CRT to Close Summer Season with RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH, 8/27-9/13

Cortland Repertory Theatre closes their 43rd annual summer season of quality live theatre with the foot-stoppin', hand-clappin' musical revue "Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash", which was created by Richard Maltby Jr., and conceived by William Meade. Performances will run for three weeks, from August 27 - September 13 with evening performances at 7:30. Matinees are available on August 29 and 31, and September 3, 7 and 10 at 2:00 PM. Tickets may be purchased by calling 800-427-6160 or at the CRT Box Office at 24 Port Watson Street in Cortland. Tickets are also available for sale 24 hours a day through the CRT website at www.cortlandrep.org.

In this new and unique musical revue, the iconic songbook of The Man in Black is performed by six multitalented actors/singers/musicians who play guitar, bass, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, auto-harp, harmonica and percussion. The evening is filled with songs about love and faith, struggle and success, rowdiness and redemption, and home and family as only Johnny Cash could sing them. More than two dozen classic hits - including I Walk The Line, A Boy Named Sue, Hey Porter, I've Been Everywhere, Folsom Prison Blues, and the title tune - paint a colorful musical portrait of this American icon. Funny, touching, energetic and heartfelt, this one-of-a-kind show promises to be a crowd pleasing tribute to this musical legend, and a strong ending to CRT's most successful summer season ever.

Brian Swasey makes his CRT debut as director, with Joel Gelpe serving as music director. Gelpe's previous CRT shows have been "Les Miserables" earlier this season, along with "CATS", "Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story" and "The 1940's Radio Hour" in previous seasons. Heading the cast is CRT favorite Todd Meredith, who played Buddy Holly in last season's "Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story". Also returning from "Buddy!" is Nathan Yates Douglass who played bassist Joe Mauldin in that production. The remainder of the cast makes their CRT debuts with "Ring of Fire": Diago Diaz, Reanna Flemons, Cat Greenfield, and Davey Rosenberg.

Elsbeth Turner is Stage Manager, with Laura Krouch serving as Assistant Stage Manager and Production Manager. Scenic design is handled by frequent CRT designer Jason Bolen, whose earlier work this summer was seen in "All Shook Up" and "Sherlock Holmes..." Jason Ressler serves as Costume Designer, whose work was seen in "Making God Laugh"; Annmarie Duggan returns as Lighting Designer after having worked on "Boeing Boeing" and "All Shook Up" earlier. Continuing their work are Lisa Guild as Props Designer, Seth Asa Sengel as Sound Designer, and Dan Wendel as Technical Director.

CRT continues "Friday Night Talk Backs" at which a Q & A session with the actors, designers and crew takes place after every Friday evening performance. Early Bird Subscriptions and Flex Passes for the 2015 Summer Season are currently available until October 3. Call 800-427-6160 for more information.