A play within a play, a comedy within a comedy, all in one show for only one night.

Kiss Me Kate, the celebrated musical, comes to Eisenhower Auditorium at 7:30 tonight, bringing laughs, entertainment and two Penn State alumni along with it.

Lori Marinacci and Ron Remke, who have been dating for the past four years, graduated from Penn State in May 2003. Now, less then a year later, they're returning to the same stage where they received their degrees, Marinacci in a leading role and Remke as the dance captain and an ensemble cast member.

"It's like coming home," said Remke, who has been on the road with the national Broadway tour of Kiss Me Kate for a few months.

Remke said that while he enjoys performing and traveling to new places, it's nice to come back to some place "where I know how to get to Wal-Mart."

Coming back to Penn State brings out a lot of emotions for Marinacci.

"It's exciting and fun and kind of strange," she said. "I knew most of the tours I had been auditioning for would probably go through Penn State, but it's still very exciting."

Marinacci said that being on tour is similar to working 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"We're on the road all the time, and we don't get to go home at the end of the day," she said. "You're living with and working with the same people all the time."

Remke and Marinacci enjoy getting to spend time together on the road.

"It's really great to have her on tour with me, having someone to share the experience with," Remke said.

Remke said another advantage of being on tour is being able to bring theater to places and people who might not have much previous experience with it.

A romantic comedy, Kiss Me Kate, is based on Shakespeare's The Taming of The Shrew, which not-so-coincidentally is the play being performed within the musical.

"There are unusual goings-on, mixed up relationships, actors playing actors," said Laura Sullivan, spokeswoman for the Center for the Performing Arts. "It's all very funny and very exciting. It's an interesting way to get your Shakespeare. Students will love it."

Remke said one of the best elements of being on tour with Kiss Me Kate is that he really loves the show.

"This is a great example of a traditional book musical that's fun and exciting," he said.

Marinacci agreed.

"I feel so blessed to be doing a show that so fun to be in," she said.

With a leading role as both Lois and Bianca, Marinacci said she's excited for her former dance teacher, Spence Ford, to see her perform.

"I only wish I had more time in town," she said.