 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
HIGHLIGHTS FROM EAST LYNNE'S PAST SEASONS
"Unlike the usual summer-theater mix, ELTC specializes in shows that "deal with the uniquely American
experience," including revivals of forgotten American plays from the first half of the 20th century. This year, the
company has exhumed "To the Ladies!," a 1922 comedy by George S. Kaufman and Marc Connelly. All Kaufman-
Connelly revivals are rare, but "To the Ladies!" hasn't been staged anywhere since 1926, which makes this
production significant by definition. To be sure, I expected that "To the Ladies!" would be a historical curiosity, but
it turns out to be thoroughly likable, well directed and with an excellent cast." - Terry Teachout, The Wall Street Journal
Complete review: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122177899717354443.html
“Attending live theater is always a treat, but the East Lynne Theater Company makes the experience quite
extraordinary, with gifted professionals, classic literature, and authentic settings.” - Cape May County Herald
CAPE MAY SEASON 2009
Alice on the Edge, four deliciously witty one-acts by cutting-edge playwright Alice Gerstenberg: "Fourteen," "Illuminati in Drama Libre," "Overtones," and
"He Said and She Said." Directed by Karen Case Cook with Suzanne Dawson, Mark Edward Lang, Shelley McPherson, Alison J. Murphy, and Gayle
Stahlhuth.
“Alice on the Edge is a show that all should see and enjoy, and you'll have a really good time. Be prepared to laugh uproariously and often. Oh how I
love to be able to give a show a smash review. ELTC’s season is off to a wickedly funny start!” - Ed Wismer, “Cape May Star and Wave”
The Ransom of Red Chief (World Premiere) An adaptation by Gayle Stahlhuth of the popular O. Henry comedy, riddled with other O. Henry stories and
passages, along with Appalachian tunes played by a fiddle-playing member of the cast! Directed by Gayle Stahlhuth with Tom Byrn, Karen Case Cook,
Aidan Koehler, Bobby LeMaire, and Rob LeMaire.
"A new, charming adaptation...thoroughly entertaining, well-polished...ranks right there at the top in a season of outstanding theater taking place in Cape
May this summer...A remarkable performance by 11-year old Bobby LeMaire...Robert LeMaire, the boy's father in real life, portrays his father in 'Red
Chief'...Tom Byrn is hilarious as he tries to fend off the boy's shenanigans...Karen Case Cook contributes substantially, mostly as the "straight" woman
for her fellow kidnapper and the boy...Aidan Koehler provides a nice touch by playing fiddler tunes...This play is for the young and old."
- Jacob Schaad, "The Cape May Star and Wave" For the full review: http://www.shorenewstoday.com/news.php?id=3601
Helpful Hints Last year’s comedy hit is back! Susan Tischler, who also performs, adapted Mae Savell Croy's Putnam's Household Handbook.
“A comedy stand-up routine, circa 1916!”- Jacob Schaad, "Cape May Gazette"
People of Cape May v. Johann van Buren Written by well-known Dutch television personality, Judge Frank Visser, who also performs with members
of ELTC, this is a comic look at Cape May in the 1600s. This event was chosen to help celebrate the founding of Cape May 400 years ago.
The Butter and Egg Man, by Pulitzer Prize-winner George S. Kaufman. Before Mel Brooks’
The Producers, there was Kaufman’s 1925 comedy about two producers who need funding for their Broadway show. What they’re looking for is a
wealthy person who can be parted from his cash: a “Butter and Egg Man.” Anne Kaufman, the daughter's playwright, came to Cape May for a special
Q&A. Directed by Gayle Stahlhuth with Suzanne Dawson, Justin Flagg, Mark Edward Lang, Tiffany-Leigh Moskow, Alison J. Murphy, Morgan Nichols,
Stephanie Ouzts, Gayle Stahlhuth, Tommy Raniszewski, and John Cameron Weber.
"What a wonderful reception it received from this season's largest audience of 150 theatergoers, who gave it a deserved standing ovation...The cast excels
in ensemble playing in this hilarious comedy." - - Jacob Schaad, "Cape May Gazette"
This event was selected by the NJ State Council on the Arts as part of the American Masterpieces Series in NJ. American Masterpieces is a program of the
National Endowment for the Arts.
President Lincoln and the Sawyers of Cape May The viewing of a documentary about students rehearsing and performing Henry Sawyer and the
Civil War under the direction of Gayle Stahlhuth who also wrote the play; a staged reading of the play with professional performers; an explanation of
how this documentary came to be made by Tom Sims, Executive Director of the Cape May Film Festival, and his plan to produce a 30-minute
documentary based on this play, using professional actors; and a presentation by James Stephens, Lead Interpreter at Historic Cold Spring Village and a
Civil War-era historian, about Cape May hero Captain Henry Sawyer and President Lincoln. ADMISSION FREE
This program is made possible by a grant from the NJ Council for the Humanities (NJCH), a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Any view, findings,
conclusions, or recommendations in this program, do not necessarily represent those of the NEH or the NJCH.
Sherlock Holmes' Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle, adapted from the work by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by Craig Wichman. Step back in time, as
ELTC presents this tale in the style of a vintage radio broadcast, complete with live sound effects and commercials, just like Sherlock Holmes’ radio series
on NBC that premiered on Oct. 20, 1930. Holmes and Watson try to discover how a precious blue stone came to be in a goose on Christmas Eve.
