Cortland Repertory Theatre will take their audience on a magical, musical trip to Scotland in the next production of their 39th season, the classic romance "Brigadoon", with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe, the team best known for writing the musical "My Fair Lady". The original Broadway production of "Brigadoon" opened in 1949 and ran for a successful 581 performances, with choreographer Agnes De Mille winning the Tony for Best Choreography. An even more successful production opened in London later that year and ran for 685 performances. New York City Opera has twice revived the musical since then, and both Broadway and London have seen one revival each since the original. This will be CRT's first time presenting the musical.
Performances of CRT's "Brigadoon" will run from July 28 - August 14 with evening performances at 7:30. Matinees are available on July 30, August 4, 8, 11 and 13 at 2:00 PM. Tickets may be purchased by calling 800-427-6160 or in person at the CRT Box Office at 37 Franklin Street in Cortland. Tickets are also available for sale 24 hours a day through the CRT website at
www.cortlandrep.org. There is a small additional charge for online sales. The show is suitable for all ages with a wonderfully romantic storyline and a score rich with beautiful songs.
"Brigadoon" tells the story of a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every one hundred years, though to the villagers, the passing of each century seems no longer than one night. The enchantment is a blessing to the villagers because it saved them from foreboding destruction by witches in "the outside world". However, according to their covenant with God, no one from Brigadoon may ever leave the town or the enchantment will be broken, and the village and all its inhabitants will disappear into the mist forever. Two American hunters, lost in the Scottish Highlands, stumble upon the village and their arrival has surprising implications. New Yorker Tommy Albright, who is searching for a cure to his melancholia, meets the lovely Fiona McLaren who is also waiting for the love of her life. It is love at first sight. Tommy's jaded traveling companion Jeff Douglas meets the bawdy milkmaid Meg Brockie but to Jeff, the entire day is a dream because none of it makes logical sense. Also on this day, Fiona's younger sister Jean is wed to handsome Charley Dalrymple in a ceremony complete with a traditional sword dance. But young Harry Beaton, in love with Jean and broken-hearted over the wedding, threatens to leave the town and break the enchantment.
"This is such a beautiful show with some of the most gorgeous music ever written for musical theatre." says CRT Producing Artistic Director Kerby Thompson. "So many of the songs have become standards, including ‘Almost Like Being in Love' and ‘From This Day On'. We're so thrilled to bring it to Cortland for the first time, with a wonderful cast, crew and design team."
"Brigadoon" is directed by Jim Bumgardner, whose previous CRT credits include "Fiddler on the Roof", "South Pacific" and "Damn Yankees". Choreography is by SUNY Cortland dance instructor Cindy Halpin, whose work has been seen for many years in SUNY Cortland's musicals and at the Cortland Performing Arts Center in downtown Cortland. Music Direction is by Markus Hauck, in his first show at CRT.
Tommy will be played by a frequent CRT actor, Peter Carrier, who played Young Joe Hardy in last year's "Damn Yankees" and also appeared in "Almost Heaven: The Songs of
John Denver". Fiona will be played by Emily Beth Brockway, making her CRT debut.
Dustin Charles, in his first musical at CRT returns to play Jeff, after appearing earlier this summer in "See How They Run" as well as many shows in past seasons. Charles will also act as the dialect coach for the cast's Scottish accents. The milkmaid Meg is played by Caitlin Sams, who appeared in CRT's "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas". Claus Evans, best known for playing Tevye in CRT's "Fiddler on the Roof" will be Mr. Lundie, the school teacher of the town. CRT's performing interns round out the principal actors: Brendon North is the young bridegroom Charlie with
Crystal Gramkee as his bride; Sean Patrick Gibbons is Harry Beaton, the young man in love with Jean and
Kaitlyn Frotton is Maggie, a girl with unrequited love for Harry.
Aaron Fried is Sandy the candy maker, and
Annie Duckett is his wife, Kate. All six interns can currently be seen in "The Pajama Game" and will also be the cast of the children's show "The Jungle Book" later this summer.
Other visiting actors include dancers
Matthew Couvillon and
Ben Gleichauf who will lead the sword dance, and Alex Piper, Marc Cornes,
Annali Fuchs and dance captain
Marissa Dompe adding to the ensemble. Many local performers will be part of the show as well, headed up by Tim Mollen as Andrew MacLaren, Fiona and Jean's father and Ted Nappi as Archie Beaton, Harry's father. Other local talent includes Ingrid Fox, Rona Knobel, Roberta Kohut, Cara K-B McLaughlin and Elisabeth Kisselstein, who also serves as Assistant Director. Youth ensemble members are Josh, Nate and Zack Apker, Sophia Convertini, Seamus Gailor, Cassidy Halpin, and Bailey and Madison Kote.
Eric Behnke handles stage management duties, assisted by
Kate Wilson. Design staff includes many CRT returnees including Scenic Designer
Jason Lajka, whose work was seen in "Spider's Web" earlier this summer, Costume Designer
Jimmy Johansmeyer, Lighting Designer Shawn Boyle, Props Designer Sam Sheehan and Sound Designer Dave Huber, all fresh from "The Pajama Game". Patrick McGovern serves as Technical Director.
CRT continues the tradition of "Friday Night Talk Backs" at which a Q & A session with the actors, designers and crew take place after every Friday evening performance. Tickets are also on sale for the rest of CRT's summer season, including the upcoming Central New York premiere of the comedy "Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks", "The Andrews Brothers" and four performances of the children's show "The Jungle Book", on July 29, 31 and August 6 and 7 at 10:00 am. See CRT's website for more details at www.cortlandrep.org.
