{"product_id":"too-darn-hot-hannah-robbins-9780190082406","title":"Too Darn Hot: Kiss Me, Kate \u0026 the Making and Remaking of a Broadway Musical","description":"When \u003cem\u003eKiss Me, Kate\u003c\/em\u003e premiered in its first try-out performance, its future was anything but certain. Conceived and staged in just nine months of intense, sometimes chaotic collaboration, the show was a bold experiment: a backstage musical built around a Shakespearean comedy. But once the reviews rolled in, all doubts vanished. The production was a triumph, becoming the most successful stage work of both Cole Porter and the writing duo Sam and Bella Spewack. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eYet \u003cem\u003eKiss Me, Kate\u003c\/em\u003e has never been without controversy. At its heart, the show is a backstage comedy built around a play-within-a-play adaptation of Shakespeare's \u003cem\u003eThe Taming of the Shrew\u003c\/em\u003e. That choice has long invited scrutiny. From its earliest performances to its most recent revivals, \u003cem\u003eKiss Me, Kate \u003c\/em\u003ehas sparked discussion about adaptation, gender politics, and the evolving tastes of audiences. From its 1948 debut to its 75th anniversary revival, the musical has been both celebrated and critiqued, reflecting shifting cultural attitudes and artistic sensibilities. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn\u003cem\u003e Too Darn Hot, \u003c\/em\u003e author Thuraisingam Robbins traces the remarkable journey of this enduring musical, charting its development from concept to curtain call, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the artistic decisions that shaped its legacy. Through several case studies--including the lavish MGM film adaptation, a Viennese operetta-style staging, and modern Broadway revivals--Robbins examines how \u003cem\u003eKiss Me, Kate\u003c\/em\u003e has remained relevant, provocative, and beloved. \u003cem\u003eToo Darn Hot\u003c\/em\u003e offers a compelling portrait of a show that continues to ignite conversation and captivate audiences.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Hannah Robbins\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0190082402\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780190082406\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/01\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 240\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.00lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.53h x 6.44w x 0.92d","brand":"Hannah Robbins","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48623553609983,"sku":"9780190082406","price":34.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_63d6cd06-e15c-45c1-8c18-0d383ebcb947.jpg?v=1780433220","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/too-darn-hot-hannah-robbins-9780190082406","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}