LES MISERABLES, BOEING BOEING & More Set for Cortland Rep's 2014 Summer Season

Cortland Repertory Theatre, one of New York State's longest running professional summer theatres, is announcing their 43rd annual season for the summer of 2014. Producing Artistic Director Kerby Thompson says that variety is the key element that he and the CRT Board of Directors Play Review Committee look for in putting an exciting season together. "The committee and I read a lot of different plays, and look for how best to piece an exciting season together." Other items such as the number of actors in the casts, expense of costumes and sets, and the estimated popularity of the shows also play a part. "Additionally, because we hire actors and technicians from around the country, we need to provide housing for them, so that also becomes a major factor in deciding if and when to do a show." Thompson says.

"We are extremely excited about this coming summer," Mark Re, Chairman of the Play Review Committee says. "We think it will be a blockbuster season! Even though we have some popular and recognizable titles, all six shows are making their CRT debuts. Also because two of the shows are regional premieres, we are showing how committed CRT is to bringing new and exciting productions to our audience." The CRT website at www.cortlandrep.org has complete information on ticket prices and hours of business. Subscriptions orders and sales for groups of 10 or more are being taken at this time, and order forms for gift certificates and subscriptions are also available online. For more information, call 800-427-6160.

Starting the season off from June 4 - 14 is the high-flying, Tony Award winning farce BOEING BOEING, by Marc Camoletti, translated by Beverly Cross and Francis Evans. In this door-slamming comedy, swinging American bachelor Bernard couldn't be happier: he has a flat in Paris and three gorgeous stewardesses all engaged to him...without knowing about each other! But Bernard's perfect life gets bumpy when his friend Robert from Wisconsin comes to visit and a new, faster Boeing jet throws off the careful scheduling of stewardesses. Soon all three ladies are in town simultaneously, Robert forgets which one is which, and the laughs fly on!

Next up from June 18 - July 5 is the hit musical ALL SHOOK UP, which is inspired by and features the songs of Elvis Presley. Joe DiPietro wrote the book, which is loosely based on Shakespeare's comedy "Much Ado About Nothing". In this rockin' musical, it is 1955 and into a square little town in a square little state comes Chad, a jean-wearing, motorcycle-riding, guitar-playing roustabout who sets the townspeople on their collective ear! Natalie, the town's mechanic falls in love with Chad, but he falls for the town's museum caretaker, Sandra. Meanwhile, awkward young Dennis is in love with Natalie and Natalie's dad Jim also falls for Sandra! With role-playing disguises and mistaken identities, love and hijinks combine to create a hysterical buT Loving story! On top of the fun are fantastic hit songs, and audiences will jump out of their blue suede shoes with the hits Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock, Don't Be Cruel, Love Me Tender, Can't Help Falling in Love With You and many more! It's a great show for all ages!

From July 9 - 26, CRT brings the international sensation to the stage with their premiere production of LES MISERABLES, with a book by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, music by Claude-Michel Schönberg and lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer. This epic musical is arguably the most popular musical in the world! In 19th century France, Jean Valjean is released from 19 years of unjust imprisonment, but finds nothing in store for him but mistrust and mistreatment. He breaks his parole in hopes of starting a new life, initiating a life-long struggle for redemption as he is relentlessly pursued by police inspector Javert, who refuses to believe Valjean can change his ways. Finally, during the Paris student uprising of 1832, Javert must confront his ideals after Valjean spares his life and saves that of the student revolutionary who has captured the heart of Valjean's adopted daughter.

Rich in soaring melodies that have become popular standards, the score includes the modern classics I Dreamed a Dream, Master of the House, and On My Own. Grand and uplifting, LES MISERABLES packs an emotional wallop that continues to thrill audiences everywhere!

Following directly comes the regional premiere of a new case for the world's most popular sleuth, in Katie Forgette's adventure mystery SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE CASE OF THE JERSEY LILY, running from July 30 - August 9. Fiction and fantasy blend when Oscar Wilde brings his dear friend, Lillie Langtry (otherwise known as "The Jersey Lily") to Baker Street for Sherlock's help. Highly intimate letters that Lillie exchanged with the Prince of Wales have been stolen and now she is being blackmailed. Intrigued, Holmes is on the case! Meanwhile Watson falls head-over-heels for the striking young lady while wicked Professor Moriarty attempts to bring the Crown to its knees. This show is a funny and intriguing puzzle for mystery lovers and adventure seekers alike!

Next up from August 13 - 23 is another regional premiere with the "comedy of planners" called MAKING GOD LAUGH by Sean Grennan. Family holiday celebrations have never been this funny - or this true to life! Join Ruthie and Bill, a couple of "empty nest" parents, as they host their three adult children - a former football star, an aspiring actress and a devout priest - over the course of 30 years of family holiday celebrations. As they gather for Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's and Easter, their lives experience unexpected twists and turns and their plans careen more off-center. This clever play is a heartwarming spin on Woody Allen's joke, "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans!"

Closing the season from August 27 - September 13 will be a three week run of what promises to be the most popular show of the season: RING OF FIRE - THE MUSIC OF Johnny Cash, created by Richard Maltby, Jr. and conceived by William Meade. This musical revue is comprised of some of the biggest hits in the iconic songbook of The Man in Black. Audiences are invited to pull on their boots, tighten their big belt buckles and enjoy these unique songs about love and faith, struggle and success, rowdiness and redemption, and home and family as only Johnny Cash could sing them. More than two dozen classic hits-including I Walk The Line, A Boy Named Sue, Daddy Sang Bass, I've Been Everywhere, Folsom Prison Blues, and the title tune -performed by a multi-talented cast, paint a musical portrait of The Man in Black that promises to be a foot-stompin', crowd-pleasin' salute to this uniquely American legend!

Also on tap for next summer is CRT's annual children's show, which will be announced at a later date, as well as their two day camps for young thespians: "Stars of Tomorrow" for students in Grades 5 - 12 and "Showstoppers and Superstars" for students in K- 5. More information on all shows and camps will be posted on CRT's website. Gift Certificates are available for single tickets, subscriptions, flex passes or a monetary value, and are available now. Individual tickets for all of CRT's summer shows will go on sale starting May 19, 2014. Call 800-427-6160 for more information or visit www.cortlandrep.org.