Get Your Giggle on with Stand Up Comic Keith Barany at CRT Downtown

Who doesn't need a laugh in an upstate New York winter? It's the perfect time to get your giggle on when Cortland Repertory Theatre Downtown welcomes stand-up comedIan Keith BARANY on Saturday, March 18 at 7:30 PM. This NYC native has a "fresh, original, comic voice" and has been called "the wittiest comic working today" by the New York Post. His lighting fast ad-libs amaze audiences. A clean (PG-rated) comedian, Keith has also worked as a TV writer for Seinfeld, The Jimmy Kimmel Show, Politically Incorrect and the Emmy Awards, and has been the comedy headliner on nine overseas US military tours. A steady performer in Vegas, Keith has appeared at the Stardust, Excalibur and Caesar's to name a few, and has appeared in concert with Jerry Seinfeld, Joan Rivers, Ray Romano, Jon Stewart and Bob Hope. He's also the only stand-up comedian from a Nobel Prize winning family! Tickets are $20.00 and are on sale now at CRT Downtown, 24 Port Watson Street in Cortland, online at www.cortlandrep.org, or by calling 800-427-6160. Seating is cabaret style and a beer/wine cash bar will be available.

In the winter of 1971-72, Dr. James Palmer, associate director of theatre at SUNY Cortland, and David Yaman, a local real estate developer, recognized the need for a quality summer theatre experience for residents of Central New York. Through the generosity of 23 charter members, Cortland Repertory Theatre was born. The theatre opened on July 5, 1972 in the charming, turn-of-the-century Pavilion at Dwyer Memorial Park on Little York Lake and boasted a young, semi-professional company dedicated to bringing popular plays and musicals to theatre lovers in the area. For six years, the theatre played an eight-week season in rotating repertory, after which the format was changed to five plays running for two weeks each. Currently, CRT does 6 plays, with one being a three-week musical. In 1988 CRT introduced "Early Stages," a program designed to introduce children to the range of performing arts, which was disbanded in 1996. 2001 saw the creation of "CRT KIDS" which includes children's productions, workshops and "The Pavilion Awards," an awards program which recognizes outstanding achievement in local high school theatre.

During the Theatre's history the annual budget, which in 1972 was approximately $35,000, has grown to over $445,000 in 2006. Through the years CRT has received invaluable support from the New York State Council on the Arts, the Cortland County Legislature, the Central New York business community, and many generous individual donors. CRT has been awarded capital improvement grants totaling $225,000, sponsored by Senator James Seward, Assemblyman Clarence Rappleyea, Assemblyman Dan Fessenden, and Assemblyman Marty Luster, administered by the Natural Heritage Trust. CRT utilized these grants to add dressing rooms and air conditioning to the theatre, replace antiquated lighting and sound equipment, and purchase a headquarters in Cortland which houses the business office, costume and scene shop, and props storage. Recently, CRT has installed a sprinkler system and handicapped accessible elevator to the theatre. Over the years, CRT's Acting Company has included several rising stars. The most prominent of these is Holly Hunter, a CRT intern during the 1976 season. Since her debut in Cortland, Ms. Hunter has become a critically acclaimed movie star winning the Best Actress Academy Award in 1994 for "The Piano". Also, two time Tony-winning director (for "Assassins" and "Take Me Out") and Tony-nominated actor (for "Angels in America") Joe Mantello has acted on the CRT stage and Tony-nominated actor (for "Love! Valour! Compassion!") Stephen Borgardis has also appeared. In 1993, Tony nominated actor (for "Play On!" and "The Full Monty") Andre De Shields directed CRT's production of "Ain't MisBehavin'", after starring in the original production. CRT boasts a superb artistic and technical staff, built around a core of professionals augmented by talented local performers. Dedicated community volunteers also devote countless hours to the innumerable activities that go on behind the scenes.

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