Marin Mazzie sweeps into Kiss Me, Kate in a Dior style dress for the last time May 27 at the Martin Beck Theatre, where she has been playing the dual roles of Lilli and Kate in the hit revival of the Cole Porter classic.

On May 29, Carolee Carmello joins the cast, playing opposite Burke Moses in the backstage musical that won the Best Revival (Musical) Tony Award in 2000. Michael Blakemore directs, Kathleen Marshall choreographs.

There has been talk that Mazzie and Brian Stokes Mitchell may recreate their Kate work in London, but no official announcement has been made. Mazzie's Broadway credits include Passion and Ragtime, among other shows. Her work is preserved on the cast albums for Kate, Passion and Ragtime, as well as the Encores! concert cast recording of Porter's Out of This World, the composer's post-Kate musical.

Playing the acidic, wrestling Lilli/Kate in the Porter show was much different than the composed, sober work she did as Mother in Ragtime.

"It's very different," she told Playbill On-Line in fall 1999, when Kiss Me, Kate previewed and opened. "This is physical: Being thrown around, beaten, screaming and yelling. But I have to tell you: It's such a relief after doing Mother for almost three years and spending three hours in emotional turmoil and grief. I used to weep through the whole second act, and that's very draining. [Kate] is actually invigorating. I can get all my aggression out. Any aggression I have gets let loose on the stage. It's really a good change. I wanted a change. Having done Mother and [Passion's] Clara, two Victorian women, I was ready to move on into the 20th century." For Kiss Me, Kate ticket information, call (212) 239-6200.