SHERLOCK HOLMES ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES, THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS & More Set for East Lynne Theater's 2014 Season

The award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company, a proven destination for theater lovers who crave the adventure of discovery, announces its 2014 Cape May Mainstage Season. As usual, it includes classic gems, a world premiere, and a radio show. This year's theme is "What is legal?"

In March and November, ELTC's popular radio-style adventure returns, complete with live sound effects and commercials, with two great detectives. In "Sherlock Holmes Adventure of the Copper Beeches," a governess believes there are strange happenings at the estate where she's employed, and only Holmes and Watson can help. "Nick Carter and the Strange Dr. Devolo" finds Carter and his friends tracking down interesting clues to discover how and why Manhattan millionaires are missing. In both radio-style shows, the same six actors portray different characters, jumping from Holmes' Victorian England, to Carter's world of New York during World War II.

From June 11 to July 19, it's "The First Fifty Years." Written by Henry Myers, it premiered on Broadway in 1922, and charts the ups and downs of a married couple from 1872, when they move into their new home after their honeymoon, all the way to their golden anniversary, in 1922. ELTC's artistic director tracked down the only known script of this forgotten gem at The Billy Rose Collection at The Library of Performing Arts in NYC. The only way to copy the script is by sitting in the library and typing it out on the computer or by taking digital photographs of the pages. Many may know the 1952 Tony Award-winning play "The Fourposter" written by Jan De Hartog that covers 35 years of a marriage from 1890-1925, and was adapted into the musical, "I Do! I Do!" but "The First Fifty Years" came first.

Next up is "Zorro!" from July 23 to Aug. 30, a world premiere. Adapted by James Rana, this swashbuckler is based on "The Curse of Capistrano" written by Johnston McCully in 1919. When a common citizen realizes the governor of Old California is arresting people because they disagree with him, he dons the mask and cape to avenge the wrong. Like Rana's "The Poe Mysteries" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," that both premiered at ELTC, a cast of six play many roles.

Then it's the revival of the 1916 Broadway sensation by Bayard Vellier, "Within the Law," running from Sept. 17 to Oct. 12. A young woman falsely accused of shoplifting by her employer, gets revenge in a most surprising manner. This thriller that will keep audiences guessing until the very end, was made into three films, including one titled "Paid," starring Joan Crawford. It took ELTC's artistic director two years to obtain this script.

For the holidays from Nov. 28 to Dec. 13, it's "Christmas in Wisconsin: Tales by Zona Gale." This Pulitzer Prize-winning author centered many of her stories in the imaginary town of Friendship Village, filled with all sorts of interesting people, not unlike those in Lake Wobegon in Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion," although Gale definitely has her own particular style of wit and wisdom. Taking on all of the personalities in the Village, is ELTC's artistic director, Gayle Stahlhuth, performing in storytelling fashion. A holiday treat for the whole family.

ELTC will once again have the Student Summer Theater Workshop in June and July, culminating in a performance, and other special events include a silent film festival with live organ accompaniment.

Season Tickets are only $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 when there is a performance. For questions, call 609-884-5898. General admission price is $30, so Season Tickets result in quite a savings, and make a great gift.

"Christmas with Harte and O. Henry" can still be seen on December 8, 12, 13, and 14 at 8:00p.m., with a Saturday, December 14 matinee at 2:00p.m. in which some of the box office proceeds will go to the Cape Regional Medical Center Auxiliary. Items for the Food Closet are being collected at all performances. Particularly needed are canned fruit, laundry detergent, and paper products. ELTC is in residence at The First Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes Street in Cape May.

East Lynne's 2013 production season would not have been possible without season sponsors Curran Investment Management, Aleathea's Restaurant, and The Henry Sawyer Inn; show sponsors La Mer Beachfront Inn and The Washington Inn; The NJ Dept. of State, Division of Travel and Tourism; NJ State Council on the Arts/Dept. of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts; and the generosity of many patrons.

Photo credit: Gayle Stahlhuth

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