CRT Closes Summer Season with “Suds! The Rockin’ ‘60s’ Musical Soap Opera”

Cortland Repertory Theatre closes their 44th annual summer season of quality live theatre with the “squeaky-clean” musical soap opera “SUDS”, which features some of the greatest 1960’s pop songs ever written.  The show was created by Melinda Gilb, Steve Gunderson and Bryan Scott; Gunderson also created the musical and vocal arrangements. Performances will run from August 26 – September 5 with evening performances at 7:30.  Matinees are available on August 28 and 30, and September 1 and 2 at 2:00 PM.  Tickets may be purchased by calling 800-427-6160 or 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.

This musical fantasy tells the delightful story of Cindy, a lovelorn girl working in a “Laundromat of Love” where she is pining for the pen-pal fiancée who dumped her on her birthday.  However, her life is about to be forever changed when her two guardian angels magically appear to teach her about boys, true love and how to survive this tough “fluff-n-fold” kind of world!  This feel-good musical is loaded with good clean fun, bubbling energy and more than 40 musical favorites including These Boots Are Made For Walkin’, Respect, Are You Lonesome Tonight?, Walk On By, Don’t Make Me Over and Where the Boys Are!

For this production, Robin Levin makes her CRT debut as director, having previously choreographed two CRT productions – this year’s “The Addams Family” and last season’s “All Shook Up”.  Jeff Campos makes his CRT debut as music director.  The cast is comprised of four multitalented individuals, including Hannah Zilber who plays guardian angel Dee Dee.  Zilber was previously seen at CRT in “Always a Bridesmaid”, “All Shook Up” and “Les Miserables”.  The other cast members make their CRT debuts:  Lilli Babb as Cindy, Rachel Valencich as guardian angel Marge and Tony Coslett as “Everybody Else”, including a washer repair man, Mr. Postman, “Mr. Right” and other roles.

Erin Heare is Stage Manager for this production, with Laura Krouch serving as Assistant Stage Manager and Company Manager. Scenic design is handled by Shelley Barish who previously designed “The Addams Family”.  Frequently designer Jimmy Johansmeyer provides the costumes, and CRT Master Electrician Louis Kreienkamp continues his work as Lighting Designer. Other technical work is provided by Amanda Diaz as Props Designer, Seth Asa Sengel as Sound Designer, and Dana White Jr. as Technical Director.

CRT continues “Friday Night Talk Backs” at which a Q & A session with the actors, designers and crew takes place after every Friday evening performance. Early Bird Subscriptions and Flex Passes for the 2016 Summer Season are currently available until October 2.  Call 800-427-6160 for more information.