Cortland Rep Announces 2015 Summer Season: ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID, MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET & More

Cortland Repertory Theatre, one of New York State's longest running professional summer theatres, is announcing their 44th annual season for the summer of 2015. "Each year, our Play Review committee and myself consider a wide range of musicals and plays in order to select the best and most exciting season." Producing Artistic Director Kerby Thompson says. "Variety is key, as well as choosing shows that are new to our audience." Other factors considered include the number of actors, musicians, designers and technicians needed, the expense of costumes, wigs and sets, and the expense of housing for staff members who come to Cortland from around the country. "Last season was a record-breaking year for us, and I think this year is just as fun and entertaining!" Thompson says.

Starting off the season from June 3 - 13 is ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID, a new comedy by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten. In this hysterical comedy, four high school friends made a vow to be in each other's weddings...no matter what. More than thirty years later, these friends-for-life are still making "the long walk" for each other, determined to honor that vow. Hop on this marriage-go-round for the laugh-out-loud journey of Libby Ruth, Charlie, Deedra and Monette as they commit to the notion that while careers, waistlines and marriages may disappear, real friendships last a lifetime. It's the perfect comedy for anyone who has been a bride or groom...and anyone who is determined to be neither.

Next up from June 17 - July 4 is 1776, the "revolutionary" musical with book by Peter Stone, and music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards. The birth of our nation blazes to vivid life in this Tony Award winning musical about the creation of the Declaration of Independence. With a quick witted book and a playful score, this one-of-a-kind musical puts a human face on our Founding Fathers: proud, uncertain, irritable, and ultimately noble figures who are determined to do the right thing for a fledgling nation. Follow John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson as they attempt to convince the Continental Congress to vote for independence. Funny, insightful, and stirring, it's an exciting way for the entire family to celebrate our country's birth. This musical was the second place winner in a fund raiser held by CRT, asking the audience to vote for their favorite musicals. (The first place winner - "West Side Story" - was unavailable to CRT this year).

From July 8 - 25, CRT presents THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a new musical based on the iconic TV show and New Yorker cartoons, with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. The whole creepy, kooky family appear live (in most cases) on stage in a sparklingly funny new musical. Gomez and Morticia Addams are just your everyday, normal parents who love their children as every parent does. But teenage daughter Wednesday is about to rock their world. She's fallen in love with a "normal" boy, and he and his parents are coming to dinner! The whole Addams clan, including Pugsley, Uncle Fester, Grandmama, Lurch, Thing and Cousin It are hurled headlong into a night that will change the family forever. Secrets are shared, truths are revealed, and everyone learns what it means to be an Addams. Get ready to spend the night with a family who will raise your spirits, steal your heart and leave you in stitches.

Following directly comes the regional premiere of another exciting case for the world's most popular sleuth in SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE WEST END HORROR. This comedic mystery, running from July 29 - August 8, was written by Anthony Dodge and Marcia Milgrom Dodge, and was adapted from the novel by Nicholas Meyer. A despicable theatre critic has been murdered, and there's no end to the list of suspects. Young aspiring Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw entices his good friends Holmes and Watson to take on the case. As they cross swords with the most famous literary luminaries of the day including Bram Stoker, Gilbert & Sullivan, Henry Irving, and a young H. G. Wells, Holmes comes face-to-face with his own celebrity. Thanks to the popularity of the recent TV shows and movies, this rollickingly funny and very theatrical whodunit is sure to be popular with all ages.

Next up from August 12 - 22 is a Buffalo-based, divine family comedy called MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET, which is based on a true story by Tom Dudzick. 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 barbershop. Since then, the neighborhood has looked upon the Nowaks' 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 hilariously unravels the legend and raises important family questions. The answers are touching, heartfelt and hysterical.

Closing the season from August 26 - September 5 is SUDS, a rocking 1960's musical by Melinda Gilb, Steve Gunderson, Will Roberson & Bryan Scott. This musical fantasy tells the delightful story of Cindy, a lovelorn girl working in a "Laundromat of Love", where she is pining for the pen-pal fiancée who dumped her. However, her life is about to be forever changed when her two guardian angels magically appear to teach her about boys, true love and how to survive this tough, "fluff-n-fold" kind of world. This feel-good musical is loaded with good clean fun, bubbling energy, and more than 40 musical favorites including These Boots Are Made for Walkin', Respect, Are You Lonesome Tonight? Walk On By, Don't Make Me Over and Where the Boys Are!

For the annual children's show, CRT is "reviving" their most popular youth production: THE JUNGLE BOOK, adapted by local playwright Kim L. Hubbard. Parents and children alike will adore this wonderfully imaginative and creative participation play. In this popular story, Mowgli is a jungle boy raised by wolves. He lives in the jungle with his good friends Baloo the bear, Bagheera the panther and Kaa the python. His mortal enemy, Shere Khan, a man-eating tiger wants to rule the jungle, and it's up to Mowgli to stop him. Children participate by portraying monkeys, elephants, wolves, reptiles, bees and even a tropical storm! The play also contains a message about the importance of ecology. Performance dates will be announced closer to the season.

Also on tap for next summer are CRT's annual day camps for young thespians: "Stars of Tomorrow" for students in Grades 5 - 12 and "Showstoppers and Superstars" for students in K- 5. Dates for these camps are to be announced. More information on all shows and camps as well as ticket prices and box office hours is available at www.cortlandrep.org. Subscriptions orders and sales for groups of 10 or more are being taken at this time, and gift certificates are available for tickets, subscriptions, flex passes or a monetary value. Individual tickets for all of CRT's summer shows will go on sale starting May 18, 2015. Call 800-427-6160 for more information.

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