East Lynne Theater Company Announces Its 2010 Season, Kicks Off 6/16

The Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company, the recent recipient of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance's Achievement of Excellence Award for "30 years of celebrating America's heritage through productions and educational programs," has its usual season filled with music, a radio show, classic gems and a world premiere. To celebrate ELTC's 30th birthday, the shows are a blend of old favorites and new discoveries.

From June 16-July 10 is "Emma Goldman: My Life," a world premiere written and performed by New York-based actor Lorna Lable. Wise and witty, Emma always spoke her mind, whether it was on women's rights or the widening gap between rich and poor. She was a fascinating woman in a fascinating time: America in the early 1900s, teeming with immigrants like herself, all longing for a better way of life. The director is Karen Case Cook who directed last season's highly successful "Alice on the Edge."

Next up is "Paul Robeson Through His Words and Music," running from July 14-July 24. Performed by Derrick McQueen, and written by Gayle Stahlhuth, this is an interweaving of two dozen songs that were sung by Robeson, with a narrative of his life as an actor, singer, activist, and humanitarian. Last performed during ELTC's 2006 Season for only four performances, it is one of ELTC's popular touring productions, and its return to Cape May has been requested by many.

From July 28-September 4, is "The Dictator" by Richard Harding Davis. Brooke Travers flees NYC by jumping aboard a ship, which lands him in Puerto Banos, in Central America. Believing he could be arrested at any moment, he assumes different names, and even swaps identities with the American Consul, and still manages to fall in love. Who is in charge of this Banana Republic is anyone's guess in this 1904 Broadway comedy that ELTC first produced in 2001. The cast includes ELTC favorites Tom Byrn, Mark Edward Lang, Rob LeMaire, Tiffany-Leigh Moskow, Alison J. Murphy, John Cameron Weber, and new to ELTC, John Alvarez, Brad Heikes, and Clifford Rivera. Directed by Gayle Stahlhuth.

John L. Balderston's "Berkeley Square" runs from September 22-October 23. An American, who inherits a home in London, becomes so fascinated reading letters and diaries of his ancestors that he's sent back in time to 1784 where he meets two very interesting sisters. This highly original romantic fantasy is based on "The Sense of the Past," an unfinished novel by Henry James. The large cast includes ELTC favorites SuzAnne Dawson, Megan McDermott, and Tommy Raniszewski, and new to ELTC, Emily Cheney, Michael Kirby, Drew Seltzer, and Kathleen Wallace. Directed by Gayle Stahlhuth.

Also, in the fall, Susan Tischler's "Help Hints" returns for the third year in a row, this time as a dinner show production at The Mad Batter, 19 Jackson Street, on Sundays and Mondays only from September 26 through October 18. Join Susan, portraying 1916 "how-to" expert Mrs. Croy, as she explains everything from cleaning clothes with kerosene, to leaving babies outside when they cry.

On November 5 and 6, and March 18 and 19, ELTC's popular Sherlock Holmes' radio-style adventure returns, complete with live sound effects and commercials, just like the Sherlock Holmes' radio series on NBC that premiered in 1930. This time, it's "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle." To save an innocent man from prison, Holmes and Watson must find the thief who stole a valuable gem.

For the holidays, from November 26 through December 11, its "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus," adapted from the L. Frank Baum (author of "The Wizard of Oz") 1902 classic, presented in storytelling fashion by Gayle Stahlhuth, who is known for portraying thirty-plus roles in the telling of one tale. This Christmas classic relates how Claus was raised, through how he became immortal.

Opening night is always the first Wednesday of each production, with after-show parties at one of Cape May's fine restaurants. There is no increase in ticket price for these openings, and the company is still in residence at The First Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes St. in Cape May.

2010 Season Tickets are available for $90.00, and the recipient can choose what days to attend - and even bring friends! As usual, there are five separate tickets in the Season Ticket packet, so individual tickets may actually be given to others for their use. Prices in 2010 are the same as last year: $28 for general admission; $23 for senior citizens; and $13 for full-time students. To encourage whole families to attend, anyone age 12 and under is still free.

All tickets may be purchased at the box office; by sending a check to ELTC's office at 121 Fourth Ave., West Cape May, NJ 08204, or online through ELTC's web site at www.eastlynnetheater.org. For questions, call 609-884-5898.

To post a comment, you must register and login.