New Play MR. HART AND MR. BROWN Closes Chenango River Theatre's 2014 Season, Beginning Tonight

Playwright Bruce Graham's Mr. Hart and Mr. Brown is the fictionalized story of an actual encounter between two historic men fleeing from their past in the early 1920's. A wildly entertaining play about the myth of the old West, good and evil, and freedom of the press, the story is set in Nebraska during the Prohibition era - a time where much of rural Nebraska still resembled the frontier depicted in the classic movies about the Old West.

Richard "Two-Gun" Hart is the only sheriff for 300 miles and a local hero, known for staunchly upholding the law and showing no mercy to bootleggers and outlaws. When Al Brown, a Duesenberg-driving antiques dealer from Baltimore, shows up at Hart's rustic cabin for a visit, young journalist Ambrose Healey smells a story. But is it worth his life to write it?

Who is this well-dressed and slightly ominous stranger? And what's his connection to Two-Gun Hart?

Loosely based on an actual meeting of "Hart" and "Brown" outside the tiny town of Homer, author Bruce Graham offered his newest play to Chenango River Theatre after seeing the company's 2013 production of his off-Broadway hit The Outgoing Tide, a play that is now being produced by numerous theatres around the country. This will be only the second ever production of Hart/Brown.

Graham's play pays homage to old western movies where good guys fought bad guys and where lawlessness was fought by men of strong character committed to up-holding social order. As Graham's play reveals, the truth is seldom all black and white - it usually comes in shades of gray. Which side wins is often determined solely by the price that must be paid.

Starring as Two Gun Hart is Drew Kahl, who just finished directing CRT's hit production of Heroes. Andrew Criss, a Philadelphia based actor, plays Mr. Brown and Zach Chastain, a local actor last seen in the Know Theatre's Mass Appeal, portrays the earnest young journalist Ambrose Healey. The fourth character, known only as the Local Historian, is brought to life by Michael Arcesi, who has previously appeared in CRT's productions of The Outgoing Tide, Of Mice and Men and Broadway Bound.

CRT's artistic director Bill Lelbach is directing while also designing the set. Resident costume designer Barbara Kahl (SUNY Oneonta) and lighting designer Julie Duro (NYC) complete the production team. The 2014 season is sponsored by Empire Toyota of Oneonta. Mr. Hart and Mr. Brown is co-produced by pressconnects.com and Bill & Leah Gorman.

CRT is the Binghamton area's only theatre company authorized by Actors' Equity Association (the union for professional actors) to use AEA members in every show. Visit www.chenangorivertheatre.org for a complete schedule and more information.

Performances run today, Oct. 3 - 19, Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., plus Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. at Chenango River Theatre, 991 State Highway 12, Greene NY (15- 20 minutes from Binghamton). Opening night features free appetizers and wine, both pre-show and at intermission. The fastest way to make reservations is by email: tickets@chenangorivertheatre.org.

Individual tickets are $20 Thursday, $22 Friday, $23 Saturday and $21 Sunday. All performances start on time - late seating is not available. The 24-Hour Reservation Line is 607-656-8499 (TIXX). Tickets may be charged to MasterCard, Visa, AMEX or Discover. Chenango River Theatre is at 991 State Highway 12, three miles south of Greene, NY.

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