"This is live theater done right!" - Sherry Hoffman, "New Jersey Lifestyle" Magazine
Christmas in Black and White (World Premiere) Adapted and Performed by Gayle Stahlhuth and Stephanie Garrett based on works about the African-
American and immigrant holiday experience from the following: Zora Neale Hurston, Edward Everett Hale, T. Thomas Fortune, and Chester Himes. Told
in storytelling fashion, these tales involve an unusual African-American Christmas celebration, a wedding, a young boy who learns the meaning of
Christmas Missionary Money, an unusual solution to house the homeless in 1895 Boston, and how a young woman finally found her brother after a long
voyage from Europe. "East Lynne's holiday shows are always a treat!" - Ed Wismer, "Cape May Star and Wave"
CAPE MAY SEASON 2008
You and I, a 1923 comedy by Philip Barry. After the children are grown, do parents get to do what they want to do? Maitland gave up painting to
become a successful businessman, so his wife, Nancy, and his children would be financially secure. When his son declares he’s going into business
instead of pursuing his passion for architecture, Nancy suggests that Maitland leave the business world, and paint. They can live off the money they
would have spent on furthering their son's education. Or can then? Cast: Mark Edward Lang, Kevin Mahoney, Alison J. Murphy, Robert LeMaire, Merritt
Reid, Karen Case Cook, and Erin Callahan. Directed by Gayle Stahlhuth.
"Delightfully timeless...This is a play the entire family can enjoy; it reminds us that families and friends who love one another dearly are willing to take
turns making sacrifices in order to bring out the best in each other, and that laughter is what binds us together and helps us through difficult times."
-Susan Krysiak Avadissian for The Cape May County Herald
"A theatrical treat. Everything in this light comedy, the acting, the direction, the costuming are top drawer. The entire cast makes for good ensemble
playing." - Jacob Schaad, Cape May Gazette
All the Things You Are: The Music of Jerome Kern, a World Premiere with NYC cabaret performers Michael and Anne McFrederick. Jerome Kern
(1885-1945) was a master of melodywho published more than 650 songs for 117 musical shows, plays,and films. Lyricists with whom he worked
include Otto Harbach(“She Didn’t Say Yes”), Dorothy Fields (“A Fine Romance”), and Oscar Hammerstein II (“All the Things You Are.”)
Magic by Robert Aberdeen. Robert has appeared in several Broadway shows, including Fiddler on the Roof, on film and in television, all the while
working on, perfecting, and performing his illusions. He has appeared in several ELTC productions in Cape May, and has enchanted East Lynne’s
audiences at fundraisers and on tour.
“Aberdeen shines . . he has stage charisma that establishes a rapport with the audience." - Cape May Gazette
The Guardsman, by Franz Molnar, this 1924 comedy, originally titled Playing with Fire, established Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne as Broadway stars.
The location is Vienna, during the Belle Époque, the “beautiful years” before World War I, when love, not war, was in the air. Two actors have been
married for six months, and everyone knows that the actress habitually changes men every twenty-six weeks. Thus, the actor is nervous, and goes to
great lengths to discover whether or not she is faithful. This well-beloved tale was the basis for the 1940 Louis B. Mayer film, The Chocolate Soldier.
With Mark Edward Lang, Alison J. Murphy, Edward Furs, Thomas Raniszewski, and Gayle Stahlhuth. Directed by Karen Case Cook.
"A pleasant souffle of an evening in the theater!" - Cape May Gazette
Helpful Hints (World Premiere) written and performed by Susan Tischler, based on Mae Savell Croy's Putnam's Household Handbook published in
1916. Join Mrs. Croy as she explains everything from cleaning the stove and your clothes with kerosene, to leaving babies outside when they cry because
children should not be spoiled and screaming (outside) is good for the lungs. She also discusses the sick room, architecture, invitations, and the comfort
of the gymnasium suit! It's an evening that is both witty and wise. Robert LeMaire is also in the cast, under the direction of Karen Case Cook.
To the Ladies!, written by Pulitzer Prize winners George S. Kaufman and Marc Connelly, was the second of eight plays on which they collaborated. This
charming comedy is about Leonard Beebe of Nutley, NJ, who wants to get ahead in the world. With the help of his young bride, Elsie, he might just do it.
In 1922, To the Ladies! was on Broadway starring Helen Hayes, but after 1926, no other productions can be found. The cast of eight includes Suzanne
Dawson, Ken Glickfeld, Terry Harris, Rob LeMaire, Tiffany-Leigh Moskow, John Morton, and Morgan Nichols, under the direction of Gayle Stahlhuth.
This event was selected by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts as part of the American Masterpieces Series in NJ. American Masterpieces is a
program of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Sherlock Holmes' Adventure of the Speckled Band, based on one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's favorite stories, and his rarely produced play The
Stonor Case, adapted by Craig Wichman, the Founder and Producer of the nationally acclaimed Quicksilver Radio Theater, by permission of Dame Jean
Conan Doyle. Step back in time, as ELTC presents this tale in the style of a vintage radio broadcast, complete with live sound effects and commercials,
just like Sherlock Holmes’s radio series on NBC that premiered on Oct. 20, 1930. The Great Detective and The Good Doctor are pitted against a psychotic
villain in a race against time to stop the bizarre murders in an eerie country manor. Winner: National Federation of Community Broadcasters’ “Gold
Reel” for Radio Drama
O. Henry's Christmas Stories (World Premiere) ELTC’s Artistic Director Gayle Stahlhuth, portrays twenty-plus roles as she spins O. Henry's tales.
"Her performance is one of the highlights of the 2008 theater season in Cape May." -Cape May Gazette
CAPE MAY SEASON 2007
Why Marry?This remounted 2006 production broke all ELTC box office records! Written by Jesse Lynch Williams, it was the first play ever to win a
Pulitzer Prize. This delightful comedy explores marriage vs. living together, through the lives of three sisters. Why Marry? opened on Broadway in 1917, at
a time when more women were attending universities, entering the workforce, and struggling to obtain the vote. Cast: Ken Glickfeld, John J. Isgro,
Megan McDermott, Shelley McPherson, Thomas Raniszewski, Tom Tansey, Caitlin Wallace, and Mark Edward Lang and Alison J. Murphy.
“Winner of the 2006 Jacoby Award for Most Outstanding Production and Director, featuring an excellent ensemble cast:
A theatrical treat that audiences loved.”- Jacob Schaad, Critic for The Cape May Gazette
“Gayle Stahlhuth has deftly directed her well chosen cast through this comedy that is filled with lines about love and marriage that still ring true today.”
