'EBENEZER SCROOGE', SANTALAND DIARIES and More Slated for CRT Downtown This December

Cortland Repertory Theatre invites one and all to celebrate the holiday season at CRT Downtown, 24 Port Watson Street in historic downtown Cortland with a number of December events, aimed to provide fun and festivities for everyone, no matter how they feel about the holidays!

On the first weekend in December, CRT will host PHOTOS WITH SANTA when the theatre's Grand Hall performance space will be converted into a "Winter Wonderland" walk-thru holiday display. Santa will be available for holiday greeting card photos from 10:00-12:00 and 2:00-4:00 on Saturday, December 3 and 1:00-3:00 on Sunday, December 4. Children and families, couples or singles, all are invited to visit Santa! A $10.00 fee will be charged for each photo set-up, and the photos will be emailed early the following week. Additionally, there will be free-and-fun holiday activities for kids in "Mrs. Claus' Coloring Casa" and "Rudolph's Face-Painting Barn", and complimentary hot cocoa and chocolate milk will be available in "Frosty's Hot Chocolate Villa". The event is sponsored by Trinity Valley, who provides CRT with their famous chocolate milk during the summer performances.

On December 10 at 2:00 PM, The Traveling Lanterns Theatre Company will be in town with one performance only of THE STORY OF EBENEZER SCROOGE, a fun and interactive telling the famous story, especially for kids ages 5 - 105. The classic tale is re-imagined with just two actors and participation by the children in the audience. Ebenezer Scrooge is a nasty, mean and snarling old geezer, with no care for anything other than his money. His one and only friend visits him as a ghost and starts him on a journey that melts his icy heart. teaches him the joys of caring for and giving to others. General admission is $7.00 per person, and includes complimentary milk and cookies sponsored by Michael Sills Insurance Services. Seating will be "picnic style" on carpet, with the actors performing around the audience. This fun and funny retelling of the Dickens story is a wonderful way to deliver the true holiday spirit message.

For something completely different, CRT delivers a blizzard of laughs with THE SANTALAND DIARIES, a hilarious and biting one-man play written by humorist David Sedaris and adapted by Joe Mantello. A co-production with the Open Stage of Harrisburg, this one-act is based on the playwright's well-known memoir of his brief, misguided career as a Macy's elf. Meet Crumpet, a down-on-his-luck actor forced to work at Santaland at peak season. Surrounded by fake snow, foul-mouthed moms, not-so-jolly Santas, and crying kids forced to smile for photos, Crumpet shows us the snarkier side of the mistletoe. Not recommended for children, this show is meant for mature elves who like a little jeer with their cheer. Performances will be on December 16 & 17 at 7:30 and December 18 at 2:00. Adult tickets are $32.00, senior/students are $30.00. A beer/wine cash bar will be available before the show and seating will be cabaret style.

To end the year, CRT will host their second annual DANCING THRU THE DECADES New Year's Eve Community Dance on December 31st. Each hour will bring a new decade of classic dance tunes: 8:00 - 9:00 PM will feature the groovy1960's, 9:00 - 10:00 disco is king as 1970's take over, and 10:00 - 11:00 flashes back to the awesome 1980's. From 11:00 - 12:00, a mega-mix of the greatest dance hits of all time will ring in the New Year. Attendees will also have a front row seat to the Midnight Clock Tower Ball Drop and downtown fireworks. Admission is $10.00 in advance, $15.00 at the door, and a beer/wine cash bar will be available.

For more information on any of these shows or events, visit www.cortlandrep.org. Tickets are available for purchase online at the theatre's website, or by calling 800-427-6160 or by visiting CRT Downtown at 24 Port Watson Street in Cortland.

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