East Lynne Theater Company to Stage BIOGRAPHY This Month

Richard Kurt asks internationally known portrait painter Marion Froude to write her autobiography for his magazine. At first she laughs off the idea, but it's Manhattan in 1932, during the Depression, and she can use the money. The prospect dismays a former flame, Leander Nolan from Tennessee who is running for United States Senate. Much has happened to both Marion and Leander since they last saw each other fifteen years earlier.

The award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company is proud to present S. N. Behrman's comedy, "Biography," during an election year. Behrman, a playwright, screenwriter, and contributor to "The New Yorker," based the fascinating character of Marion on real-life painter and free-thinker, Neysa McMein. She also appears in Thomas Wolfe's "You Can't Go Home Again," thinly disguised under another pseudonym.

Playing the roles of Marion and Leander are Erika Amato and Tom Byrn. Erika, new to ELTC, was recently in The Arden's production of "The Secret Garden." Other credits include the National Tour of "Flashdance" and Off-Broadway's "Signs of Life." Tom portrayed the 16th President in ELTC's "Mr. Lincoln," his seventh play with the company. Recent acting work includes "Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike" at the Cider Mill Playhouse in Endicott, NY and "The Country Wife" at the Franklin Stage Company in Franklin, NY. This winter, he taught drama and English classes at a high school in Istanbul. Erika and Tom attended Vassar, and neither have seen each other since graduation.

Also new to ELTC is Mike Newman who plays Kurt. He just performed two shows at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse in New Hampshire: "Peter and the Starcatcher" and the title role in the world premiere of "The Almost True and Truly Remarkable Adventures of Israel Potter."

Others in the cast who are new to ELTC are R. Scott Williams and Veronique Hurley. Scott spent five seasons with Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre in Virginia, and has appeared at numerous regional theaters throughout the country. Film/TV appearances include "Veep" and "The Wire." Veronique's credits include "Women are Crazy Because Men are A**holes" at the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York and "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Noises Off" at The Hartford Stage Company.

Returning to ELTC are Mark Edward Lang (another Vassar grad.) and John Cameron Weber. Theater and corporate training events have taken Mark to 35 U.S. states and around the world. Recently his "Lunt and Fontanne: The Celestials of Broadway" traveled to Texas and received full houses and ovations at the NY International Fringe Festival this past August. He and his wife, Alison J. Murphy, portrayed the great theatrical duo. John has acted in commercials, soaps, and various regional theaters and in National ("Damn Yankees," "1776") and European ("West Side Story," "Guy and Dolls") tours.

Also in the cast is ELTC's artistic director, Gayle Stahlhuth, who is helming the production.

"Biography" runs Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:00pm from September 21 through October 15, except there is no show on Wednesday, October 5, and a show on Sunday, October 9 at 7:30pm. There is an after-show party on opening night at Aleathea's; An ASL interpreted performance on September 30; an after-show Q&A on October 7; and on October 13, $5 from every ticket sold will go to Gilda's Club in South Jersey.

Pictured: First day of rehearsal for the cast of East Lynne Theater Company's "Biography" with Tom Byrn, R. Scott Williams, Mike Newman, John Cameron Weber, Veronique Hurley, Erika Amato, and Mark Edward Lang. Photo by Gayle Stahlhuth.