New theater season promises months of entertainment

For students of thePerforming Arts Department, the new school year means classes, rehearsals and lots of hard work. For audiences, all that effort means seats to some of the best shows in Central New York.

SUNY Cortland'slineup of plays and musicalshas been announced for Fall 2024 and Spring 2025, and the lineup should be enough to keep any theater fan entertained - whether it's drama, comedy or show tunes.

Tickets will be available at SUNY Cortland's onlineTicket Office. Discounted prices are offered to students, faculty, staff and senior citizens. Here's what's in the wings:

"By Any Other Name"

Shakespeare's famous trio of witches from "Macbeth" throw nine of the Bard's other female characters into the forest in hopes of giving them a fairer shake. With a contemporary, pop/rock score, "By Any Other Name" follows favorites such as Juliet, Helena, Hermia, Viola and Ophelia as they explore life and love, while forging their own identities and understanding of gender roles.

• Thursday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 6 at 2 p.m.

Location: Dowd Fine Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre

"John Proctor is the Villain"

This thought-provoking play by Kimberly Belflower brings together a class of teenagers confronted with a small-town scandal. In class they study "The Crucible" and, in their world, the "Me Too" movement provides stark comparisons and relevance as they unravel the difference between a witch hunt and the truth.

• Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 10 at 2 p.m.

Location: Dowd Fine Arts Center, Lab Theatre

"Eleemosynary"

This play explores the complex and delicate relationship between three generations of women: a daughter's desire for independence, a mother's reluctant need for support as her health fails and the inspiring example our youngest generations can often provide.

• Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.
• Saturday, March 1 at 7 p.m.
• Sunday, March 2 at 2 p.m.

Location: Cortland Repertory Theatre (CRT), Downtown

"Anything Goes"

A masterful mashup of musical comedy, gangster movie, screwball antics and social satire; "Anything Goes" is one of the biggest and best from Broadway's Golden Era.

• Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m.
• Saturday, April 5 at 7 p.m.
• Sunday, April 6 at 2 p.m.
• Friday, April 11 at 7 p.m.
• Saturday, April 12 at 7 p.m.
• Sunday, April 13 at 2 p.m.

Location: Dowd Fine Arts Center, Mainstage Theatre

SUNY Cortland students perform in "Blithe Spirit," a comedy from the 2023-24 season. Top: A scene from last April's musical "Sweet Charity."

Ben Wells, publicity coordinator and production manager for the Performing Arts Department, described the shows as having a professional level of quality with ticket prices low enough to be a great choice for a night out.

Choosing shows for a new season can begin as much as eight months ahead of the start of the academic year, he noted.

"Decisions such as who will direct the shows, what theatre spaces will be used and/or what shows will engage the students and our audiences are part of the early conversations," Wells said. "A season needs to have variety, but also considerations of our ability to cast based on the demographic of our musical theatre majors and budgeting are in the mix."

Once there's a general idea, details like licensing still need to be finalized. It's a lot of work, but necessary for the success not just of the program, but of the students.

The goal of these shows as teaching tools is to elevate their ability to sing, dance and act - core skills of any stage performer.

"Certain productions can offer more of a deep dive into some of those skills such as a need to tap dance for this season's 'Anything Goes' or dramatically dealing with heavier topics such as those explored in 'John Proctor is the Villain,'" Wells said.

Certain scenes can be expected to push the cast past levels they had reached before. Wells, who himself has watched performances at the university since the mid-90s, said that he's seen generations of students go on to strong careers in the industry.

"Beyond those basic skills, certain shows may include stage fighting or combat, tumbling or gymnastic skills or even unicycle riding as exhibited in "Sweet Charity" last season. The variety in experiences ultimately results in our students being more well-rounded and marketable for their future careers."

Of course, anyone who's been a part of a show - from a 6th-grade version of "Peter Rabbit" play to a Broadway smash - knows the actors could never do it alone. All crew positions, including stage manager, set crew, light and sound operators and wardrobe are filled by musical theater majors. There are also opportunities for students to become an assistant director or music director.

Those opportunities will be hosted at three venues across the four shows. That level of variety is designed to give students an exceptional breadth of experience.

The large main stage at the Dowd Fine Arts Center lets it be an ideal host for large, showy productions, while the smaller Lab Theatre creates a more intimate experience. The ongoing partnership with Cortland Repertory Theater enables the student actors to get out into the community as part of a successful professional theater organization.

"Gaining a knowledge and appreciation for all aspects of theater, even for those whose main objective is to work on the stage, will ensure our graduates are more understanding, empathetic and appreciative of all aspects of the craft," Wells said.

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