East Lynne Theater to Host THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS Post-Show Q&A, 6/20

For those who didn't have the opportunity to meet the cast and crew of East Lynne Theater Company's "The First Fifty Years" at the opening night after-show party at Pier House Restaurant on June 11, another chance is to be had on Friday, June 20 at an after-show Q&A. It's a wonderful opportunity for patrons to ask actors, director, and technical team such questions as "why do they do what they do?" and "how do they do it?"

Artistic director Gayle Stahlhuth and technical director Lee O'Connor live in Manhattan when they're not working in Cape May, which gives Stahlhuth the opportunity to see a variety of productions and do research for future shows. The mission of ELTC is to produce American plays first seen before 1940, and new theatrical interpretations based on literature and history of the same period. Unlike many directors who see shows on Broadway and then remount them at regional theaters, she is like an archeologist, constantly looking for forgotten theatrical treasures. Noted nationally for the uniqueness of the mission, ELTC was recently among only 75 theaters listed in the May 18 online issue of the Sunday "New York Times'" special summer theater section.

Stahlhuth first discovered "The First Fifty Years" in a book about Broadway theater history. It merely stated the year it played in New York, 1922, and that it was about a marriage in seven scenes going from the honeymoon to the golden anniversary. After four years of searching on-and-off for the play, she found the original script typed by playwright Henry Myers himself, at The Billy Rose Collection at The Library of Performing Arts in New York. Some may be familiar with Jan de Hartog's "The Fourposter" that covered thirty-five years of a marriage from 1890-1925, and received the Tony Award for Best Play in 1952, but "The First Fifty Years" came first.

After sitting at a desk at the library, typing the script into her computer since she could not make a Xerox of the play, or take it home using a library card, the casting began. In the roles of Anne and Martin Wells, are Beckley Andrews and Samuel Douglas Clark, both new to ELTC.

Beckley hails from Rhode Island, and earned a BA in Theatre Performance at Rhode Island College. She has performed, choreographed and toured throughout the United States, Europe, on the High Seas and on The Great White Way. Some of her favorite roles include Jenny Lind in "Barnum" and The Plant in "The Little Shop of Horrors," and she was in the Broadway production of "Gypsy" starring Patti LuPone.

Sam moved to Manhattan from Australia, a week before Super Storm Sandy. In his homeland, he worked on a range of projects including developing and performing in two new Australian works, "April's Fool" by David Burton and "Often I Find That I am Naked" by Fiona Sprott, both of which toured nationally. Other credits include the Queensland Premiere of "The Lieutenant of Inishmore" by Martin McDonagh.

"The First Fifty Years" is directed by Stahlhuth with Lee O'Connor stage managing, assisted by Michael Mottola and Meg Dowling.

This dramatic, romantic, and humorous look at fifty years of a marriage runs from June 11 through July 19 at 8:30 p.m. It is the usual Wednesday through Saturday schedule, except there is no show on Friday, July 4, and an added show on Sunday, July 6.

The performances are at The First Presbyterian Church of Cape May, 500 Hughes St., where the company is in residence. Tickets are $30 for general admission; $25 for seniors (ages 62 and over); and $15 for full-time students. Season tickets are available through June 30: four shows for only $80.

For information and reservations, call 884-5898 or go online to www.eastlynnetheater.org. ELTC partners with the following restaurants for further savings: Aleathea's, The Blue Rose Inn and Restaurant, The Washington Inn, 410 Bank Street, and Frescos. While staying at The Henry Sawyer Inn or The Victorian Lace Inn, ELTC tickets may be purchased for $20.

ELTC's production season would not be possible without season sponsors Curran Investment Management, The Henry Sawyer Inn, Aleathea's Restaurant at the Inn of Cape May, 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 Stahlhute