CRT to Stage Family Comedy MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET, 8/12-22

For the fifth production in their 44th annual summer season, Cortland Repertory Theatre will present the hysterical family comedy "Miracle on South Division Street", written by Tom Dudzick. Performances will run from August 12 - 22 with evening performances at 7:30. Matinees are available on August 14, 16, and 19 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 the tradition of past CRT hit productions "Making God Laugh" and "Over the River and Through the Woods" comes another family comedy...about the family! In this story, inspired by real events, Clara Nowak and her three grown children have always known they were special, ever since the miraculous night in 1942 when the Blessed Mother appeared to Grandpa in his Buffalo barbershop. Since then, the neighborhood has looked upon the Nowak's' 20-foot commemorative shrine as a beacon of hope and faith amidst the urban rubble. But when daughter Ruth unveils her plan to write a play about the miracle, a long-ago deathbed confession stirs long forgotten family secrets and the legend hilariously unravels. The results are touching, heartfelt and hysterical!

Directing the show is Nathanial Shaw, in his CRT debut. Shaw served as the Associate Choreographer for the Tony-Award winning musical "Once", supervising both the Broadway and First National Tour productions. He is also the founder and Artistic Director of The Active Theater in New York City which presents revivals and new works of plays.

Playing the Nowak family are two returning actresses and two actors in their CRT debuts. Melissa Macleod Herion plays Ruth, an actress and aspiring playwright. Herion has been seen numerous times at CRT in such productions as "Making God Laugh", "Rumors", "I'll Be Back Before Midnight" and "The Hollow". Leah Gabriel returns to play Beverly, Ruth's older sister. Gabriel has been seen on the CRT stage in "Boeing Boeing" and "The Unexpected Guest". Making their CRT debuts are Birdie Newman Katz as family matriarch Clara, and Jason Shipman as youngest brother Jimmy.

Laura Krouch continues her season as Stage Manager. Scenic design is handled by Nicholas Thornburgh, who also serves as CRT's Assistant Technical Director this summer. In his CRT debut, Mark Reynolds serves as Costume Designer, and Louis Kreienkamp steps up from his job as Master Electrician to also handle the Lighting Design. Continuing their summer work are Amanda Diez as Props Designer, Seth Asa Sengel as Sound Designer, Dana White Jr. as Technical Director and Rachel Kartiganer as Assistant Stage Manager.

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. Tickets are also on sale for the final CRT show of the summer, "SUDS: The Rockin' '60's Musical Soap Opera" which runs from August 26 - September 5.

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