Cortland Repertory Theatre Readies 52nd Summer Season at Little York Pavilion

Cortland Repertory Theatre is gearing up to kick off their 52nd annual summer season, to be held at the Little York Pavilion in Preble, NY. The season will run from June 5 – August 17 and will contain three musicals and two plays. 

Starting the season, from June 5-14 is a show that has been called “one of the greatest musicals of all time”: MY FAIR LADY, with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe.  This musical was adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s play and Gabriel Pascal’s movie “Pygmalion” and was originally directed and staged by Moss Hart. In this story, Eliza Doolittle is a young flower seller with an unmistakable Cockney accent which seemingly keeps her in the lower rungs of Edwardian society. When Professor Henry Higgins tries to teach her how to speak like “a proper lady”, an unlikely friendship begins to flourish.  The musical’s score is loaded with familiar songs, including The Rain in Spain, I Could Have Danced All Night, On the Street Where You Live, and many others. Bill Kincaid, who directed CRT’s award-winning production of “Chicago” directs.

From June 19 – 28 is the CRT debut of the heartwarming comedy THE LAST ROMANCE, by Joe DePietro, the playwright who created a CRT favorite, “Over the River and Through the Woods”. This play explores the transformative power of love, no matter what age one may be. On an ordinary day in a routine life, widower Ralph takes a different path on his daily walk and meets Carol, who is sitting on a bench at a dog park. Ralph woos Carol, and they embark on a hilarious and touching journey that proves it’s never too late for romance.  Mark Reynolds, who directed CRT’s award-winning “Newsies”, directs.

A recent Broadway musical, and the regional premiere is up next from July 3 – 12 with Jimmy Buffet’s ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE, with a book by Emmy Award winner Greg Garcia and Emmy nominee Mike O’Malley, and music and lyrics by Jimmy Buffett. The story centers around Tully, the “mayor” of Margaritaville, a part-time bartender, part-time singer, and full-time charmer who’s got life all figured out until a beautiful tourist steals his heart and makes him question everything he knows. This energetic score features Jimmy Buffett’s classics, including Cheeseburger in Paradise, Volcano, It’s Five o’clock Somewhere and many more. CRT’s Producing Artistic Director Kerby Thompson directs.

Running from July 17 – 26 is a thrilling new adaptation of the Broadway classic that inspired the 1967 film starring Audrey Hepburn, WAIT UNTIL DARK originally written by Frederick Knott and recently adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher. Murder, secret identities, and a switchblade set the stage for this white-knuckle thriller that takes place in the quaint 1944 Greenwich Village basement apartment of Susan, a blind yet capable woman and her husband Sam. While Sam is away on business, Susan finds herself threatened by a trio of men who will stop at nothing to get a stolen item hidden in the apartment. Susan discovers that her blindness just might be the key to her escape, but she must wait until dark to reach the shattering conclusion.  Deena Conley, Chair of the SUNY Cortland Theatre Department, directs.

Wrapping up the summer, from July 31 – August 17, CRT presents their debut production of Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice and a book by Linda Woolverton.  This “tale as old as time” was originally directed on Broadway by Robert Jess Roth, and originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions.  Original music supervision and new arrangements are by Michael Kosarin with dance music arrangements by Glen Kelly and orchestrations by Danny Troob. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated film, the story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress, comes to life before your eyes!  Barbara Hartwig, who directed/ choreographed CRT’s spectacular production of “Cats” returns to take the helm. 

Also on the summer agenda is STORYBOOK TALES, performed by the Bright Star Touring Company, on July 19 at 11AM and July 20 at 11AM and 1 PM.  Tickets at $8.00 for ages 11 and up, Free for ages 10 and under.  Whether it’s dashing through the streets of Geppetto’s Italian village, or hiking through the Sherwood Forest in Nottingham England, comic duo Lenny and Mabel, “The Greatest Actors In The World” are sure to delight in this fun collection of stories. Join Lenny and Mabel as they bring their traveling show featuring Geppetto and his little wooden boy Pinocchio. Learn lessons of responsibility and parental love as Pinocchio struggles to become real. Then travel to England with Maid Marian and the Sheriff of Nottingham as they encounter great capers with the outlaw, Robin Hood! These tales are sure to delight any young audience, or anyone who is young at heart.

The CRT Box Office opens on May 20 for all sales.   Adult Tickets for $42.00 (center seats) and $40.00 (side seats).  A $2.00 discount is available on individual tickets for seniors 62 and up, active military and veterans, first responders and groups of 10 or more. All youth tickets, 22 and under, are $25.00 at all times. Summer box office hours at CRT Downtown, 24 – 26 Port Watson Street in Cortland are Mon-Fri, 9:00-6:00 and Saturdays noon-6:00. More information can be found online at www.cortlandrep.org or by calling 800-427-6160.