The Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts is at it again, pulling off opening night of the third show of their 2007 summer season “Kiss Me, Kate,” last weekend.

“Kiss Me, Kate” is a play within a play, set during the 1950s Baltimore theater production of a musical rendition of William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.”

Shawn Pennington plays Fred Graham, an egotistical stage actor, and Emily Rogge plays Lilli Vanessi, an equally egotistical movie actress. The two are divorced, but still drawn to each other — and each is driven by jealousy to make the other miserable. A perfect situation for Graham, who, starring as Petruchio and producing “The Taming of the Shrew,” has cast Vanessi as Katharine Minola, the Shrew.

The real-life story behind the Tony award winning Cole Porter musical is as intriguing. It’s based on the book by Samuel and Bella Spewack that documented the drama between famous theater couple Alfred Lunt and Lynne Fontanne, who once starred together in “The Taming of the Shrew.”

Their performances of “Wunderbar” and “So In Love” are stunning, with Rogge masterfully depicting the tender side of Vanessi, despite her usually formidable behavior. Rogge also gets to offer a humorous side as Katharine, especially in her hilarious performance of “I Hate Men.” Pennington’s portrayals of Graham and Petruchio, meanwhile, are hilarious, making fun of abilities — or lack there of — when it comes to his passions: women and acting. In the play’s more serious moments, however, Pennington’s deep, rich voice is no laughing matter.

Leaping onto the PCPA stage for the first time is Kiera O’Neil as the flirtatious Lois Lane (Bianca Minola in “Shrew.”) O’Neil shines in her solo numbers, especially “I’m Always True to You in My Fashion,” which allows her to play off the audience’s reactions to the number and to respond to multiple, and much deserved, encores.

Playing O’Neil’s sidekick is Michael Jenkinson as Bill Calhoun (Lucentio in “Shrew”) who should be commended not only for his own expert footwork as Calhoun, but for his dual role as the show’s choreographer.

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Other cast members made equally delightful impressions on the audience. PCPA regular David Studwell appears as General Harrison Howell, a stern, self-centered man ready to rescue Vanessi from her life as an actress by making her his wife.

And Billy Breed (who has made a name for himself on the stage of Oceano’s Great American Melodrama) and Andrew Goldwasser were also audience favorites, playing a pair of 1950s gangsters with a newfound love of Shakespeare. Their “Brush Up Your Shakespeare” also delighted the audience with multiple encores.

The entire ensemble — comprising nearly 25 actors in all — demonstrated their stage prowess in almost every number, from “Another Op’nin’ Another Show,” to “Too Darn Hot,” to “Kiss Me, Kate.”

Christopher Sousa-Wynn took on set design with a rotating backdrop that allowed the cast to act primarily in two worlds: the backstage and dressing rooms of a Baltimore theater and on the stage performing “The Taming of the Shrew.”

Costume designer Misti Bradford was equally challenged in creating a wardrobe for both a Shakespearean performance and a 1950s acting troupe.

The cast and crew alike should have been proud when their final bows were met with a boisterous standing ovation, the likes of which PCPA likely hasn’t seen since last year’s epic performance of “Beauty and the Beast.”

Well deserved.

‘KISS ME, KATE’ AND BEYOND:

“Kiss Me, Kate” plays through July 15 at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria, and July 20 through Aug. 12 at the Solvang Festival Theater.

Also playing this summer are:

“Company, In Concert,” now through July 15 at the Solvang Festival Theater

“The Importance of Being Earnest,” now through July 14 at the Solvang Festival Theater

“Lifeboat,” July 19 to July 28 at the Severson Theatre in Santa Maria

“The Real Thing,” Aug. 2 to 11 at the Marian Theatre and Aug. 17 to Sept. 14 at the Solvang Festival Theatre

“Urinetown,” Aug. 17 to 26 at the Marian Theatre and Aug. 31 to Sept. 23 at the Solvang Festival Theater

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.pcpa.org or call the PCPA box office at 922-8313.

Emily Welly can be reached at 739-2220 or ewelly@santamaria times.com.