– Cape May County Herald
Over the Rainbow: The Music of Harold Arlen (World Premiere) written, directed, and performed by NYC cabaret performer Lennie McKenzie, with
Michael McFrederick, Julie Willis, and Doug Spagnola. Among Arlen's 400 compositions, is all of the music from The Wizard of Oz, including
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
"RAINBOW is not staying long enough! - Jacob Schaad, Critic for The Cape May Gazette
Lizzie Borden Live (World Premiere, commissioned by ELTC, available for touring.) Written and performed by Jill Dalton, directed by Jack McCullough,
with original music by three-time Tony nominated Larry Hochman. Jill Dalton brings the legend to life in this provocative play that has audiences rethinking
the sensational murders of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Borden on Aug. 4, 1892. The only one tried for the murders as Andrew's daughter, Lizzie, who
maintained her innocence and as acquitted. To this day, the case is considered unsolved, although many do believe that "Lizzie Borden took an ax and gave
her mother 40 whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41." Did she do it or not? You decide.
"I heartily recommend LIZZIE BORDEN LIVE. It's unlikely you will arrive at any conclusions, but you'll have spent a short spell
with a complex and most interesting Lizzie, in the person of Jill Dalton...Dalton is nothing less than superb in her depiction,
alternating between sweet, innocent, witty, and savagely murderous." - Ed Wismer, Critic for The Cape May Star and Wave
You and I, a 1923 comedy by Barry, who later wrote The Philadelphia Story. After the children are grown, do parents get to do what they want to
do? "Delightfully timeless." - Susan Krysiak Avadissian, Cape May County Herald
Sherlock Holmes' Adventure of the Speckled Band, as a 1930's radio broadcast
Lou: The Remarkable Miss Alcott, written and performed by Gayle Stahlhuth
Louisa May Alcott's Christmas, with Gayle Stahlhuth, as Louisa, relating the stories of the March family Christmas from Little Women, and the stories
"How It All Happened" and "Tessa's Surprises." Gayle has performed her one-woman play on Louisa May Alcott for over 20 years, but this is the first
time she has acted out any of this famous American authors short stories.
"Stahlhuth is an absolute delight, bringing Christmas cheer to the audience as she switches from one characterization to the other - 25 in all!"
- Jacob Schaad, critic for The Cape May Gazette
“Stahlhuth is renowned for her ability to bring characters to vivid life.”– Ed Wismer, critic for The Cape May Star and Wave
CAPE MAY SEASON 2006
Two-Headed (NJ Premiere), written by Julie Jensen, begins in Utah on Sept. 11, 1857, when over 100 California-bound immigrants were killed in what
would become known as the Mountain Meadows Massacre. With high jinks and humor, in horror and outrage, Hettie and Lavinia's friendship survives the
secrets of the massacre and the strain of plural marriage. Winner of 3 “L.A. Weekly” awards. Co-production with The Women's Theater Company.
"MOST OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTING PERFORMANCE: 2006 JACOBY AWARD - Early in the season New York actress Karen Case Cook set the
stage for a big year of theatre in Cape May with her performance in the East Lynne Theater Company's production of TWO-HEADED. Cook brought
paths and some humor to the demanding showcase role." - Jacob Schaad, Critic for The Cape May Gazette
"MOST ACTING RANGE AWARD 2006: Karen Case Cook and Gayle Stahlhuth for playing frontier women who go from childhood to AARP status."
- Bill Westhoven, Critic for The Daily Record (Morris County, NJ)
"Jensen's thought provoking play is receiving a spirited production. Stahlhuth as Hettie and Cook as Lavinia, are exemplary." - Newark Star-Ledger
"Stahlhuth and Cook are flawless!"- Cape May Gazette (NJ)
The Leach Diaries 1875 (World Premiere) is a continuation of a young man’s musings on Life, Love, Politics, Cape May vs. Philadelphia, and the social
necessity of Learning to Dance, adapted from the diaries of Victorian Frank Leach. For four years, East Lynne has performed various sections from these
diaries, and published a book in 2005 titled The Leach Diaries: The First Four Years (1870-1874). With “diaries” in hand, three actors bring Frank and
his friends to life.
Civil War Spy Elizabeth Van Lew (NJ Premiere) written and performed by Annette M. Baldwin. When the Civil War broke out, Richmond, VA born and
bred Elizabeth Van Lew remained in the Confederate capital, so she could retrieve valuable information for the North. On her grave stone is written: “She
risked everything that is dear to man, friends, fortune, comfort, health, life itself, all for one absorbing desire of the heart, that slavery might be abolished
and the Union preserved.” Ms. Baldwin has performed extensively in the Chicago area where she lives, and throughout the country, to critical acclaim.
Paul Robeson Through His Words and Music, written by Gayle Stahlhuth and performed by Derrick McQueen, is an interweaving of two dozen songs
that were sung by Robeson (“The House I Live In,” “Ol’ Man River,” etc.) with a narrative of his life as actor, singer, activist, and humanitarian. This is
the story of the son of a former slave who became one of the most popular performers of his day, and of an American whose government was so fearful
of his belief that all people are equal, that the FBI took his passport. Past performance venues include Crossroads Theater in New Brunswick and the
Wildwood Convention Center for an NAACP Fundraiser.
“Derrick McQueen’s voice is phenomenal . . . the text emphasized what a multi-talented Renaissance man Robeson was.” - Cape May Star & Wave (NJ)
Rain, based on Somerset Maugham’s story “Sadie Thompson,” adapted by John Colton and Clemence Randolph. When free-spirited Sadie appears at
Horn’s General Store on the South Seas’island of Pago-Pago, she excites the interest of the Marines and the animosity of a missionary. So popular was
this 2005 production, directed by Emmy Award-nominated Bruce M. Minnix with a cast of ten, that ELTC is proud to bring it back.
