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CORTLAND REPERTORY THEATRE ANNOUNCES 42^nd SUMMER SEASON

 Cortland Repertory Theatre, one of New York State’s longest running professional summer theatres, is announcing their 42^nd annual season for the summer of 2013. Producing Artistic Director Kerby Thompson says that CRT has seen its highest attended seasons in the past two years. “We are very grateful that we’ve seen such tremendous support and attendance in the last couple of years,” he said.  “With the popularity of shows like Cats, Joseph…, Grease and our Agatha Christie mysteries, we’ve seen a lot of new people visiting, becoming subscribers, and in some cases coming back a second time to see the same show.”  2011 saw over 17,600 people attend the 6 mainstage productions – a record breaking season; last summer saw over 17,400, making it the second highest attended season in CRT’s history.

As of last June, CRT has relocated their Administration and Box Offices to the new “CRT Downtown” at 24 Port Watson Street in Cortland.  CRT continues to raise funds to create their new winter performance space in this building.  “We still have a long ways to go on our capital campaign, and no date has been set for a winter season yet.” Thompson says.  “We’re being very mindful of every gift we receive, and very careful to not spend what we don’t have.  We raise money and then we do another chunk of work on the building.” Upcoming renovations include a new insulated roof, an upgraded sprinkler system and air ventilation systems, and new public rest rooms.  “It’s a big project which we knew going into it. We’re confident we’ll continue to make progress.” Thompson says.  CRT invites the public to drop by and see the new lobby and offices during regular business hours.

Looking forward to next summer, the CRT website at www.cortlandrep.org has complete information on ticket prices and hours of business. Subscriptions orders and sales for groups of 10 or more are being taken at this time, and order forms for gift certificates and subscriptions are also available online. For more information, call 800-427-6160. 

Starting the season off from June 5 – 15 is The Unexpected Guest, a murder mystery by CRT’s most popular playwright, Agatha Christie. On a foggy night in Wales, Michael Starkwedder runs his car off the road and walks to a nearby house seeking help.  Instead, he finds a man murdered and his beautiful wife standing over him with a gun. The dazed woman confesses, but the enraptured Starkwedder believes otherwise and decides to help her by pinning the murder on an intruder. But who really did it? The other family members all have motives and the police open a Pandora's Box of loves, hates, suspicions and intrigues. Whodunit? The audience is left to puzzle through the clues and red herrings that Dame Agatha weaves through her clever mysteries.

Next up from June 19 – July 6 is the CRT premiere of the worldwide musical sensation Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story by Alan James.  This high-energy musical tells the remarkable story of Buddy Holly, whose musical career spanned an all-too-brief period during the golden days of rock ‘n’ roll.  Follow Buddy from his humble country music roots through his meteoric rise to the top of the record charts, and his untimely death in 1959. Seen by more than 20 million people across the globe, this fantastic musical features the hits Peggy Sue, Oh Boy, and That'll Be the Day, along with Ritchie Valens' La Bamba, the Big Bopper's Chantilly Lace and many more!  This family friendly musical has audiences dancing in the aisles by the end, and is a great celebration combined with the 4^th of July.

From July 10 – 27, CRT will “let it all hang out” with their third show The Full Monty, with a book by Terrence McNally, and music and lyrics by David Yazbeck.  Based on the Oscar-nominated film and nominated for 10 Tony Awards, this rollicking musical has audiences cheering for underdogs everywhere! Six out-of-work and out-of-shape steelworkers in Buffalo - frustrated by money, women, and life without a paycheck - decide to raise some cash by performing a one-night-only striptease. However, after seeing the local ladies response to a touring Chippendales show, the men have an impulsive moment of bravado and promise to go “all the way” (otherwise known as “The Full Monty.”) Will they triumph over their insecurities, their nerves and their zippers? This one-of-a-kind musical bares its soul…among other things…to reveal its huge heart. CRT warns with a content advisory that this show contains adult language and nudity, and is recommended for mature audiences only.

For something completely different, from July 31 – August 10, CRT travels back in time with the next musical, The 1940’s Radio Hour by Walton Jones, featuring the greatest songs from the 1930’s and 40’s. Direct from the Hotel Astor's Algonquin Room in New York City, join The Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade as they present a “live” radio broadcast on December 21, 1942. The spirit of that bygone era comes alive with a behind-the-scenes look at the fun and drama of producing a live radio show. Of course, not everything runs smoothly.  The lead trumpet player has just signed up to join the armed forces, the local delivery boy is doing everything possible to sing on the show, and the production manager has to deal with an intoxicated lead singer!  Featuring such great songs as Strike Up the Band, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and I’ll Be Seeing You this sweet, charming and funny show is one from and for the memory books.

Next from August 14 – 24 is the incredible story Shipwrecked! An Entertainment - The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as told by himself) by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Donald Margulies. Sit back and hear the fantastic story of Louis de Rougemont, a would-be explorer who embarks from Victorian England on a daring expedition only to find himself marooned on a remote desert island. Then the real adventure begins for Louis and his faithful dog Bruno.  All told by “Louis” himself with the aid of only two other actors and a heaps of theatre magic, the breathless tale comes to life before your eyes with a typhoon, a killer octopus, flying wombats, cannibals and of course, a shipwreck! As the story gets bigger and bigger, the boundary between truth and fiction blurs. Inspired by a true story, this charming, family-friendly frolic is like nothing seen before on the CRT stage.

Closing the season from August 28 – September 7 will be CRT premiere of  I’ll Be Back Before Midnight by Peter Colley.  Thrills, chills, and big laughs lurk around every corner in this edge-of-your-seat hit play, which has been produced in 29 countries around the world, 48 of the 50 states, and every province in Canada. Jan, suffering from a nervous disorder, and her husband Greg rent a remote farmhouse in the woods to help her recover. The landlord, an odd farmer who loves telling ghost stories, occasionally drops by and unsettles Jan.  But when Greg’s dramatic sister arrives, frightening events begin to take place. Is someone out to get Jan?  Or is it all in her head?  It’s a comedic thriller…or a thrilling comedy…that you won’t soon forget.

Also next summer, the “CRT KIDS” program will present the first original CRT children’s play The Heroic Adventures of Puss N Boots, a participation play written by local playwright and director, Kim L. Hubbard. Join that swashbuckling hero Puss ‘N Boots and his friends on an amazing adventure, with a valuable and timely morale about bullying and the importance of the consideration towards others. When Young Red (in her favorite red hoodie!) is captured by the evil Captain Hook and his contrary assistant Mary Mary, Ginger the gingerbread girl enlists the aid of the great hero of the Fantasy Forest Puss N’ Boots to help rescue her! In their search for their friend, they meet Little Boy Blue, who is blue because Hook and Mary have bullied him into helping them and he feels badly about himself. Thanks to the cleverness of Puss, Red is saved, Boy Blue learns of his self-worth, and even Hook learns an important lesson about himself. This story about understanding self-esteem, friendship, and forgiveness is told in an exciting way, complete with swashbuckling sword fights, witty humor and lots of audience participation.  Public performances are planned for July 11, 13, 19 and 20 at 10:00 AM.

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