East Lynne Kicks Off 2014-15 Season with THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS Tonight

Classic gems, a world premiere, and a radio show - it's all part of the award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company's exciting 2014 Cape May Mainstage Season. This year's theme is "What is legal?"

It's romantic, dramatic, and humorous: it's a marriage in seven scenes going from right after the honeymoon to the golden anniversary in "The First Fifty Years," running from today, June 11 to July 19 at 8:30 p.m.

ELTC's artistic director tracked down the only known remaining script at The Billy Rose Collection at The Library of Performing Arts in NYC. Playing on Broadway in 1922, this was the first success of Henry Myers who later wrote screenplays, including "Destry Rides Again" with Jimmy Stewart and Marlene Dietrich. Many may know the 1952 Tony Award-winning play "The Fourposter" that covers a marriage from 1890-1925, and was the basis for the musical, "I Do! I Do!" but "The First Fifty Years" came first. The years may change, but the dialogue doesn't.

Who wears a mask, has a duel identity, and fights against corruption in old California? The answer is "Zorro!", and he'll be on ELTC's stage from July 23 to August 30 at 8:30 p.m. in the swashbuckling world premiere adapted by James Rana, based on "The Curse of Capistrano" written by Johnston McCulley. Already, cast members are honing their fencing skills to be prepared to work with fight director Joe Travers. Like Rana's "The Poe Mysteries" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," that both premiered at ELTC, a cast of six play many roles.

"I'll tell you how to stop salesgirls from thieving. Give them a decent wage," tells Mary Turner to her employer, Mr. Gilder, who falsely accuses her of theft in "Within the Law." It ran from 1912 to 1914 on Broadway, becoming the most popular play to hit New York in ten years. One hundred years later, this drama, comedy, romance, and mystery all rolled into one hit, runs only a month in Cape May from Sept. 17 to Oct. 12 at 8:00 p.m. Find out if Mr. Gilder ever pays for what he's done to Mary. Bayard Veiller, the playwright, was a police reporter before becoming a successful playwright, director, and producer.

On November 7 and 8 at 8:00 p.m., ELTC's popular radio-style adventure returns, complete with live sound effects and two great detectives. In "Sherlock Holmes Adventure of the Copper Beeches," a governess believes she's in peril at the estate where she's employed. "Nick Carter and the Strange Dr. Devolo" finds Carter involved in a case where Manhattan millionaires are missing. In both mysteries, the same six actors portray different characters, jumping from Holmes' Victorian England, to Carter's world of New York during World War II.

"I wished I knew someone to have a Christmas tree with. I didn't say for. There's a difference somehow. And I hate to box Christmas up in a church," said Calliope Marsh, the main storyteller in Zona Gale's delightful books, who will be brought to life by Gayle Stahlhuth in "Christmas in Wisconsin." Gale, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author for her play "Miss Lulu Bett," adapted from her own novel, centered many of her stories in the imaginary town of Friendship Village, filled with all sorts of interesting people, each with a story to tell. And in the center of it all, is Calliope Marsh, trying to mend hearts and minds during the holidays. Show times are November 28, 29, December 7, 11, 12, and 13 at 8:00, with a special matinee on Saturday, December 13 at 2:00.

For the first three shows, performance days are Wednesdays through Saturdays, except there are no shows on Friday July 4, and Wednesday, October 8. Instead, there are performances on two Sundays, July 6 at 8:30 p.m. and October 12 at 7:30 p.m. The location is The First Presbyterian Church of Cape May, 500 Hughes Street, where the theater is in residence.

Opening night after-show parties are on the first Wednesday of the first three productions, at no extra cost to patrons. Another opportunity to meet the actors, are at the Q&As on the second Friday of the run. American Sign Language interpreted performances are on Fridays, July 11 and August 22. Others may be added if the theater is given adequate notice.

New this year, are special After-Show Receptions on three Fridays: June 27, Aug. 8, and Oct. 3. Held downstairs at The First Presbyterian Church right after the performance, an array of tasty hors d'oeuvres and drinks will be served. It's a time for the cast of ELTC's current production to meet the audience in a relaxed atmosphere. The cost is $10 for these receptions, and tickets will be available at the box office. The proceeds are going to be split between The Food Closet and the not-for-profit ELTC.

ELTC will once again have the Student Summer Workshop in June and July, culminating in a performance of "The Dancing Princesses" based on the Brothers Grimm on Tuesday, July 1 at 8:00 p.m. Other special events include a Sunday Film Series in partnership with the Cape May Film Society, with the theme "Pilots and Pirates," showing both talking and silent classics from June 22 - October 19.

Season Tickets are $80 for four shows, and tickets may be used in several ways, including using all at one performance, or seeing four different shows. They may be purchased by sending a check to ELTC's office at 121 Fourth Ave., West Cape May, NJ 08204, through ELTC's website at www.eastlynnetheater.org, or at the box office. Regular ticket prices are $30; $25 for seniors and those with disabilities; full-time students are $15, and those ages 12 and under are free. Questions, call 609-884-5898, or e-mail eastlynne@aol.com.

Pictured: Lee O'Connor, Fred Velde, Alison J. Murphy, Robert LeMaire, Mark Edward Lang, and Gayle Stahlhuth. Photo by Frank Smith.

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