THE 39 STEPS Opens Cortland Rep's 46th Summer Season

Cortland Repertory Theatre kicks off their 46th annual summer season at the Little York Pavilion in Preble with the brilliantly hysterical spy comedy The 39 Steps. This award winning play was adapted by Patrick Barlow from the novel by John Buchan and the movie by Alfred Hitchcock. Performances will run from June 7th - 17th with evening show times at 7:30 PM. Matinees are available on June 9th, 11th and 14th 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.

It's Hitchcock meets hilarity! Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of brilliant physical comedy and you have this fast-paced, intriguing comedy. A man with a boring life meets a woman who says she's a spy. When she is murdered, a mysterious organization called "The 39 Steps" is hot on the man's trail in a nationwide manhunt. This theatrical treat is packed with nonstop laughs, over 150 zany characters played by a ridiculously talented cast of four, an on-stage plane crash and train chase, missing fingers, numerous hats and some good old-fashioned romance. It's an unforgettable evening of laughs and theatrical magic.

The 39 Steps is directed by Dustin Charles, whose previous CRT directing credits include Boeing Boeing and I'll Be Back Before Midnight, as well as assistant directing/dialect coaching 1776, A Murder is Announced, The Ladies Man and The Unexpected Guest. Longtime CRT attendees will remember Charles as an actor in CRT's Unnecessary Farce, The Hollow, Rumors, Brigadoon and many more.

The cast is comprised of four returning CRT actors. Playing the dashing Richard Hannay is James Taylor Odom, who was seen as Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock Holmes and the West End Horror and Col. McKean in 1776. Portraying all the women in Hannay's life is Leah Gabriel, seen in CRT's Miracle on South Division Street, Boeing Boeing, and The Unexpected Guest. Playing over 100 other characters are Jason Shipman, see in CRT's Cards on the Table, The Kitchen Witches and Miracle on South Division Street, and Nicholas Wilder, from CRT's Rumors and The Ladies Man.

Stage Manager Timothy James, in his CRT debut, leads a talented production team including Scenic Designer Joe Dotts, who returns to CRT after serving as Props Designer last year. Costume Designer Jimmy Johansmeyer returns for his fourteenth year at CRT and Sound Designer Seth Asa Sengel is in his sixth CRT year. CRT Production Manager Eric Behnke also serves as Lighting Designer for this production and Props Designer Terry Baker makes his CRT debut with this show. Dana White Jr. returns for his third year as CRT Technical Director.

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 select Friday evening performances. Tickets are also on sale for all of CRT's summer season, which includes La Cage Aux Folles, Footloose, Agatha Christie's mystery Appointment with Death, Nana's Naughty Knickers, Life Could Be a Dream and the children's show The Velveteen Rabbit. Visit www.cortlandrep.org for more information on all upcoming performances.

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