Season Ticket Sales Exceed Goal as Chenango River Theatre Sets to Open

A new, non-profit, professional theatre company is coming to the Southern Tier and making its home in Greene. Two years ago it was little more than a concept aimed at bringing vitality to Greene. Now the concept, originally presented by Greene resident Jeffrey Brooks to the Greater Greene Chamber of Commerce, has become a reality.

Actors from around the country, as well as actors from the region, have been in rehearsal since mid-July for the company’s opening production of Larry Shue’s classic comedy, The Foreigner. The show opens on Thursday, August 9 for a three week run. Performances are at 7:30pm Thursdays - Saturdays, and 2:00pm on Sundays.

With a first year budget of almost $150,000, the company had hoped to reach 150 in season tickets sales. That goal has already been topped with over 200 season tickets sold and several weeks still left in the season tickets campaign.

Season tickets, for as little as $49 for all four shows in the season, are available by calling and requesting a brochure at 656-TIXX (8499). Tickets to individual shows are $16 - $24.

While many theatres have been started across upstate NY over the last 30-40 years, starting a theatre at the Equity level is extremely rare anywhere in the country. Chenango River Theatre is the only theatre in the greater Binghamton area to be designated an Equity theatre by Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the union for professional actors and stage managers. Being an Equity theatre means that every production the company produces will include members of Equity. This arrangement gives the theatre access to the highest talent pool of actors across the country - Broadway and off-Broadway theatres are under similar agreements with AEA.

The theatre is located in a building on the grounds of the Page Seed Company, just across the river from downtown Greene. The company has spent the last three months, with the help of local craftsmen and volunteers, renovating the interior to create an intimate, technically well-equipped 99-seat theatre.

Featured in the opening production, set in a backwoods rustic George fishing lodge, are: Daniel Hall Kuhn * (the foreigner, Charlie), Haley Zale (the very southern Catherine), Drew Kahl * (the preacher, David), Steven Patterson * (the redneck Owen), Russell Daniels (the slow-witted Ellard), Judy McMahon (the aging lodge owner, Betty), and Jim Wicker (the British detonations expert Froggy). Stage management is by Christine Swartwout*.

Directing the inaugural production is Sara Lampert Hoover, a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SSDC), who just completed a stint as choreographer for the Hangar’s production of Hair. She has worked throughout the Northeast and Midwest. Lighting design is being handled by E.D. Intemann, a professor in Cornell’s theatre department, while costume design is covered by Barbara Kahl of SUNY Oneonta, where she is a designer and adjunct faculty. The set is being designed and built by Chenango River Theatre’s Artistic and Managing Director, Bill Lelbach.

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association