CORTLAND, NY (CortacaToday) — If you are familiar with Cortland, then you have definitely heard of the Cortland Repertory Theatre. Being the only live theatre in Cortland as well as one of the longest running theatres in New York state, CRT is a colorful institution full of history and character.

Their box office location at 24 Port Watson Street, which started as a bowling alley, is where they hold their rehearsals for summer shows and have a workshop for building props. The summer shows themselves take place at Little York Pavillion, which was originally built in 1906 and offers a picturesque setting on Little York Lake. In the wintertime, they host seasonal shows, live music, as well as stand-up comedy shows at the box office location.

CRT’s Producing Artistic Director Kerby Thompson shares that the theatre cultivates a very collaborative and reciprocal environment. When finding actors and crew members for summer shows, he says that they try and “find people that you would want to spend the summer with”. Having good people who curate a welcoming space to create is what CRT has been about since its inception, and this sentiment still stands today.

Cortland Repertory Theatre hires people from all around the country, many of whom are able to use their experience at CRT as stepping stones to bigger productions. Some of the standouts who got their start at CRT include Holly Hunter, Joe Mantello, and Stephen Bogardus to name a few.

Make no mistake, though CRT serves as a good first step for many people, it is a professional company that puts on high quality productions at a low price. Even after going through a pandemic and some serious shaky ground because of it, their highest stream of revenue still comes from live ticket sales, though grants, donations, and sponsorships are vital to the theatre as well.

Despite these impressive ticket sales, CRT would not be where it is today without the CRT Theatre Guild. This guild has been around since the theatre was formed and has only grown since then. All of its members are volunteers who put in lots of time and effort to garner community support and raise funds with things like concessions, “Broadway Brunches”, and other initiatives.

They are also looking to start a youth guild in order to get local youth more involved within their theatre communities. “The Pavillion Awards”, an award program for recognizing outstanding achievement in local high school theatre, is one way that CRT helps to build a social network for young people who take an interest in theatre.

If you are looking to get involved with CRT and want to be part of their mission, they are always looking for more volunteers. Their website has information about volunteering, as well as any other information you may need about CRT.

Their 2024 summer bill currently includes Last Romance, Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville, Wait Until Dark, and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. If you are looking for quality summer entertainment at a low price, get yourself a ticket!