THE KITCHEN WITCHES Coming Up at Cortland Rep

For the fifth production in their 45th anniversary summer season, Cortland Repertory Theatre will present the piping hot comedy "The Kitchen Witches", written by Caroline Smith.

Performances will run from August 17 - 27 with evening performances at 7:30. Matinees are available on August 19, 21, and 24 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 Kitchen Witches" asks the audience to imagine what would happen if Martha Stewart and Rachel Ray got into a knockdown, drag-out Battle of the Cooking Stars! Isobel Lomax and Dolly Biddle are two low-budget cable-access cooking show hostesses who have hated each other for years, ever since Larry Biddle dated one and married the other. When circumstances put them together on a TV show called "The Kitchen Witches", the insults are flung harder than the food! Dolly's son, who is also the TV show's producer, tries to keep them on track, but it's a losing battle - especially when the show becomes a ratings smash!

Directing the show is Mark Reynolds in his CRT directorial debuT. Reynolds is best known to area audiences as the director of select SUNY Cortland productions, including "Sunday in the Park with George" and "The Glass Menagerie". Also an accomplished designer, he has served as costume designer for CRT's productions of "Miracle on South Division Street" and "A Chorus Line".

Rebecca McGraw returns to CRT to play Isabel Lomax in this comedy. McGraw has been in many CRT productions, including "The Addams Family", "All Shook Up", "Les Miserables", "The Ladies Man" and others. Making her CRT debut is Diana Wilde as Dolly Biddle. Jason Shipman will play her son Stephen, and has appeared at CRT recently "Cards on the Table" and last summer's "Miracle on South Division Street". Rounding out the cast is CRT's Sound Designer Seth Asa Sengel playing Rob, the Camera Guy.

Emily Hankins continues her season as Stage Manager. Scenic design is handled by Carl Tallent, who work was previously seen in "Unnecessary Farce", "Fiddler on the Roof" and "See How They Run". Jimmy Johansmeyer serves as Costume Designer, and Eric Behnke handles Lighting Design. Continuing their summer work are Joe Dotts as Props Designer, Dana White Jr. as Technical Director and Julianne Graffeo as Assistant Stage Manager.

CRT continues "Friday Night Talk Backs" at which a Q & A session with the actors, designers and crew takes place after every Friday evening performance. Tickets are also on sale for the final CRT show of the summer, "The Marvelous Wonderettes" which runs from August 31 - September 10, and all of CRT's fall shows and events held at CRT Downtown. Call for more information.

Pictured: Diana Wilde as Dolly Biddle, Jason Shipman as Stephn Biddle, Rebecca McGraw as Isabel Lomax, with Seth Asa Sengel (in foreground) as Rob the Camera Guy. Photo by Eric Behnke.

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