Chenango River Theatre to Present ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT

Written by Michigan native (and film start) Jeff Daniels, this hilarious laugh fest is a hunting story to beat all hunting stories. If you're looking for a hysterically funny glimpse into a traditional male rite of passage, all roads lead to the Soady deer camp.

In what is surely the only comedy in history ever set in a deer camp, you meet the Soady clan. For nearly 75 years, the men of the family have trekked to their cabin north of Escanaba, Michigan, in the heart and soul of what's known as the UP (the Upper Peninsula).

They might drink a little and cause a little bit of trouble, but they're really there to bag bucks. It's the day before the opening of deer season and at 35, Reuben is in danger of becoming the oldest member in the history of the family never to bag one. Known around town as the "Buckless Yooper," (residents of the UP are known as "Yoopers"), Reuben goes to any and all lengths to erase himself from the luckless pages of the family record book.

The laughs only get bigger when long time family friend Jimmer (once abducted by aliens and still showing the effects of it) joins the party. And it's not long before Ranger Tom, from the Dept. of Natural Resources joins the fun.

Jeff Daniels, the author, is more famous as an actor, having won an Emmy in 2012 for The Newsroom. He starred in such films as Terms of Endearment, Dumb & Dumber (both of them), The Purple Rose of Cairo, Fly Away Home, Good Night and Good Luck and The Hours. For the Purple Rose Theatre Company, which he founded in 1991, he has written 15 comedies. The audience favorite has always been Escanaba - they've produced the show 3 different times in 20 years there. For one of the more famous scenes in the play, Jeff was quoted on the Letterman show as saying he was trying to out do Mel Brooks classic scene in Blazing Saddles.

Chenango River Theatre's production is directed and designed by Artistic Director Bill Lelbach and stars Paul Romero as Albert Soady. Paul last appeared at CRT in Other People's Money in 2008. Playing his two sons are Dan Mian (Remnar) and Joe Hartman (Reuben). Dan has appeared here in Miracle on South Division Street and Unnecessary Farce, while Joe is making his first appearance at CRT. Out of Florida, Scott Isert comes in to play the oddball Jimmer - Scott last worked with the director 25 years ago in an acclaimed production of Tracers, a play written by Vietnam vets based on their experience in that war. Chris Nickerson plays Ranger Tom Treado and Emily Goodell appears as Wolf Moon Dance.

Empire Toyota of Oneonta sponsors Chenango River Theatre's 2015 season, which is also made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Escanaba in da Moonlight is co-produced by The Raymond Corporation and Jim & Debbie Dyal.

Performances run August 14 - September 6, Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., plus Sunday matinees at 2 pm. Opening night features "Restaurant Night" - complimentary food supplied by an area restaurant (Bonnie's Restaurant in Greene). The fastest way to make reservations is by email: tickets@chenangorivertheatre.org.

Individual tickets are $22 Thursday, $23 Friday, $25 Saturday and $23 Sunday. All performances start on time - late seating is not available. The 24-Hour Reservation Line is 607-656-8499 (TIXX). Tickets may be charged to MasterCard, Visa, AMEX or Discover.

Chenango River Theatre's intimate, air-conditioned 99 seat theatre is just 15 minutes north of Binghamton at 991 State Highway 12, Greene, NY. CRT is the greater Binghamton area's only theatre company featuring professional actors in every production - the same actors you see on television, in film and at major theatres across the country.

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