Big-voiced Carolee Carmello, remembered for her Tony Award nominated performance in Parade, will be the new Lilli Vanessi in Broadway's Kiss Me, Kate, beginning May 29 at the Martin Beck Theatre.
Carmello, who just had a baby, will be Lilli/Katharine opposite Burke Moses as Fred/Petruchio in the Cole Porter musical, which won the Tony Award for Best Revival (Musical) in 2000.
May 27 is the final performance for Marin Mazzie, who created the role of Lilli in the Michael Blakemore-directed Kate. She was Tony Award-nominated for the performance. There is talk in the theatre community that she and Brian Stokes Mitchell may recreate their performances in London, but no official announcement has been made.
Carmello's most recent New York role was as Lucy in the Off- Broadway run of A Class Act in fall 2000. She is heard on the cast album of that show but did not transfer to Broadway with it in February, as she was noticeably pregnant even during the October-December run at Manhattan Theatre Club. She was nominated as Best Actress in a Musical for the serious-minded Parade, and is heard on the cast album.
For Kiss Me, Kate ticket information, call (212) 239-6200.