Cortland Repertory Theatre Ends Summer Mainstage Season with “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast”

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Cortland Repertory Theatre closes their 53rd summer season with a three-week run of the popular musical  “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast”. This production will run from July 31 – August 17 at the Little York Pavilion,  with evening performances at 7:30 PM. Matinees at 2:00 PM are available on August 2, 6, 7, 11, and 14.  This exciting and heartwarming show boasts music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim  Rice, and a book by Linda Woolverton. The original Broadway production was directed by Robert Jess  Roth, and was originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. The original music supervision and  new arrangements are by Michael Kosarin, with dance music arrangements by Glen Kelly and  orchestrations by Danny Troob.  

Tickets may be purchased by calling 800-427-6160 or by visiting the CRT Box Office at 24 Port Watson  Street in Cortland. Tickets are also available through CortlandRep.org with ETIX, for a small additional  online charge. CRT cautions that ETIX is the only approved online ticket service; others charge significantly  higher rates for tickets and are not approved by CRT. A 4% technology fee is added for all credit/debit card  sales. As an incentive, this fee will be waived if paid by cash, check or gift card. The GPS address for the  Little York Pavilion is 6799 Little York Lake Road in Preble. Adult tickets range between $38.00 – $42.00.  Youth tickets (22 and under) are available for $25.00 each, or as a Youth Flex Pass, which contains two  tickets for $40.00. CRT also offers an Educators Discount night on Thursday, August 1 for active teachers,  faculty and school staff who may purchase two tickets for $60.00. Saturday, August 3 is “40-Below Date  Night”, when individuals between the ages of 18 – 40 may purchase two tickets for $50.00. Also, a limited  number of side seats, if still available, may be purchased for $10.00 on Opening Night, July 31. These  tickets will be sold starting at 4:30PM, the day of performance only and must be purchased by cash in  person at the CRT Box Office, 24 Port Watson Street, Cortland.  

A “tale as old as time”, and based on the Academy Award-winning film, this stage adaptation includes all  the wonderful songs and characters that made the movie so popular. The story tells 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. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end, and he will be transformed into  his former self. But time is running out – if the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household  will be doomed for all eternity. The wonderful score includes the songs “Be Our Guest”, “Belle”, “Gaston”,  and of course the title song. 

“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” is directed and choreographed by Barbara Hartwig, whose work at CRT  was previously seen in the choreography for CRT’s “West Side Story”. Hartwig also directed and  choreographed CRT’s award-winning production of “Cats” in 2012. Canaan Harris returns to his seventh  CRT show, having previously music directed “Kiss Me Kate”, and played in the pit bands of six others.  Stage Manager Claire Young finishes her summer work with this production, and CRT Production Manager  Eric Behnke will also design the lighting plot. Other designers include Mia Irwin (scenic), Jimmy  Johansmeyer (costumes), Kyle Jensen (sound) and Elizabeth Reaves (properties). Mackenzie Seewagen  is Assistant Stage Manager, and Sarah Liffick is Technical Director. 

Playing the Disney princess role of Belle, CRT welcomes back Molly Bremer, who was previously seen as  Eliza in “My Fair Lady” earlier this summer. Also being welcomed back, as the Beast, is former CRT  Performing Intern from the 2019 summer, Steven Martella, who appeared in “Legally Blonde”, “Mamma  Mia!”, and “The House at Pooh Corner”. Also a former CRT Performing Intern from last year, Trevor  Shingler returns to play Gaston, with Henry Howland making his CRT debut as LeFou. Homer resident actor Kim Hubbard, previously seen in CRT’s “Shipwrecked”, “Cats” and “Brigadoon”, will play Belle’s father  Maurice. Barbara Bayes, seen in CRT’s “The Cake” and “Always a Bridesmaid” will play Mrs. Potts, with  current Performing Interns Eli Vanderkolk as Lumiere, Alyssa Beaulieu as Babette and Thomas Locke as  Cogsworth. Local young actor David Downey Ford will play Chip, and another Cortland local, Rachel Fry  will play Madame La Grande Bouche. Rounding out the ensemble will be Performing Interns Matthew  Dodaro, Maxwell Bass, Jaiden Leo Riley, Gillian Stoltz, Madison Winkler and Ally Wolfe. CRT notes that  Mr. Dodaro will play the role of the Beast for the three performances on August 2 and 3. Musicians for this  production include Benjamin Coddington (keyboards 2), Jonathan Fleischman (violin), Ava Gestwick (reeds), John Oliver (bass) and Micah Neiss (drums and percussion).  

CRT offers a “Friday Night Talk Back” after the evening performance on August 2, at which a Q & A session  with the actors and technicians will be held. Tickets are also available for CRT’s “Sounds of Music” concert  series to be held on every Wednesday in September, including “Close to You: The Music of the Carpenters”,  “Tapestry Unraveled: The Music of Carole King”, “Jefferson McDonald’s Great Balls of Fire” and “How  Sweet It Is: Steve Leslie Sings James Taylor”. Visit www.CortlandRep.org for exact times, dates, and  additional information.