East Lynne Theater Company to Continue 35th Season with MR. LINCOLN, 6/17-7/25

The award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company continues its 35th mainstage season in June. This year's theme is "Unexpected Encounters."

From June 17 - July 25, it's "Mr. Lincoln," selected to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the President's assassination. On April 14,1865, the President and Mrs. Lincoln were enjoying a comedy at Ford's Theatre when John Wilkes Booth entered the President's box. In Herbert Mitgang's play, Lincoln's life flashes before him from his early days as a flatboatman on the Mississippi River, to President of the United States, as Booth fires his pistol. During the 1980s, "Mr. Lincoln," starring Roy Dotrice, was performed in four countries, including the United States where it appeared at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. and the Morosco Theater on Broadway. "Mr. Lincoln" was presented as the first Hallmark Hall of Fame drama on PBS. Tom Byrn who has performed with ELTC for the past six years, is portraying Lincoln, under the direction of ELTC's artistic director, Gayle Stahlhuth.

Next up is "Huckleberry Finn," a world premiere based on the Mark Twain classic, running from July 29 - September 5. Huck, running away from his drunken father, meets Jim, a runaway slave, and their adventures on the Mississippi River begin. "Huckleberry Finn" is adapted by James Rana, who's other adaptations first produced by ELTC include last year's "Zorro!" which received excellent reviews in "The New York Times" and on WYHH radio. Taking on the role of Huck is fourteen-year-old Evan Smilyk who was in "Zorro!" Jim is played by Leon Morgan, who was in ELTC's New Jersey premiere of the riveting "Lost on the Natchez Trace." Others in the cast who take on several roles each are Beckley Andrews and Samuel Douglas Clark, who were in ELTC's "The Last Fifty Years," and Thomas Raniszewski, who's been performing with ELTC since 2005. Marcia Sofley, new to ELTC, performs in NYC with Improvisational Repertory Theatre.

"Strictly Dishonorable" opened on Broadway to rave reviews in 1929, and ELTC presents it 86 years later from September 23 - October 17. A young woman raised on a Mississippi plantation and her fiancé from West Orange, NJ step into a Manhattan speakeasy where they encounter the owner, a waiter, a judge, a police officer, and an Italian opera star. This screwball comedy by Preston Sturges explores the conflict between playing it safe and expanding one's horizons. Between 1940-1944, Sturges wrote and directed seven memorable films, including "The Lady Eve." The cast includes ELTC veterans Jennifer Bissell, J.M. McDonough, James Rana, Thomas Raniszewski, and Eric Stephenson. New to ELTC, are Stephen Humes, currently performing with Lyric Repertory company in Logan, Utah, and Lino Del Core, who is co-starring in the web series, "Justice Woman."

On November 6 and 7, it's "Detectives Holmes and Carter," ELTC's radio-style production, with two new mysteries back-to-back on the same night, with the same cast-of-seven portraying several roles: "Sherlock Holmes Adventure of the Red-Headed League" and "Nick Carter and the Voice of Crime," the 2nd-ever Carter radio mystery from 1943, used with permission by Conde Nast.

For the holidays from November 27 - December 12, it's "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus," based on the L. Frank Baum ("The Wizard of Oz") classic tale about Claus's life from his early years to how he became immortal. This charming adaptation was created and will be performed by Gayle Stahlhuth. When ELTC last presented this one-person tour-de-force in 2010, it was designated an "American Masterpiece" as part of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) "Masterpieces Series."

ELTC will once again have the Student Summer Workshop in June and July, culminating in an admission-free performance of "Tom Sawyer Detective" on July 7. Other special events include a Sunday Silent Film Series in partnership with the Cape May Film Society and the 26th season of "Tales of the Victorians" which includes "Poe by Candlelight" on October 24.

Most performances are from Wednesday through Saturday evenings, with a few Sunday performances for "Mr. Lincoln," "Strictly Dishonorable," and the Christmas show, which also has a Saturday matinee. The location is The First Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes Street, where the company is in residence. Tickets are $30 general admission; $25 for seniors (age 62 and over, and those with disabilities and their support companions; $15 for students and military/veterans; and ages 12 and under are free. Season tickets are available until July 1, cost $80 for 4 shows, and may be used in a variety of ways. For information, reservations, and purchasing tickets, visit eastlynnetheater.org, e-mail eastlynneco@aol.com, or call 609-884-5898.

East Lynne's production season would not be possible without season sponsors Curran Investment Management, Aleathea's Restaurant, The Henry Sawyer Inn, The Washington Inn, as well as funding from the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism; New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Dept. of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts; and the generosity of many patrons.

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