"RAIN" is an excellent production!" - Cape May Star & Wave (NJ)
Why Marry? Written by Jesse Lynch Williams, this was the first play ever to win a Pulitzer Prize.
Sherlock Holmes' Adventure of the Copper Beeches, adapted from the writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by Gayle Stahlhuth. Step back in time, as
East Lynne presents this tale in the style of a vintage radio broadcast, complete with live sound effects and commercials for G. Washington Coffee, the
first sponsor of the Sherlock Holmes’s radio series on NBC that premiered on October 20, 1930. It's the story of a governess, who, after encountering
strange happenings at the Rucastle household, calls upon Holmes and Watson.
Dick Spindler’s Family Christmas. The townsfolk of Rough and Ready were surprised that Dick Spindler was going to host a big family Christmas
party. He had the funds, having made a handsome strike on his claim, but no one knew he had a family. A comic reading of Bret Harte’s humorous
Western Christmas tale, complete with his usual cast of rustic, but endearing characters.
CAPE MAY SEASON 2005
Anna Christie, brought back by popular demand. "Katherine Puma's Anna is riveting. Kevin Mahoney has the raw animal magnetism that makes him
convincing as her lover,” - The Cape May Star and Wave.
The Leach Diaries: The First Four Years. A young man's musings on Life, Love, Politics, Cape May vs. Philadelphia, and the social necessity of
Learning to Dance! Adapted from the diaries of Victorian Frank Leach, this event is presented with "diaries" in hand by a talented cast of three creating
many roles, and celebrates the publication of this two-act play adaptation.
Harry Reser and the Banjo (NJ Premiere), written and performed by St. Louis banjo player/musician Michael M. Mason, who first appeared with this
show on The Heartland Chautauqua circuit. Harry Reser was a famous musician, composer, bandleader, radio producer, and banjo virtuoso during the
1920s and 30s. A Chautaqua-style Q&A after every performance! "A most enjoyable performer." -The Cape May Star and Wave
Four by Four, an evening of comic one-acts from 1847-1913: "Bianca" by Louisa May Alcott, "The Smoking Car" by William Dean Howells, "The Painful
Predicament of Sherlock Holmes" by William Gillette, and "The Passing of Chow-Chow" by Elmer Rice. Join in the fun of seeing two women portray
many roles in an Alcott play that she performed with her sister; see what happens when a baby is given to a stranger on a train; enjoy Gillette’s spoof of
Sherlock Holmes; and see how a dog can cause a marital problem. "FOUR BY FOUR is as pleasant as the breeze that comes off the nearby Atlantic...
with four talented performers on hand to enact the quartet," -The Newark Star-Ledger.
Rain by John Colton and Clemence Randolph, based on W. Somerset Maugham’s story “Sadie Thompson.” First produced on Broadway in 1922, it was
so popular that four movies have been based on this sensational play about a missionary who confronts a woman with a past at the port of Pago Pago.
Sherlock Holmes' Adventure of the Copper Beeches in the style of a 1930’s radio broadcast, complete with sound effects. Another "Sherlock Holmes
Weekend!"
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, L. Frank Baum's classic, presented as a staged reading. In 1902, two years after his Wizard of Oz, Baum
chronicled the story of Santa Claus, explaining everything from Claus’s early years to how he became immortal. A holiday treat for the family!
CAPE MAY SEASON 2004
Jealousy by Eugene Walter, a sensational play, first produced on Broadway in 1927-'28, when there were 268 Broadway attractions. This mystery not
only held its own with Dracula and Show Boat in nearby theaters, but has also had its share of Broadway revivals. It's the tale of two Parisian
newlyweds. He's a struggling artist and she will do anything to help him. Will he kill for her, or will she kill for him?
The Long Road to Victory (NJ Premiere), written and performed by Annette M. Baldwin, is based on the struggles and triumphs of Suffragettes Lucretia
Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Alice Paul, Susan B. Anthony, and Carrie Chapman Catt. This is a fitting tribute during an Election Year to honor those
who fought for Women's right to vote. The play takes these extraordinary women from persecution and imprisonment, to the convention in Atlantic City
in 1916 where Ms. Catt unveiled her "winning plan" that was largely responsible for the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920.
Tales by Twain, adapted by Gayle Stahlhuth, based on the writings of Mark Twain, this play with music returns due to last year’s successful, but short
run. This production, featuring a talented cast of four, includes such well-known works as Tom Sawyer and "The Diaries of Adam and Eve," and lesser-
knows works like "Is He Living or is He Dead?" Songs include "Sweet Betsy from Pike" and "Buffalo Gals."
Anna Christie by Eugene O’Neill, the second of his Pulitzer Prize-winning plays, was first produced on Broadway in 1921. It tells the story of an
embittered woman who, in 1910, leaves the Midwest where she has been raised, to join her father who is the captain of a barge along the Northeastern
shore. When a sailor falls in love with her, Anna is forced to reveal her past to him and her father. Anna Christie had its first out-of-town tryout in
Atlantic City under the title Chris Christopherson. In 1930, the play was made into Greta Garbo's first talking picture. Her first words: "Gimme a
whiskey, ginger ale on the side. And don't be stingy, baby."
Sherlock Holmes by William Gillette, based on the writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, performed as a staged reading with live piano accompaniment.
Since 2002, this event was part of "Sherlock Holmes' Weekends." The versatile cast of nine portray sixteen characters including Holmes, Watson,
Moriarty, the evil Mr. and Mrs. Larrabee, and the fair Alice Faulkner.
CAPE MAY SEASON 2003
The Awakening, based on Kate Chopin’s 1899 novel about a woman who awakens to her life.
The New York Idea, written by Langdon Mitchell in 1906, was the first comedy to deal with divorce.
The Voice of the City, written by East Lynne's founder, Warren Kliewer, is based on O. Henry.
Tales by Twain (World Premiere play with music), adapted by Gayle Stahlhuth from the writings of Mark Twain.
