CRT Wraps Up The Summer With The Regional Premiere Of The World Famous “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight”

Cortland Repertory Theatre wraps up their 42nd annual summer season with the regional premiere of the thriller/comedy “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight”, by Peter Colley. This award-winning play has been described by the Toronto Globe & Mail as “the most widely produced stage play in Canadian history”. It also has the distinction of having been produced in 48 of the 50 US states, every province in Canada and 29 countries around the globe including Mexico, Italy, China, Kenya, Spain, Ireland, Jamaica and Australia. It has broken numerous box office records and has had two record-breaking United Kingdom national tours.

Performances of “I’ll Be Back Before Midnight” will run from August 28 – September 7 with evening performances at 7:30.  Matinees are available on August 30, September 1 and 4 at 2:00 PM. Tickets may be purchased by calling 800-427-6160 or in person at the CRT Box Office at 24 Port Watson Street in Cortland. Tickets are also available for sale 24 hours a day through the CRT website at www.cortlandrep.org. While the show does not contain adult language, there are mature themes and some scary elements not suitable for children. It is recommended for mid-teens and up.

In the play, Jan Sanderson has recently suffered a nervous breakdown, and her archeologist husband Greg has rented an old farmhouse in the country where she can recover. When George, the hilarious farmer from whom they rent the house, tells stories about a terrible murder that once took place in the farmhouse and the ghost that reputedly stalks the night, Jan’s imagination starts to get the best of her. The situation gets worse when Laura, Greg’s beautiful but manipulative sister arrives.  Soon Jan finds herself tormented by strange sounds in the night and visions of the vengeful ghost.  Is she having another breakdown?  Is someone trying to drive her mad?  Or is it all in her head? When she tries to defend herself from this apparition, events take an unexpected turn in a night of unimaginable suspense!

Making his CRT directorial debut for this show is long-time CRT actor Dustin Charles, who has served as Assistant Director on “The Unexpected Guest”, “A Murder is Announced” and “The Ladies Man”. Charles has also been seen on the CRT stage in “The Drawer Boy”, “The Hollow”, “Rumors”, “Brigadoon” and many others.  This year, he also served as Casting Assistant for the entire season. Stage Manager Laura Krouch heads up the returning design team of Cully Long (Scenic Designer), Jimmy Johnansmeyer (Costumes), Greg Solomon (Lighting), Lisa Guild (Props) and Seth Asa Sengel (Sound). Nick Ryan serves as Technical Director, and Jahana Azodi is Company Manager and Assistant Stage Manager.

The cast is comprised mostly of actors returning to CRT.  Portraying Jan Sanderson is Melissa Macleod Herion, who has been seen in CRT’s productions of “The Hollow” and “Rumors”.  Greg Sanderson is played by Jason Bowen in his CRT debut.  Laura Sanderson is played by Charlotte Kate Fox, who has been seen in CRT’s “The Hollow”, “Chicago” and “The Smell of the Kill”.  Rounding out the cast as farmer George Willowby is Kyle Kennedy, who has been in “The Drawer Boy”, “A Murder is Announced”, “A Few Good Men” and “Gross Indecency”.

CRT will continue “Friday Night Talk Backs” thru the end of the summer, at which a Q & A session with the actors, designers and crew take place after every Friday evening performance. Also, “Early Bird” prices for subscriptions and flex-passes are now available for the summer of 2014.  Please note that these discounted rates will only available until October 1.  See more details at www.cortlandrep.org or call 800-427-61610.