About Cortland Repertory Theatre
CRT closes 2007 Season with the Regional Premiere of “The Great American Trailer Park Musical”
Cortland Repertory Theatre wraps up their 36th annual summer season with the regional premiere of “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” which runs from August 22 - Sept 1. The snow bound setting of CRT’s previous show “Almost, Maine” melts away as the cast and crew move the locale to the warmer climes of Florida for this new musical comedy. Producing Artistic Director Kerby Thompson notes that “We are really going to shake things up with ‘Trailer Park’! It’s a hilarious, slightly bawdy show which is nothing like anything we’ve done in recent memory.” The musical, with music and lyrics by David Nehls and book by Betsy Kelso, was originally presented in the 2004 New York Musical Theatre Festival in Manhattan before a successful Off-Broadway run at Dodger Stages. It follows the story of a married couple, Jeannie, who because of her agoraphobia hasn’t left her trailer in years and Norbert, her toll collector husband. Their marriage is tested when Pippi, a stripper on the run from her ex-boyfriend Duke comes to live in the trailer next door. The storytelling is aided by three other residents: Betty, the manager of the park; Linoleum, named as such because her mother gave birth to her on the kitchen floor; and the hysterically pregnant Pickles who can’t wait to have a baby.
The musical lovingly pokes fun at life in a “manufactured housing community”. Musical numbers include spoofs of daytime TV talk shows in “The Great American TV Show”, 80’s disco with “Storm’s A-Brewin’” and even love portrayed in TV commercials with “Flushed Down the Pipes”. Duke sings “Roadkill” while driving cross country and Pippi’s strip number announces “The Buck Stops Here”. But the musical makes no judgment of the characters. Director and Choreographer Bert Bernardi points out that the opening number makes clear that they live not on the good or bad side but simply “This Side of the Tracks”. The overall attitude of the show is summed up as the actors sing that they will “Make Like a Nail, and Press On”.
“The show, in short, is a riot!” Thompson says. “It blends pop, country and Broadway musical styles around a quick paced, funny story. And we have the perfect group of people, backstage and onstage, to make this show an incredibly strong ending to our season.” Bernardi’s previous CRT directing credits include “Annie Get Your Gun” and “Over the River and Through the Woods”. “The show is a perfect fit for Bert because he’s got terrific sense of humor for this kind of material, and also recognizes the heart to the story.” Thompson says. “Bert can keep the characters realistic but magnified, for lack of a better term. He can keep them grounded and real, and still keep the laughs coming.”
The cast of the seven is a mix of familiar and new faces to the CRT stage. Norbert is played by Equity Guest Artist Scott Wakefield, who has appeared on Broadway in “Ring Of Fire”, the Johnny Cash musical, and “It Ain’t Nothing But the Blues”. A versatile musical theatre and dramatic actor, Wakefield has appeared in such shows as “Big River” at Syracuse Stage, “Driving Miss Daisy”, “Dancing at Lughnasa” and the television version of “Nunsense Jamboree” with Vicki Lawrence. Returning for a fourth show at CRT is Amy Halldin as Pippi, who appeared as Marion Paroo in “The Music Man” in 2004, as well as in “State Fair” and “Bedroom Farce” in 2003. Also returning to play Pickles is Caitlin Maloney, who belted out the role of Annie Oakley last summer in “Annie Get Your Gun”. Making their CRT debut are NYU/Tisch graduate Katherine Proctor as Jeannie, stand-up comic Doreen Barnard as Betty, Boston Conservatory graduate Erica Livingston as Lin and University of Buffalo graduate Andy Moss as Duke.
Musical Director Ethan Deppe also returns having previously worked on CRT’s “Five Guys Named Moe”, “South Pacific” and “Idols of the King”. Deppe leads the small ensemble band of local musicians including Shannon Cockbill (electric bass), Dillon Kondor (lead guitar), and Matt Podd (percussion).
Broadway scenic designer Jo Winiarski is back for her fourth summer to tackle the challenge of designing mobile homes and other locals. Earlier this summer, Winiarski designed the set for CRT’s “How the Other Half Loves” as well as Hangar Theatre’s production of “Hair”. Costumes are designed by Jimmy Johnsmeyer, who has designed a total of 15 shows over four years at CRT. Lighting elements are handled by Chicago-based designer John Horan, sound by Ithaca College professor Don Tindall and properties by season designer Buist Bickley. Stage manager is Eric Benke who is in his second year at CRT.
“The Great American Trailer Park Musical” will be presented at the Edward Jones Playhouse, CRT’s home in Dwyer Memorial Park from August 22nd - September 1st. Season Benefactor McNeil and Company is joined for this production by show sponsor Graphics Plus Printing, show partner Ames Linen Service, and show friend Citadel Communications. Parking is free, and the theatre is handicapped accessible and air conditioned. Tickets may be purchased at the CRT Box Office at 37 Franklin Street in Cortland, by calling 800-427-6160 or online at www.cortlandrep.org. For more information about any of CRT’s shows or programming, please visit www.cortlandrep.org.