“Kiss Me, Kate” is one of the most unusual Shakespearean adaptations to date.

It’s not because it’s a musical. “West Side Story,” which is based on “Romeo and Juliet,” is also a musical. “Kiss Me, Kate” stands out because it’s a “play within a play,” a plot device that has recently come back into vogue in the current Broadway hit, “The Producers.”

Of course, the music of legendary American composer Cole Porter certainly hasn’t hurt the production’s popularity.

“Musical theater doesn’t get much better than this,” says Kary Walker, the show’s executive producer. “‘Kiss Me, Kate’ is the epitome of American musical theater. It’s a true classic.”

But the production, which won a Tony Award for Best Musical Revival in 2000, almost never made it to the stage, Walker says.

“Cole Porter really had to be talked into doing ‘Kiss Me, Kate’,” Walker says. “Once they added the backstage storyline, though, he thought it was hilarious.”

The play’s sub-story revolves around two actors named Lili Vanessi and Fred Graham, a divorced couple who are still madly in love with each other, a fact that becomes apparent as the show goes on.

The feuding pair, played by Emily Herring and Dexter James Brigham, are cast as “Kate” and “Petruchio” in a musical version of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” and the couple’s backstage battles begin to mirror those of the characters they are supposed to be playing onstage.

“There’s a lot more to ‘Kiss Me, Kate’ than that, though,” Walker says. “Besides the feuding ex-lovers, there is a sub-plot involving gangsters.”

Walker also says credit for this particular production of “Kiss Me, Kate” really needs to go to the director.

“Joe Leonardo and I go way back. We first did this show about 20 years ago,” Walker says. “When we decided we were going to do the show, I said we have to get Joe to direct. That’s because he knows ‘Kiss Me, Kate’ probably better than anybody.”

Leonardo was Walker’s first choice for director because he is both a Shakespeare fanatic and a great musical theater director. Those combined attributes make a unique combination, Walker says.

“The fact that [Leonardo] really loves this show really stands out,” Walker says. “As far as ‘Kiss Me, Kate’ goes, Joe just nails it.”

Walker says the fact that the show is based on Shakespeare shouldn’t keep people away from the show.

“Yes, it’s based on Shakespeare,” Walker says. “The music by Porter is sophisticated, too, but that doesn’t mean that the show is stuffy. We have a great cast who have fun with their roles — that’s what makes the show.”

What: “Kiss Me, Kate”

Where: Stephens Auditorium

When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday

Cost: $16.50—$20.50 students, $31.50—$39.50 public