GREENE — Based on a little known, but true story about two men - one Negro slave and one white Union Army general - who changed the course of the Civil War, Richard Strand’s "Ben Butler" is an unexpectedly funny and smart story about race, protocol, and our sense of humanity. The show has garnered high critical acclaim during its off-Broadway run in 2016.

The NY Times called it, “Clever without being glib, meaningful without being pretentious. In short, it’s a hoot.”

This sharply comic play takes place in the middle of the Civil War, in 1861, at Virginia’s Union-held Fort Monroe under the command of General Benjamin Butler.

When three escaped slaves show up seeking sanctuary, General Butler is faced with an impossible moral dilemma: follow the letter of the law and return the escapees back to the Confederacy, or make a game-changing move that could alter the course of US history?

The bold and bright slave shepard Mallory demands an audience with General Butler, and what ensues is a battle of wits between two equally formidable men at the edge of a country ripped in half.

If you’re thinking that Ben Butler sounds like an educational historical drama, nothing could be further from the truth. It is often a laugh out loud funny re-imagining of a historic meeting between two very different, but remarkably similar individuals.

Running August 27 to September 19, tickets are $27 for all performances, except Thursday evenings, when tickets are $25. The recommended way to buy tickets is by visiting www.chenangorivertheatre.org. Tickets can also be purchased by calling the 24-hour box office line: 607-656-8499.

Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Sunday shows are at 2 p.m.

TheatreMania.com called the show, “Simultaneously thought-provoking and sidesplitting.”

Starring as General Benjamin Franklin Butler is Drew Kahl, who has performed or directed in every one of CRT’s seasons since the company’s founding in 2007.

Playing the runaway slave who appeared at Ft. Monroe is Joel Ashur, marking his first appearance with CRT.

Also in the four person cast are Mike Boland, previously seen in CRT’s world premiere of "Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help," which is CRT’s most popular comedy in its history.

Mike portrays the Confederate Army’s Major Cary, while Joey Sponseller performs as Lt. Kelly, Ben Butler’s adjutant.

Directing the production, and designing the set, is CRT’s long-time Artistic Director Bill Lelbach. Civil War period costumes are designed by Barbara Kahl, with Julie Duro lighting the show.

Ben Butler is co-produced by the Raymond Corporation, Edward Jones Investments (Greene) and Pete & Karen Raymond.

The theatre is operating under CDC and NY State recommended guidelines - masks are required to be worn inside the building at all times, unless actively eating or drinking. The theatre is being cleaned and sanitized after each performance.

All performances are for “Vaccinated Audiences Only” except Saturday, September 4.

Attendees will need to show proof of vaccination, either in advance or when they pick up their tickets. The Saturday, September 4 show will be for an “Open Audience” - on this one night, proof of vaccination will not be required, but masks will still need to be worn.

Due to COVID, the Free Student Ticket program has been suspended, as has the Pay What You Can program.

Chenango River Theatre’s intimate, air-conditioned, 99 seat theatre is just 15 minutes north of Binghamton at 991 State Highway 12, Greene, NY. CRT operates under annual contract with Actors’ Equity Association, the national association for professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

CRT’s 2021 season is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

- From the Chenango River Theatre