Fostering Communities Through Dance with The Martha Graham Ensemble, with dancers from the Graham Company
"Unlike the usual summer-theater mix, ELTC specializes in shows that "deal with the uniquely American
experience," including revivals of forgotten American plays from the first half of the 20th century. This year, the
company has exhumed "To the Ladies!," a 1922 comedy by George S. Kaufman and Marc Connelly. All Kaufman-
Connelly revivals are rare, but "To the Ladies!" hasn't been staged anywhere since 1926, which makes this
production significant by definition. To be sure, I expected that "To the Ladies!" would be a historical curiosity, but
it turns out to be thoroughly likable, well directed and with an excellent cast." - Terry Teachout, The Wall Street Journal
Complete review: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122177899717354443.html
“Attending live theater is always a treat, but the East Lynne Theater Company makes the experience quite
extraordinary, with gifted professionals, classic literature, and authentic settings.” - Cape May County Herald
CAPE MAY SEASON 2009
Alice on the Edge, four deliciously witty one-acts by cutting-edge playwright Alice Gerstenberg: "Fourteen," "Illuminati in Drama Libre," "Overtones," and
"He Said and She Said." Directed by Karen Case Cook with Suzanne Dawson, Mark Edward Lang, Shelley McPherson, Alison J. Murphy, and Gayle
Stahlhuth.
“Alice on the Edge is a show that all should see and enjoy, and you'll have a really good time. Be prepared to laugh uproariously and often. Oh how I
love to be able to give a show a smash review. ELTC’s season is off to a wickedly funny start!” - Ed Wismer, “Cape May Star and Wave”
The Ransom of Red Chief (World Premiere) An adaptation by Gayle Stahlhuth of the popular O. Henry comedy, riddled with other O. Henry stories and
passages, along with Appalachian tunes played by a fiddle-playing member of the cast! Directed by Gayle Stahlhuth with Tom Byrn, Karen Case Cook,
Aidan Koehler, Bobby LeMaire, and Rob LeMaire.
"A new, charming adaptation...thoroughly entertaining, well-polished...ranks right there at the top in a season of outstanding theater taking place in Cape
May this summer...A remarkable performance by 11-year old Bobby LeMaire...Robert LeMaire, the boy's father in real life, portrays his father in 'Red
Chief'...Tom Byrn is hilarious as he tries to fend off the boy's shenanigans...Karen Case Cook contributes substantially, mostly as the "straight" woman
for her fellow kidnapper and the boy...Aidan Koehler provides a nice touch by playing fiddler tunes...This play is for the young and old."
- Jacob Schaad, "The Cape May Star and Wave" For the full review: http://www.shorenewstoday.com/news.php?id=3601
Helpful Hints Last year’s comedy hit is back! Susan Tischler, who also performs, adapted Mae Savell Croy's Putnam's Household Handbook.
“A comedy stand-up routine, circa 1916!”- Jacob Schaad, "Cape May Gazette"
People of Cape May v. Johann van Buren Written by well-known Dutch television personality, Judge Frank Visser, who also performs with members
of ELTC, this is a comic look at Cape May in the 1600s. This event was chosen to help celebrate the founding of Cape May 400 years ago.
The Butter and Egg Man, by Pulitzer Prize-winner George S. Kaufman. Before Mel Brooks’
The Producers, there was Kaufman’s 1925 comedy about two producers who need funding for their Broadway show. What they’re looking for is a
wealthy person who can be parted from his cash: a “Butter and Egg Man.” Anne Kaufman, the daughter's playwright, came to Cape May for a special
Q&A. Directed by Gayle Stahlhuth with Suzanne Dawson, Justin Flagg, Mark Edward Lang, Tiffany-Leigh Moskow, Alison J. Murphy, Morgan Nichols,
Stephanie Ouzts, Gayle Stahlhuth, Tommy Raniszewski, and John Cameron Weber.
"What a wonderful reception it received from this season's largest audience of 150 theatergoers, who gave it a deserved standing ovation...The cast excels
in ensemble playing in this hilarious comedy." - - Jacob Schaad, "Cape May Gazette"
This event was selected by the NJ State Council on the Arts as part of the American Masterpieces Series in NJ. American Masterpieces is a program of the
National Endowment for the Arts.
President Lincoln and the Sawyers of Cape May The viewing of a documentary about students rehearsing and performing Henry Sawyer and the
Civil War under the direction of Gayle Stahlhuth who also wrote the play; a staged reading of the play with professional performers; an explanation of
how this documentary came to be made by Tom Sims, Executive Director of the Cape May Film Festival, and his plan to produce a 30-minute
documentary based on this play, using professional actors; and a presentation by James Stephens, Lead Interpreter at Historic Cold Spring Village and a
Civil War-era historian, about Cape May hero Captain Henry Sawyer and President Lincoln. ADMISSION FREE
This program is made possible by a grant from the NJ Council for the Humanities (NJCH), a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Any view, findings,
conclusions, or recommendations in this program, do not necessarily represent those of the NEH or the NJCH.
Sherlock Holmes' Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle, adapted from the work by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by Craig Wichman. Step back in time, as
ELTC presents this tale in the style of a vintage radio broadcast, complete with live sound effects and commercials, just like Sherlock Holmes’ radio series
on NBC that premiered on Oct. 20, 1930. Holmes and Watson try to discover how a precious blue stone came to be in a goose on Christmas Eve.
