame de Paris and The Graduate in London as well as Saturday Night Fever, Spend Spend Spend, Sunset Boulevard and the forthcoming Miss Saigon on tour.