East Lynne's Announces Radio Shows, One-Acts for March

Why did a man in Pennsylvania create The Red-Headed League in London? Who is the person behind "The Voice" stealing millions in Manhattan? What organization is considered the first modern American theater company?

By attending two events in March, all will become clear when the award winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company presents its popular radio-style production and a staged reading of plays first presented one-hundred years ago by The Provincetown Players.

Before television and the Internet, people sat eagerly by the radio to hear the latest dramas, comedies, and news. ELTC invites you to be part of its radio-style audience on Friday and Saturday, March 18 and 19 at 8:00p.m. when "Detectives Holmes and Carter" is presented with live sound effects and commercials. In "The Adventure of the Red-Headed League," Sherlock Holmes must learn why a man from Lebanon, PA, left money in his will to start a club for men with red hair. In "The Voice of Crime," the illusive "Vox" announces he will pay Nick Carter if the clever detective discovers where his next robbery will occur. The same cast of seven perform both shows back-to-back on the same night, going from Holmes' Victorian England to Carter's Manhattan during World War II.

While "The Red-Headed League" is not the original script by Edith Meiser that was aired on NBC (this one is adapted by Gayle Stahlhuth), "The Voice of Crime" IS the original script, used with permission by Conde Nast.

Lee O'Connor first portrayed Holmes in ELTC's William Gillette's "Sherlock Holmes" and has become one of the main storytellers for the company's "Tales of the Victorians." Fred Velde once more portrays Dr. Watson. He has appeared in over fifty shows in NYC, including the off-Broadway revival of Mae West's "Sex."

Taking on the role of Nick Carter is Mark Edward Lang. His work with ELTC includes "Zorro!" as an actor, and "Anna Christie," as a director. In NYC, he recently wrote and performed in "Lunt and Fontanne: The Celestials of Broadway."

James Rana, Thomas Raniszewski, Robert LeMaire, and Gayle Stahlhuth take on a variety of roles. ELTC produced James' world premiere adaptation of "Huckleberry Finn" and he played Tomaso in "Strictly Dishonorable." Also in "Huckleberry Finn" and "Strictly Dishonorable" was Thomas, who is performing in "Dying Like Ignacio" in NYC later this month. Robert has been performing off-and-on with ELTC since "The Dictator" in 2001.

Gayle Stahlhuth, who adapted "The Red-Headed League" and directed, is in her seventeenth year of serving as artistic director to ELTC.

After the Cape May performances, the "radio" show goes to a library in Surf City, NJ, due to funding through New Jersey Theatre Alliance's "Stages Festival."

On Sunday, March 20 at 8:00p.m., it's "Celebrating the Provincetown Players," a staged reading of one-act plays first produced by what is considered the first modern American theater company, to honor the 100th Anniversary of its first performances in Greenwich Village, NY. The plays include "The Web" and "Before Breakfast" by Eugene O'Neill, and "Trifles" and "Suppressed Desires" by Susan Glaspell, performed by a cast of seven that include Patrick Curran, Holly Knapp, Mark Edward Lang, Alison J. Murphy, Thomas Raniszewski, Gayle Stahlhuth, and Fred Velde. Patrick is a volunteer for ELTC who lives in Goshen. Holly was a company member at Elaine's Dinner Theater before becoming artistic director from 2009-2013. Alison has performed in several ELTC productions including "The Guardsman," and recently performed in NYC in "Lunt and Fontaine: The Celestials of Broadway."

Performances are at The First Presbyterian Church of Cape May, 500 Hughes St., where the company is in residence. Tickets for the radio show are $27 for general admission, $17 for full-time students and those in the military. Tickets for "Provincetown Players" are $5 since partial funding is through New Jersey Theatre Alliance's "Stages Festival." As always, ages 12 and under are free. For information and reservations, call 609-884-5898 or go online to www.eastlynnetheater.org. "Detectives Holmes and Carter" is also part of Cape May's "Sherlock Holmes' Weekend." For other Sherlock Holmes' events, visit www.capemaymac.org.

Photo by Frank Smith