Cortland Repertory Theatre Downtown to Present I AM MY OWN WIFE

Cortland Repertory Theatre Downtown is proud to present the Pulitzer and Tony Award winning play I Am My Own Wife by Doug Wright, as the new theatrical venue continues to show its versatility. "We've been thrilled with the variety of productions and events we've had in our new downtown space since opening last spring," says Producing Artistic Director Kerby Thompson. "We've hosted concerts, dances, cabarets, musicals, workshops for kids and a winter wonderland! Thought-provoking, dramatic plays are another style of theatre that we want to showcase. This kind of professional production is unlike anything else offered in the county." I Am My Own Wife is a one-actor, 35-character story and will be performed for 8 performances only: March 31, April 1 - 2, and 6 - 9 at 7:30 and Sunday, April 3 at 2:00. Tickets are $25 for adults and seniors, and $20 for students with a valid ID. Due to the subject matter, it is recommended for mature audiences only.

Based on true occurrences, I Am My Own Wife tells the fascinating story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, (1928-2002) a German transvestite who survived both WWII Nazism and the East German Communist regime that followed, by "hiding in plain sight" as a man living as a woman. Born in Berlin as a biological male named Lothar Berfelde but self-identified as female from an early age, Berfelde corrected what he considered to be a "mistake of nature" at the age of 15 when he publicly adopted female dress. Despite the dire risks involved, he changed his name and openly defied rigid gender norms by living as a woman under two of the most repressive totalitarian regimes in history. That is only the beginning of her fascinating life story. Not long after the fall of the Berlin Wall, playwright Doug Wright began a conversation with this elegant, eccentric 65-year old, who had turned her obsession with collecting antiques into a museum in her home. The play is a theatrical dramatization of those interviews in which Wright uses more than 30 characters - all portrayed by one actor - to piece together Charlotte's controversial life. The winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play, I Am My Own Wife is a profound story of survival.

Portraying all the characters in CRT's production is Jason Guy, an Actor's Equity Union member, in his CRT debut. Guy has performed nationally and internationally with such reputable companies as The National Shakespeare Company (Hamlet, Twelfth Night), Camp May Playhouse (God of Carnage), Northern Stage (Amadeus) and Arkansas Rep (The 39 Steps). He has also performed in two seasons at the American Shakespeare Center in Julius Caesar and Richard III and proving his versatility, toured Europe with the musicals Singin' in the Rain and 42nd Street, and in Korea with Annie.

Directing the production is long-time CRT affiliate Bill Kincaid, taking a brief break from his position as Professor of Theatre and Head of Acting at Western Illinois University. Kincaid's direction has been previously seen on the CRT summer stage in such productions as Chicago, The Drawer Boy, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks, and A Few Good Men, amongst others. He also directed and performed as Cosmo McMoon in CRT's production of Souvenir.

The play will be performed in-the-round with a scenic and prop design by Sam Sheehan, lighting design and stage management by Eric Behnke, costume design by Mark Reynolds and sound design by Seth Asa Sengel.

Tickets for I Am My Own Wife are currently on sale by calling 800-427-6160, or online at www.cortlandrep.org, or by visiting CRT Downtown, 24 Port Watson Street in Cortland. Box Office hours are Monday thru Friday from 9:00 - 4:00.

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