About Cortland Repertory Theatre
CRT Opens 37th Season with a Flashback in "8-Track, The Sounds of the '70's"
Pet Rocks. Rubik’s Cube. Gasoline was 36 cents a gallon. Remember? If so, then it’s time to re-discover the heart and soul of “The Forgotten Decade”! Cortland Repertory Theatre, celebrating its 37th anniversary season at the national historic Little York Pavilion in Dwyer Park, opens the summer on June 4th with the regional premiere of the new musical “8-Track, The Sounds of the ‘70’s”. The musical, created by Rick Seeber, features four multitalented actors performing over 50 memorable songs from that musical pocket in time including “Tie a Yellow Ribbon”, “Don’t Cry Out Loud”, “Y.M.C.A.”, “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” and many, many more!
In this new musical, the different styles of 70's music interweave with the themes of the decade, creating a flavorful, entertaining, and oft-times moving tale of a varied time in our nation’s musical history. These wonderful songs connect in interesting, sometimes surprising, ways separated into different themed “tracks” titled “Not Sold in Stores”, “War and Peace”, “Road Trip” and “Disco”. From the Vietnam War protests at the beginning of the decade to the disco craze that came later, “8 Track” is the perfect musical that allows “people of a certain age” to relive their youth through the songs and clothing that defined their lives. To the younger generation: if you’ve never understood your parents, this is a good first step!
Songs made famous by The Carpenters, Helen Reddy, Three Dog Night, Bread, Barry Manilow, The Bee Gees and KC & the Sunshine Band are all included. Even the beginning careers of music giants Billy Joel, Elton John and James Taylor are part of the evening. From “Peace Train” to “Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover” to “Stayin’ Alive”, the evening is a trip around the roller rink visiting highlights of this tunefully diverse decade.
“8 Track, The Sounds of the ‘70’s” is directed and choreographed by Daniel Hess, who has previously directed CRT’s “Almost Heaven: The Songs of John Denver”, “5 Guys Named Moe” and “I Left My Heart”. Chicago based Ethan Deppe provides music direction and the cast includes Katherine Proctor, who appeared last summer at CRT in “The Great American Trailer Park Musical”, along with newcomers Leigh Wakeford, Crystal Rona Peterson and Gabriel Mudd.
Other CRT alums include design staff members Costume Designer Wendi Zea, Scenic Designer Sarah Martin and Sound Designer Don Tindall. Lighting design will be created by SUNY Fredonia lighting professor Todd Proffitt, with properties created by Rob Peck. Performances run from June 4th - 14th. For more information or to buy tickets, call 800-427-6160 or visit the CRT website at www.cortlandrep.org. So pull on your platform shoes, floral shirt or fringed skirt and take a deja-vu trip to the disco floor. Admit it, you feel good in polyester!