Cortland Rep to Open 44th Season with ALWAYS A BRIDSMAID

Cortland Repertory Theatre kicks off their 44th season at the Little York Pavilion in Preble with the theatre's premiere production of the hysterical new comedy Always a Bridesmaid, written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten. Performances will run from June 3rd - 13th with evening performances at 7:30 PM. Matinees are available on June 5th, 7th and 10th 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. The GPS address for the Little York Pavilion is 6799 Little York Lake Road in Preble.

This hysterical comedy is created by the writers for such hit TV comedies "The Golden Girls" and "Designing Women". The story tells the tale of four high school friends have made a vow to be in each other's weddings, no matter what. Little did they know that they would all continue to make the "long walk" more than once! But now, well into their forties, these Southern friends-for-life are still determined to honor that vow. This laugh-out-loud journey of Libby Ruth, Charlie, Deedra and Monette shows their commitment 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.

Always a Bridesmaid is directed by Bert Bernardi, who has been with CRT for many seasons having most recently directed All Shook Up last summer. His other directorial productions include Grease, The Great American Trailer Park Musical and The Mystery of Irma Vep, among many others.

The cast is comprised of returning CRT actresses and new faces to the CRT stage. Debra Thais Evans, best known for her performances in All Shook Up and Chicago, plays Sedalia Ellicott, the bridal planner and owner of Laurelton Oaks, the events hall where weddings take place. Also returning is Wendy Bagger playing the tree-hugging free spirit Charlie Collins. Bagger was seen in last summer's Boeing Boeing and Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily. Hannah Zilber also returns to play Kari Ames-Bissette, a young spirited bride. Zilber was featured in last summer's All Shook Up and Les Miserables. Making their CRT debuts are Barbara Bayes as Kari's mother, Libby Ruth Ames, Lisa Wright-Mathews as the kind-of-flashy, kind-of-trashy Monette Gentry, and Fleece as the dry-witted Northern transplant.

Stage Manager Laura Krouch, in her fourth year with CRT, leads a talented production team including Scenic Designer and SUNY Oswego designer Ola Kraszpulska in her CRT debut. Costume Designer Jimmy Johansmeyer returns for his twelfth year at CRT, and Sound Designer Seth Asa Sengel is in his fourth CRT year. Lighting Designer Louis Kreienkamp moves up from his job of Master Electrician to handle the lighting design, and Props Designer Amanda Diaz makes her CRT debut. Assistant Stage Manager Rachel Kartiganer is also in her first year at CRT. Dana White Jr. returns for his first year as Technical Director after working as a carpenter in 2013.

CRT will continue the tradition of "Friday Night Talk Backs" at which a Q & A session with the actors, designers and crew takes place after Friday evening performances. Tickets are also on sale for all of CRT's summer season, which includes 1776, The Addams Family, Sherlock Holmes & the West End Horror, Miracle on South Division Street, Suds: The Rockin' 60's Musical Soap Opera, and the children's show The Jungle Book. Visit www.cortlandrep.org for more information about any of the upcoming shows.

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