Skip to main content
My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Photo Flash: First Look at Todd Meredith, Sean Riley and More in CRT's BUDDY! THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY

By:

Cortland Repertory Theatre invites audiences to "Rave On!" with its debut production of the international musical sensation "BUDDY - The Buddy Holly Story". Performances of this hit rock and roll musical will run from June 19 - July 6 . Tickets may be purchase by calling 800-427-6160 or by visiting the CRT Box Office's new location at 24 Port Watson Street in downtown Cortland. Tickets are also available for sale 24 hours a day through the CRT website at www.cortlandrep.org. Some performances are already sold out, so CRT suggests calling early.

BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below!

Starring as Buddy Holly will be actor/musician Todd Meredith, who last appeared as a performing intern at CRT in 2006, in such shows as "Annie Get Your Gun" and "It Runs in the Family". Since then, he has made a successful career of playing Buddy Holly in 11 previous productions of this show. Meredith also co-directs the show with CRT Producing Artistic Director Kerby Thompson, and co-music directs with Ithaca College Music Director Joel Gelpe, who served as music director of CRT's production of "CATS" last season.

Most of the cast will make their CRT debuts with this production. Portraying The Crickets are Nathan Yates Douglass as Joe B. Mauldin on bass and Justin Rugg as Jerry Allison on percussion. On rhythm guitar is Sean Riley, who has appeared in CRT's productions of "Rumors" and "Johnny Guitar". PatRick White will portray HiPockets Duncan, the Radio DJ who "discovered" Buddy. Joel Stigliano, previously seen in "The Unexpected Guest" will play Norman Petty, the music producer who made a hit of "That'll Be The Day", and Ashley Pankow plays his pianist wife, Vi. Portraying Buddy's wife Maria Elena is CRT Performing Intern Erika Toderic. As music producer Murray Deutche and also playing trumpet is Robert Gonyo, with Christopher Wren as Bob Hale, the host of the Clear Lake Concert who also plays alto saxophone. The Big Bopper will be played by Mike Brennan, with Danny Caraballo as Ritchie Valens. Ayana Major Bey and Lanny Mitchell both make their CRT debuts as the performers at the Apollo. The remaining CRT performing interns - Daniel Burgos, Clara Childress, Xavier Reyes, Anastasia Teel and Nate Whipple - round out the cast, playing DJ's, fans, reporters and back-up singers. The Clear Lake Concert band is completed by Stephen Fasteau on tenor saxophone and Justin Oswald on trombone.

Stage Manager Laura Croch returns for a second year to CRT, and leads the design and production team. Jason Bolen returns as Scenic Designer, having created the sets for many CRT shows including "CATS", "Grease", and "Chicago". Costumes are created by long-time CRT Costume Designer Jimmy Johansmeyer. Continuing their work this season are Props Designer Lisa Guild, Lighting Designer Annmarie Dugan and Sound Designer Seth Asa Sengel. Nicholas Ryan continues his work at Technical Director and Kait Samuels serves as Assistant Stage Manager.

Photo Flash: First Look at Todd Meredith, Sean Riley and More in CRT's BUDDY! THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY Image
Sean Riley as Nikki Sullivan, Justin Rugg as Jerry Allison, Todd Meredith as Buddy Holly, Nathan Yates Douglass as Joe B. Mauldin, with Joel Stigliano as Norman Petty and Ashley Pankow as Vi Petty

Photo Flash: First Look at Todd Meredith, Sean Riley and More in CRT's BUDDY! THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY Image
Clara Childress, Ayana Major Bey, Michael Brennan as The Big Bopper, Anastasia Teel and Erika Toderic

Photo Flash: First Look at Todd Meredith, Sean Riley and More in CRT's BUDDY! THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY Image
Danny Caraballo as Ritchie Valens

Photo Flash: First Look at Todd Meredith, Sean Riley and More in CRT's BUDDY! THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY Image
Lanny Mitchel as Apollo Performer, Sean Riley as Nikki Sullivan, Justin Rugg as Jerry Allison, Todd Meredith as Buddy Holly, Ayana Major Bey as Apollo Performer and Nathan Yates Douglass as Joe B. Mauldin

Photo Flash: First Look at Todd Meredith, Sean Riley and More in CRT's BUDDY! THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY Image
Sean Riley as Nikki Sullivan, Justin Rugg as Jerry Allison, Todd Meredith as Buddy Holly, Nathan Yates Douglass as Joe B. Mauldin, with Ayana Major Bey and Lanny Mitchel as Apollo Performers

Love Theater in Central New York? Join The Community!

Whether you've got past experience writing about theater or just starting, the BroadwayWorld Community offers a unique opportunity to become a champion for your local arts community, helping raise awareness of local offerings and adding another local voice to the conversation at a time arts coverage is shrinking in the press across the continent. Join us and become a pivotal part of the movement that celebrates and promotes the arts in the digital age.

Learn More
Need more Central New York Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...


BroadwayWorld TV


Così in Central New York Così
The Glimmerglass Festival (7/17-8/14)
Così in Central New York Così
The Glimmerglass Festival (7/17-8/14)
Fellow Travelers in Central New York Fellow Travelers
The Glimmerglass Festival (7/18-8/16)
Madame Butterfly in Central New York Madame Butterfly
The Glimmerglass Festival (7/11-8/17)
Oklahoma! in Central New York Oklahoma!
The Glimmerglass Festival (7/10-8/17)
Dogfight in Central New York Dogfight
Theatre444 (8/21-8/29) VIDEOS
THE PROM in Central New York THE PROM
The Wood Theater (8/14-8/23)
On the Harmful Effects of Tobacco in Central New York On the Harmful Effects of Tobacco
Multi-Use Community Cultural Center (MuCCC) (9/18-9/26)
Late Nite Catechism in Central New York Late Nite Catechism
The Stanley (10/17-10/17)
SIX (Boleyn Tour) in Central New York SIX (Boleyn Tour)
Stanley Center for the Arts [Stanley Theatre] (6/01-6/02)