East Lynne Theater Announces Free Events Through Stages Festival

Just because East Lynne Theater Company isn't currently producing weekly shows in Cape May doesn't mean the company is idle. During the winter, there are Murder Mystery Weekends and a Playwriting Get-Away at The Henry Sawyer Inn, touring shows on the road, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance's (NJTA) "Stages Festival" in March.

"The Stages Festival" is the state's largest annual theatrical celebration. During the whole month of March, free and discounted tickets to performances, workshops, classes and events at professional theaters, performing arts centers, libraries, schools, senior centers and museums will be offered. The program was developed to encourage New Jersey's residents to attend their local professional theaters by making the experience affordable, accessible and fun.

All across the state, patrons will receive free and discounted tickets to over 100 performances and special events, including classes and workshops for all ages. Since its inception in 1998, the program has served over 80,000 people.

Founded in 1981, the New Jersey Theatre Alliance is the first statewide organization for professional, not-for-profit theater companies in the United States, and is a leader in developing programs that foster collaboration, cooperation and audience development. The Alliance provides member theaters and arts patrons a wide range of services and programs, and assists member theaters in their growth and development. ELTC is a proud member of NJTA and ELTC's artistic director, Gayle Stahlhuth, is a member of the board. For more information about this innovative company, visit www.njtheatrealliance.org. For an up-to-the-minute "Stages Festival" schedule, visit www.stagesfestival.org.

As usual, ELTC provides performances and workshops both in and out of Cape May County for "The Stages Festival." The following are admission-free, except where noted, and more information may found at www.eastlynnetheater.org, by e-mailing eastlynneco@aol.com, or by calling ELTC at 609-884-5898.

ELTC's first "Stages Festival" event is on Wednesday, March 12 at 7:00p.m. at West Cape May Elementary School, 301 Moore St., in West Cape May, when students perform "The Reluctant Dragon." After seven sessions with ELTC's artistic director Gayle Stahlhuth, assisted by Sally Bingham and Lee O'Connor, students will bring this beloved Kenneth Grahame classic to life. The story revolves around youngsters who try to protect a poetry-loving dragon, but discover that it's difficult to hide such a large and talkative animal. When townsfolk learn of his existence, they hire St. George to slay him. But does he? Or do the good citizens realize that not all dragons are to be feared? Since 1999, ELTC has yearly provided school residencies throughout Cape May County, without any funding from schools or local taxes, and performances are fee for the public. This marks ELTC's tenth residency at West Cape May Elementary School.

Step back in time, on Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15 at 8:00p.m., when ELTC serves up two mysteries with two different detectives, performed by the same cast-of-six, back-to-back in "Holmes and Carter Mysteries." Presented in the style of a radio broadcast, complete with live sound effects and commercials, the mysteries are "Sherlock Holmes Adventure of the Copper Beeches" and "Nick Carter and the Strange Dr. Devolo." Tickets are $25 for general admission, $15 for full-time students, and anyone age 12 and under, as always with ELTC, is free.

On Tuesday, March 18 from 7:00 - 8:30p.m., ELTC presents James Rana's juggling class at the First Presbyterian Church of Cape May, 500 Hughes St., where the company is in residence. It's for anyone ages 8 on up, with our without experience. For the past two years James's classes have been very popular and ELTC is pleased to have him back. Among other items in his busy schedule, James is working on ""Zorro!" a world premiere that ELTC will present as part of its 2014 mainstage season. Previously, ELTC produced his "The Poe Mysteries" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." James has worked for the Big Apple Circus and performed with numerous theaters in NYC, throughout the country, and in Europe. Due to funding from "The Stages Festival," this workshop is free, but reservations are appreciated and made by contacting ELTC at eastlynneco@aol.com or by phone at 609-884-5898.

Also, on the same day, March 18, one of ELTC's popular touring shows, Robert Aberdeen's "Victorian Magic" will be at the Plumstead Branch of the Ocean County Library, 119 Evergreen Road, New Egypt, NJ 08533 at 2:30p.m. Broadway and film veteran Robert Aberdeen has been delighting audiences of all ages throughout the country with his sleight-of-hand. Funding through "The Stages Festival" allows this audience-pleasing event to be admission-free. For reservations, call the library at 609-758-7888.

Not part of "The Stages Festival," on Saturday, February 22, Derrick McQueen will perform in ELTC's "Paul Robeson Through His Words and Music" in Flemington, NJ. In February and March, Michele LaRue's "Gettysburg: One Woman's War" and "Someone Must Wash the Dishes: an Anti-Suffrage Satire," will be at Midland College in Texas, the New Canaan and Norwalk Public Libraries in Connecticut, and the West Hempstead Public Library in New York.

Meanwhile, ELTC's Playwriting Getaway and Murder Mysteries continue through the end of March at The Henry Sawyer Inn in Cape May, and auditions for ELTC's summer season are on Monday, March 17 in Cape May and on Friday, March 28 in NYC.
"The Stages Festival" is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional program sponsors are Bank of America and The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. Events in Burlington and Ocean County are made possible by the generous support of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. Additional program support has been provided by The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The HMS Foundation, The F. M. Kirby Foundation, The George A. Ohl Trust Foundation, Prudential Foundation, The Smart Family Foundation, Springpoint Senior Living Foundation and The Victoria Foundation.

Photo credit: Gayle Stahlhuth

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