08/25/2025
The 2025-26 season of the SUNY Cortland Performing Arts Department promises a favorite fairy tale and a midnight cult classic along with political satire and a twisted dark comedy when students return to the stage this fall.
The first show, “The Taming,” will open Thursday, Sept. 25, with “The Rocky Horror Show,” “Mr. Marmalade,” and “Rodger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” to follow. Tickets for all shows can be purchased at SUNY Cortland’s Box Office website.
The current performing arts troupe will be helped by an incoming class of 20 first-year musical theatre majors, along with new staff and faculty.
“Joining the department are several talented new faces,” said Benjamin Wells, production manager and publicity coordinator. “Rachel Fry, recently seen as Dolly in ‘Hello, Dolly!’ and Ursula in ‘The Little Mermaid’ at Cortland Repertory Theatre, and Natalie Ehrensbeck, a Berklee College of Music M.F.A. graduate in musical theatre vocal pedagogy, will expand our dynamic vocal faculty.
“Tonya Mixon brings her expertise in draping and stitching from companies such as Tri-Cities Opera and Glimmerglass to the costume shop, and nationally recognized theater educator Joey Steinhagen, founder of Ithaca’s Running to Places Theatre Company, joins as a new instructor of musical theatre performance.”
Stay connected with the SUNY Cortland Performing Arts Department by visiting cortland.edu/PerformingArts.
THE TAMING
Thursday, Sept. 25 to Sunday, Sept. 28
By Lauren Gunderson
Directed by Deena Conley, associate professor of performing arts
The debut show of the 2025-26 season will take place in the Dowd Fine Arts Lab Theatre and mixes comedy and politics as a conservative senator’s aide, a liberal activist, and a beauty queen are locked in a hotel room with one mission: to rewrite the United States Constitution.
THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW
Friday, Oct. 24 to Saturday, Nov. 1
A co-production with Cortland Repertory Theatre
Created by Richard O’Brien
Directed by Bryan Knowlton
Music direction by Ben Kapilow, assistant professor of performing arts
The cult classic rock musical heads to the downtown Cortland Repertory Theatre stage with outrageous fun that’s sure to leave audience members in antici — pation. This is the ultimate live experience for thrill-seekers and partygoers alike and is intended for mature audiences only. A special Halloween night performance will add games, dancing and a costume runway.
MARMALADE
Thursday, Feb. 26 to Sunday, March 1
By Noah Haidle
Directed by Tanner Efinger
A darkly comic play at the Dowd Fine Arts Lab Theatre that explores the grown-up world through the eyes of a four-year-old girl. Blending satire with surrealism, this bold and twisted tale offers a look at childhood, loneliness and the things youngsters learn too soon.
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA
Thursday, April 10 to Sunday, April 19
Directed by Kevin Halpin, professor of performing arts
Music direction by Ben Kapilow, assistant professor of performing arts
This fairy tale musical brings a famed score, unforgettable characters and the always timeless tale of true love to SUNY Cortland’s Dowd Fine Arts Center Theatre. Audience members can help make the impossible feel possible while watching a timeless classic come to life. Tickets for K-12 students are free.