New Faces, Big Dreams, and Unforgettable Shows: A Dynamic Year Ahead for SUNY Cortland Theatre
Posted by Dustin Horton // September 13, 2025 // Arts & Live Music, News
The SUNY Cortland Performing Arts Department is ready to launch a year filled with discovery, artistry, and growth. This fall, we proudly welcome twenty first-year BFA Musical Theatre majors, along with several new faculty and staff members, as we continue our mission of providing rigorous professional training for future theatre artists.
Among the new arrivals are Rachel Fry, recently seen as Dolly in Hello, Dolly! and Ursula in The Little Mermaid at Cortland Repertory Theatre, and Natalie Ehrensbeck, a Berklee MFA graduate in Musical Theatre Vocal Pedagogy, both joining the vocal faculty. Tanya Mixon brings her expertise in draping and stitching from Tri-Cities Opera and Glimmerglass to the costume shop, while nationally recognized theatre educator Joey Steinhagen, founder of Ithaca’s Running to Places Theatre Company, joins as an instructor of Musical Theatre Performance.
The 2025–26 season promises to challenge, delight, and inspire with four bold and diverse productions:
- Sept. 25–28: The Taming by Lauren Gunderson, directed by Dr. Deena Conley, kicks off the season with a fast-paced political comedy full of satire, wit, and surprising sisterhood.
- Oct. 24–Nov. 1: The Rocky Horror Show, co-produced with Cortland Repertory Theatre and directed by Bryan Knowlton, offers eight performances, including a late-night Halloween event packed with music, games, and outrageous fun.
- Feb. 26–Mar. 1: Mr. Marmalade, directed by Tanner Efinger, delivers a darkly comic and surreal tale of childhood, loneliness, and growing up too soon.
- Apr. 10–19: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella closes the season with six sparkling performances and free admission for K-12 students.
Stay connected at cortland.edu/PerformingArts and follow @SUNYCortPerform on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for behind-the-scenes looks and exclusive content.