"This is live theater done right!" - Sherry Hoffman, "New Jersey Lifestyle" Magazine
Christmas in Black and White (World Premiere) Adapted and Performed by Gayle Stahlhuth and Stephanie Garrett based on works about the African-
American and immigrant holiday experience from the following: Zora Neale Hurston, Edward Everett Hale, T. Thomas Fortune, and Chester Himes. Told
in storytelling fashion, these tales involve an unusual African-American Christmas celebration, a wedding, a young boy who learns the meaning of
Christmas Missionary Money, an unusual solution to house the homeless in 1895 Boston, and how a young woman finally found her brother after a long
voyage from Europe. "East Lynne's holiday shows are always a treat!" - Ed Wismer, "Cape May Star and Wave"
CAPE MAY SEASON 2008
You and I, a 1923 comedy by Philip Barry. After the children are grown, do parents get to do what they want to do? Maitland gave up painting to
become a successful businessman, so his wife, Nancy, and his children would be financially secure. When his son declares he’s going into business
instead of pursuing his passion for architecture, Nancy suggests that Maitland leave the business world, and paint. They can live off the money they
would have spent on furthering their son's education. Or can then? Cast: Mark Edward Lang, Kevin Mahoney, Alison J. Murphy, Robert LeMaire, Merritt
Reid, Karen Case Cook, and Erin Callahan. Directed by Gayle Stahlhuth.
"Delightfully timeless...This is a play the entire family can enjoy; it reminds us that families and friends who love one another dearly are willing to take
turns making sacrifices in order to bring out the best in each other, and that laughter is what binds us together and helps us through difficult times."
-Susan Krysiak Avadissian for The Cape May County Herald
"A theatrical treat. Everything in this light comedy, the acting, the direction, the costuming are top drawer. The entire cast makes for good ensemble
playing." - Jacob Schaad, Cape May Gazette
All the Things You Are: The Music of Jerome Kern, a World Premiere with NYC cabaret performers Michael and Anne McFrederick. Jerome Kern
(1885-1945) was a master of melodywho published more than 650 songs for 117 musical shows, plays,and films. Lyricists with whom he worked
include Otto Harbach(“She Didn’t Say Yes”), Dorothy Fields (“A Fine Romance”), and Oscar Hammerstein II (“All the Things You Are.”)
Magic by Robert Aberdeen. Robert has appeared in several Broadway shows, including Fiddler on the Roof, on film and in television, all the while
working on, perfecting, and performing his illusions. He has appeared in several ELTC productions in Cape May, and has enchanted East Lynne’s
audiences at fundraisers and on tour.
“Aberdeen shines . . he has stage charisma that establishes a rapport with the audience." - Cape May Gazette
The Guardsman, by Franz Molnar, this 1924 comedy, originally titled Playing with Fire, established Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne as Broadway stars.
The location is Vienna, during the Belle Époque, the “beautiful years” before World War I, when love, not war, was in the air. Two actors have been
married for six months, and everyone knows that the actress habitually changes men every twenty-six weeks. Thus, the actor is nervous, and goes to
great lengths to discover whether or not she is faithful. This well-beloved tale was the basis for the 1940 Louis B. Mayer film, The Chocolate Soldier.
With Mark Edward Lang, Alison J. Murphy, Edward Furs, Thomas Raniszewski, and Gayle Stahlhuth. Directed by Karen Case Cook.
"A pleasant souffle of an evening in the theater!" - Cape May Gazette
Helpful Hints (World Premiere) written and performed by Susan Tischler, based on Mae Savell Croy's Putnam's Household Handbook published in
1916. Join Mrs. Croy as she explains everything from cleaning the stove and your clothes with kerosene, to leaving babies outside when they cry because
children should not be spoiled and screaming (outside) is good for the lungs. She also discusses the sick room, architecture, invitations, and the comfort
of the gymnasium suit! It's an evening that is both witty and wise. Robert LeMaire is also in the cast, under the direction of Karen Case Cook.
To the Ladies!, written by Pulitzer Prize winners George S. Kaufman and Marc Connelly, was the second of eight plays on which they collaborated. This
charming comedy is about Leonard Beebe of Nutley, NJ, who wants to get ahead in the world. With the help of his young bride, Elsie, he might just do it.
In 1922, To the Ladies! was on Broadway starring Helen Hayes, but after 1926, no other productions can be found. The cast of eight includes Suzanne
Dawson, Ken Glickfeld, Terry Harris, Rob LeMaire, Tiffany-Leigh Moskow, John Morton, and Morgan Nichols, under the direction of Gayle Stahlhuth.
This event was selected by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts as part of the American Masterpieces Series in NJ. American Masterpieces is a
program of the National Endowment for the Arts.
Sherlock Holmes' Adventure of the Speckled Band, based on one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's favorite stories, and his rarely produced play The
Stonor Case, adapted by Craig Wichman, the Founder and Producer of the nationally acclaimed Quicksilver Radio Theater, by permission of Dame Jean
Conan Doyle. Step back in time, as ELTC presents this tale in the style of a vintage radio broadcast, complete with live sound effects and commercials,
just like Sherlock Holmes’s radio series on NBC that premiered on Oct. 20, 1930. The Great Detective and The Good Doctor are pitted against a psychotic
villain in a race against time to stop the bizarre murders in an eerie country manor. Winner: National Federation of Community Broadcasters’ “Gold
Reel” for Radio Drama
O. Henry's Christmas Stories (World Premiere) ELTC’s Artistic Director Gayle Stahlhuth, portrays twenty-plus roles as she spins O. Henry's tales.
"Her performance is one of the highlights of the 2008 theater season in Cape May." -Cape May Gazette
CAPE MAY SEASON 2007
Why Marry?This remounted 2006 production broke all ELTC box office records! Written by Jesse Lynch Williams, it was the first play ever to win a
Pulitzer Prize. This delightful comedy explores marriage vs. living together, through the lives of three sisters. Why Marry? opened on Broadway in 1917, at
a time when more women were attending universities, entering the workforce, and struggling to obtain the vote. Cast: Ken Glickfeld, John J. Isgro,
Megan McDermott, Shelley McPherson, Thomas Raniszewski, Tom Tansey, Caitlin Wallace, and Mark Edward Lang and Alison J. Murphy.
“Winner of the 2006 Jacoby Award for Most Outstanding Production and Director, featuring an excellent ensemble cast:
A theatrical treat that audiences loved.”- Jacob Schaad, Critic for The Cape May Gazette
“Gayle Stahlhuth has deftly directed her well chosen cast through this comedy that is filled with lines about love and marriage that still ring true today.”
