Chenango River Theatre's 2018 Season Is A Season Of Premieres

The greater Binghamton area's only non-profit Equity theatre company's 12th season includes the North American premiere of a comedy that's been popular in Europe for years, as well as three regional premieres, including a new musical that sold out it's extended 2017 run in LA. Local audiences will be one of the first in country to see this new country western hit musical, set in a laundromat and featuring songs from many outstanding country artists.

RIPCORD (May 25 - June 17) By Pulitzer Winning Author David Lindsay-Abaire. Directed by Drew Kahl.

A Funny, Touching, Always Sharp Comedy. Co-Produced by NBT Bank, IBM, and Davidson Fox & Co./Jim & Beth Daniels.

A sunny room on an upper floor is preferred real estate in the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility. So when cantankerous Abby is forced to share her perfect room with perky new arrival Marilyn, Abby begins scheming ways to get rid of Marilyn (short of just strangling her with her own hands!). Abby, who claims to be afraid of nothing, gets the irrepressible Marilyn, who claims to never get angry, to accept a bet. If Abby can make Marilyn angry, Marilyn moves out. If Marilyn can frighten Abby, Marilyn gets the bed with the window view and stays. Both ladies quickly up the stakes in a hilarious battle to "win" the room, resulting in an escalating game of one-upmanship that reveals not just the tenacity of these worthy opponents, but also deeper truths that each would rather remain hidden.

THE LAST CIGAR (July 6 - 29) By Bengt Ahlfors, Translation by Alan Goodson. Directed by Bill Lelbach.

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE. Co-Produced by Debbie & Jim Dyal and Pete & Karen Raymond.

"Only tame birds feel longing. Wild birds fly." Thus muses Ragnar, a recently retired small-town school principal, as he looks back on the things he never did, and tries to sort out what's ahead in this charming, wonderfully humorous play, mixing comedy, farce, drama, and surprise. Ragnar's vices are fine cigars and the occasional glass of whiskey. Which brings him into conflict with his wife Anneli, who is trying to get him to lead a healthy life. But is life without passions any kind of life at all? Mix in the widowed town pastor Lars (Ragnar's faithful old friend), along with Lars's daughter, who shows up at the door in the midst of a possible divorce, and passions once again permeate the household.

HONKY TONK LAUNDRY (Aug 9 - Sept 9) Conceived & Written by Roger Bean (author of The Marvelous Wonderettes).

Regional Premiere. Co-Produced by The Raymond Corporation, and by Naima Kradjian & Nancy Phillips (in honor of Ara Kradjian).

Move over, Thelma and Louise! When Lana Mae Hopkins, owner and proprietress of the Wishy Washy Washateria, hires Katie Lane Murphy to help out in the Laundromat, they soon find themselves up to their elbows in soap, suds, and cheatin' hearts. Watch these two country angels join forces to turn their good ol' Laundromat into a boot-scootin' honky-tonk, exacting a touch of revenge against those that done 'em wrong, and all while guaranteeing each and every customer a good, clean time! Take a ride to Nashville heaven in this new musical from the author of THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES and LIFE COULD BE A DREAM. Features songs from Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Patsy Cline, Trisha Yearwood, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Dixie Chicks and more!

PAPERMAKER (September 28 - October 14) By Monica Wood. Directed by Bill Lelbach.

Regional Premiere. Co-Produced by Edward Jones Investments.

During a paper mill strike in a small Maine town, the lives of two families collide around a NYC-based CEO who owns the mill, and a local, long time union man who somehow finds himself building a wooden ark in his backyard. Criss-crossing the lines between workers and management, Papermaker is a revealing drama about family, loyalty, and the quiet tragedies and decline of mill-town life. It's about what happens when a strike divides a town and a family, pitting family against family, man against son, and creating tension between generations. An emotional tribute to small town factory life, and a surprisingly uplifting, tender play that will ring true.

Season tickets start as low as $78 to see all four of the shows. Season tickets are available starting March 20 online at www.chenangorivertheatre.org, using any credit card or PayPal. Individual tickets to specific shows will go on sale April 23. To request a season brochure, email info@chenangorivertheatre.org or call 656-8499 and leave your name, address and phone.

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 operates under annual contract with Actors' Equity Association, the national association for professional actors and stage managers in the United States - the same actors you see on television, in film and at major theatres across the country.

Chenango River Theatre's 2018 season is 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. Box Office - Chenango River Theatre tickets@chenangorivertheatre.org 607 656-8499 (TIXX) www.chenangorivertheatre.org

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