Buddy Holly Tribute Returns to CRT Downtown with a New Concert

Wrapping up their first spring season at the new downtown venue, Cortland Repertory Theatre Downtown is welcoming back the Buddy Holly Tribute Band “THE RAVE-ONS” for two concerts in early May.  This will be the fourth Cortland appearance of this group, which features Todd Meredith as Buddy Holly.  Meredith was a performing intern at the famous Pantages Theater in the summer of 2006, and has gone on to great national acclaim by creating this tribute band which has performed around the country.  Meredith has also appeared in the title role of over 12 productions of the musical “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story”, including the CRT version in the summer of 2013.  Meredith also appeared in CRT’s production of “Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash” in 2014.

The RAVE-ON concerts will be held on May 13th and 14th at 7:30.  Tickets are $35.00 each and are on sale at CRT Downtown, 24 Port Watson Street in Cortland.  Tickets are also available by calling the Box Office at 607-756-2627, or online thru the CRT website at www.cortlandrep.org.  Seating is reserved, cabaret style and refreshments will be available for purchase.  Beer and wine, provided by Americana Winery, will also be available at the cash bar.

This concert will be different from the band’s previous appearances in Cortland.  Titled “The Night The Music Lived”, this will be a reenactment of Holly’s final concert in Clear Lake, Iowa, called “The Winter Dance Party”.  Along with bass, percussion and guitars, the band will also feature trumpet and sax in its ensemble.  Guest stars will include actors portraying The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens who also appeared at the Iowa concert, and tragically died in the plane crash that also killed Holly.

Producing Artistic Director Kerby Thompson points out that ticket sales are brisk for both nights. “With a total seating capacity of 260, at this time we have about 50 seats left for Friday night and only about 15 for Saturday night.” he says.  “Todd and his band have developed quite a fan club in Cortland and it’s great to see people coming back to see them every time they return!  It’s also a great way to kick off the summer for CRT.”

CRT’s summer season will start on June 8th at the Little York Pavilion, with the new American farce “The Fox on the Fairway”.  Other summer shows include “West Side Story”, “A Chorus Line”, Agatha Christie’s “Cards on the Table”, the cooking-show comedy “The Kitchen Witches” and “The Marvelous Wonderettes” which features some of the greatest hit songs of the 1950’s and ‘60s.  The CRT Kids program will offer performances of “Pinocchio” for family audiences.  Summer subscriptions, flex passes and groups sales (10 or more people) are on sale now.  Individual tickets for the summer shows go on sale May 23.