– Cape May County Herald
Over the Rainbow: The Music of Harold Arlen (World Premiere) written, directed, and performed by NYC cabaret performer Lennie McKenzie, with
Michael McFrederick, Julie Willis, and Doug Spagnola. Among Arlen's 400 compositions, is all of the music from The Wizard of Oz, including
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
"RAINBOW is not staying long enough! - Jacob Schaad, Critic for The Cape May Gazette
Lizzie Borden Live (World Premiere, commissioned by ELTC, available for touring.) Written and performed by Jill Dalton, directed by Jack McCullough,
with original music by three-time Tony nominated Larry Hochman. Jill Dalton brings the legend to life in this provocative play that has audiences rethinking
the sensational murders of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Borden on Aug. 4, 1892. The only one tried for the murders as Andrew's daughter, Lizzie, who
maintained her innocence and as acquitted. To this day, the case is considered unsolved, although many do believe that "Lizzie Borden took an ax and gave
her mother 40 whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41." Did she do it or not? You decide.
"I heartily recommend LIZZIE BORDEN LIVE. It's unlikely you will arrive at any conclusions, but you'll have spent a short spell
with a complex and most interesting Lizzie, in the person of Jill Dalton...Dalton is nothing less than superb in her depiction,
alternating between sweet, innocent, witty, and savagely murderous." - Ed Wismer, Critic for The Cape May Star and Wave
You and I, a 1923 comedy by Barry, who later wrote The Philadelphia Story. After the children are grown, do parents get to do what they want to
do? "Delightfully timeless." - Susan Krysiak Avadissian, Cape May County Herald
Sherlock Holmes' Adventure of the Speckled Band, as a 1930's radio broadcast
Lou: The Remarkable Miss Alcott, written and performed by Gayle Stahlhuth
Louisa May Alcott's Christmas, with Gayle Stahlhuth, as Louisa, relating the stories of the March family Christmas from Little Women, and the stories
"How It All Happened" and "Tessa's Surprises." Gayle has performed her one-woman play on Louisa May Alcott for over 20 years, but this is the first
time she has acted out any of this famous American authors short stories.
"Stahlhuth is an absolute delight, bringing Christmas cheer to the audience as she switches from one characterization to the other - 25 in all!"
- Jacob Schaad, critic for The Cape May Gazette
“Stahlhuth is renowned for her ability to bring characters to vivid life.”– Ed Wismer, critic for The Cape May Star and Wave
CAPE MAY SEASON 2006
Two-Headed (NJ Premiere), written by Julie Jensen, begins in Utah on Sept. 11, 1857, when over 100 California-bound immigrants were killed in what
would become known as the Mountain Meadows Massacre. With high jinks and humor, in horror and outrage, Hettie and Lavinia's friendship survives the
secrets of the massacre and the strain of plural marriage. Winner of 3 “L.A. Weekly” awards. Co-production with The Women's Theater Company.
"MOST OUTSTANDING FEMALE ACTING PERFORMANCE: 2006 JACOBY AWARD - Early in the season New York actress Karen Case Cook set the
stage for a big year of theatre in Cape May with her performance in the East Lynne Theater Company's production of TWO-HEADED. Cook brought
paths and some humor to the demanding showcase role." - Jacob Schaad, Critic for The Cape May Gazette
"MOST ACTING RANGE AWARD 2006: Karen Case Cook and Gayle Stahlhuth for playing frontier women who go from childhood to AARP status."
- Bill Westhoven, Critic for The Daily Record (Morris County, NJ)
"Jensen's thought provoking play is receiving a spirited production. Stahlhuth as Hettie and Cook as Lavinia, are exemplary." - Newark Star-Ledger
"Stahlhuth and Cook are flawless!"- Cape May Gazette (NJ)
The Leach Diaries 1875 (World Premiere) is a continuation of a young man’s musings on Life, Love, Politics, Cape May vs. Philadelphia, and the social
necessity of Learning to Dance, adapted from the diaries of Victorian Frank Leach. For four years, East Lynne has performed various sections from these
diaries, and published a book in 2005 titled The Leach Diaries: The First Four Years (1870-1874). With “diaries” in hand, three actors bring Frank and
his friends to life.
Civil War Spy Elizabeth Van Lew (NJ Premiere) written and performed by Annette M. Baldwin. When the Civil War broke out, Richmond, VA born and
bred Elizabeth Van Lew remained in the Confederate capital, so she could retrieve valuable information for the North. On her grave stone is written: “She
risked everything that is dear to man, friends, fortune, comfort, health, life itself, all for one absorbing desire of the heart, that slavery might be abolished
and the Union preserved.” Ms. Baldwin has performed extensively in the Chicago area where she lives, and throughout the country, to critical acclaim.
Paul Robeson Through His Words and Music, written by Gayle Stahlhuth and performed by Derrick McQueen, is an interweaving of two dozen songs
that were sung by Robeson (“The House I Live In,” “Ol’ Man River,” etc.) with a narrative of his life as actor, singer, activist, and humanitarian. This is
the story of the son of a former slave who became one of the most popular performers of his day, and of an American whose government was so fearful
of his belief that all people are equal, that the FBI took his passport. Past performance venues include Crossroads Theater in New Brunswick and the
Wildwood Convention Center for an NAACP Fundraiser.
“Derrick McQueen’s voice is phenomenal . . . the text emphasized what a multi-talented Renaissance man Robeson was.” - Cape May Star & Wave (NJ)
Rain, based on Somerset Maugham’s story “Sadie Thompson,” adapted by John Colton and Clemence Randolph. When free-spirited Sadie appears at
Horn’s General Store on the South Seas’island of Pago-Pago, she excites the interest of the Marines and the animosity of a missionary. So popular was
this 2005 production, directed by Emmy Award-nominated Bruce M. Minnix with a cast of ten, that ELTC is proud to bring it back.
"RAIN" is an excellent production!" - Cape May Star & Wave (NJ)
Why Marry? Written by Jesse Lynch Williams, this was the first play ever to win a Pulitzer Prize.
Sherlock Holmes' Adventure of the Copper Beeches, adapted from the writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by Gayle Stahlhuth. Step back in time, as
East Lynne presents this tale in the style of a vintage radio broadcast, complete with live sound effects and commercials for G. Washington Coffee, the
first sponsor of the Sherlock Holmes’s radio series on NBC that premiered on October 20, 1930. It's the story of a governess, who, after encountering
strange happenings at the Rucastle household, calls upon Holmes and Watson.
Dick Spindler’s Family Christmas. The townsfolk of Rough and Ready were surprised that Dick Spindler was going to host a big family Christmas
party. He had the funds, having made a handsome strike on his claim, but no one knew he had a family. A comic reading of Bret Harte’s humorous
Western Christmas tale, complete with his usual cast of rustic, but endearing characters.
CAPE MAY SEASON 2005
Anna Christie, brought back by popular demand. "Katherine Puma's Anna is riveting. Kevin Mahoney has the raw animal magnetism that makes him
convincing as her lover,” - The Cape May Star and Wave.
The Leach Diaries: The First Four Years. A young man's musings on Life, Love, Politics, Cape May vs. Philadelphia, and the social necessity of
Learning to Dance! Adapted from the diaries of Victorian Frank Leach, this event is presented with "diaries" in hand by a talented cast of three creating
many roles, and celebrates the publication of this two-act play adaptation.
Harry Reser and the Banjo (NJ Premiere), written and performed by St. Louis banjo player/musician Michael M. Mason, who first appeared with this
show on The Heartland Chautauqua circuit. Harry Reser was a famous musician, composer, bandleader, radio producer, and banjo virtuoso during the
1920s and 30s. A Chautaqua-style Q&A after every performance! "A most enjoyable performer." -The Cape May Star and Wave
Four by Four, an evening of comic one-acts from 1847-1913: "Bianca" by Louisa May Alcott, "The Smoking Car" by William Dean Howells, "The Painful
Predicament of Sherlock Holmes" by William Gillette, and "The Passing of Chow-Chow" by Elmer Rice. Join in the fun of seeing two women portray
many roles in an Alcott play that she performed with her sister; see what happens when a baby is given to a stranger on a train; enjoy Gillette’s spoof of
Sherlock Holmes; and see how a dog can cause a marital problem. "FOUR BY FOUR is as pleasant as the breeze that comes off the nearby Atlantic...
with four talented performers on hand to enact the quartet," -The Newark Star-Ledger.
Rain by John Colton and Clemence Randolph, based on W. Somerset Maugham’s story “Sadie Thompson.” First produced on Broadway in 1922, it was
so popular that four movies have been based on this sensational play about a missionary who confronts a woman with a past at the port of Pago Pago.
Sherlock Holmes' Adventure of the Copper Beeches in the style of a 1930’s radio broadcast, complete with sound effects. Another "Sherlock Holmes
Weekend!"
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, L. Frank Baum's classic, presented as a staged reading. In 1902, two years after his Wizard of Oz, Baum
chronicled the story of Santa Claus, explaining everything from Claus’s early years to how he became immortal. A holiday treat for the family!
CAPE MAY SEASON 2004
Jealousy by Eugene Walter, a sensational play, first produced on Broadway in 1927-'28, when there were 268 Broadway attractions. This mystery not
only held its own with Dracula and Show Boat in nearby theaters, but has also had its share of Broadway revivals. It's the tale of two Parisian
newlyweds. He's a struggling artist and she will do anything to help him. Will he kill for her, or will she kill for him?
The Long Road to Victory (NJ Premiere), written and performed by Annette M. Baldwin, is based on the struggles and triumphs of Suffragettes Lucretia
Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Alice Paul, Susan B. Anthony, and Carrie Chapman Catt. This is a fitting tribute during an Election Year to honor those
who fought for Women's right to vote. The play takes these extraordinary women from persecution and imprisonment, to the convention in Atlantic City
in 1916 where Ms. Catt unveiled her "winning plan" that was largely responsible for the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920.
Tales by Twain, adapted by Gayle Stahlhuth, based on the writings of Mark Twain, this play with music returns due to last year’s successful, but short
run. This production, featuring a talented cast of four, includes such well-known works as Tom Sawyer and "The Diaries of Adam and Eve," and lesser-
knows works like "Is He Living or is He Dead?" Songs include "Sweet Betsy from Pike" and "Buffalo Gals."
Anna Christie by Eugene O’Neill, the second of his Pulitzer Prize-winning plays, was first produced on Broadway in 1921. It tells the story of an
embittered woman who, in 1910, leaves the Midwest where she has been raised, to join her father who is the captain of a barge along the Northeastern
shore. When a sailor falls in love with her, Anna is forced to reveal her past to him and her father. Anna Christie had its first out-of-town tryout in
Atlantic City under the title Chris Christopherson. In 1930, the play was made into Greta Garbo's first talking picture. Her first words: "Gimme a
whiskey, ginger ale on the side. And don't be stingy, baby."
Sherlock Holmes by William Gillette, based on the writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, performed as a staged reading with live piano accompaniment.
Since 2002, this event was part of "Sherlock Holmes' Weekends." The versatile cast of nine portray sixteen characters including Holmes, Watson,
Moriarty, the evil Mr. and Mrs. Larrabee, and the fair Alice Faulkner.
CAPE MAY SEASON 2003
The Awakening, based on Kate Chopin’s 1899 novel about a woman who awakens to her life.
The New York Idea, written by Langdon Mitchell in 1906, was the first comedy to deal with divorce.
The Voice of the City, written by East Lynne's founder, Warren Kliewer, is based on O. Henry.
Tales by Twain (World Premiere play with music), adapted by Gayle Stahlhuth from the writings of Mark Twain.
Fostering Communities Through Dance with The Martha Graham Ensemble, with dancers from the Graham Company
