Jennifer Bissell News

On a lovely Sunday afternoon at the Fireside Theatre, just hours before the new work week was set to begin, adults in the audience for Peter Pan smiled along to the repeated utterance of "I won't grow up." Indeed, in a world like ours who would want to abandon their childish dreams?

Although East Lynne Theater Company has wrapped three of its mainstage shows, and is planning the 2016 season, doesn't mean that it's finished for 2015.

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 questions about East Lynne Theater Company's rich background will be asked at its gala celebrating 35 years of presenting American classics and world premieres?

In 1980, Warren Kliewer founded East Lynne Theater Company after extensive research and the discovery that there were no professional theater companies in this country dedicated to the performance, study and preservation of America's 200-year-old theatrical heritage. He named his Equity professional company after a popular late-nineteenth century American play. Based, ironically, on an English novel, "East Lynne" was the "Downton Abbey" of its day.

Three cast members from the Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company's production of "Strictly Dishonorable" will perform at the company's 35th anniversary gala on Monday, November 9.

"We used to have a nice plantation in Mississippi.  And then, just when cotton got high, women stopped wearing cotton underwear," says Isabelle Parry in a Manhattan speakeasy in 1929. 

The award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company continues its 35th mainstage season in June.  This year's theme is "Unexpected Encounters."

The award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company presents its annual fundraiser on Monday, November 10, and since the last two trivia events were so popular, we're presenting 'The American Songbook III.' Once again, everyone may test their skills with a Music Trivia Contest, with the focus this time on mysteries and crime since the theme for 2014 is 'What is legal?' Questions could be about music for popular detective shows or crime movies from the past eighty years. To add to the fun, music is performed live, once more, by Chris Sooy, Lew London, and Jennifer Bissell, and winners receive prizes.

For those who didn't have the opportunity to meet the cast of the award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company's "Within the Law" at the opening night after-show party at Aleathea's Restaurant on September 17th, another chance is to be had on Friday, September 26 at an after-show Q&A. It's a wonderful opportunity for patrons to ask such questions as "why do they do what they do?" and "how does one find these scripts?"

The award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company presents the 1912 Broadway sensation, "Within the Law," from September 17 through October 12, with an 8:00p.m. curtain, and a Wednesday through Saturday schedule, except there is no show on Wednesday, October 8, and an added show on Sunday, October 12 at 7:30p.m.

THE WEST END presents a concert performance of ROYAL FABLES, a new musical by Nick Luckenbaugh, on Saturday, June 28th, 2014. ROYAL FABLES is a new song and dance cycle that takes an unexpected look at classic and not-so-classic fairy tale royals through the lens of contemporary folk, rock, and jazz music.

Following a sold-out show in January, Broadway Melodies returns to the West End Theater for an all-new comedy spectacular. The show will consist of three 20-minute musical sketch comedies. This month's event will include Into the Globe by Lori Mannette, You're a Good Man, Charlie Sheen by Becca Anderson, and Love Never Dies: the LIVE Movie Musical by Victoria Saxton.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Libra Theater Company's 'Songs You Should Know' tonight, February 4th. 'Songs You Should Know' is an annual concert of great music theater, showcasing new and rarely performed songs written by some of today's most talented emerging and established writers.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

This February and March at 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond, including Christopher Sieber, Annaleigh Ashford, Randy Graff, Melinda Doolittle, Jeff Daniels, Linda Eder, Andrea McArdle, Sondheim Unplugged, Taboo: 10th Anniversary Reunion Concert, Beth Leavel, Lindsay Mendez and Derek Klena.

This February and March at 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond, including Christopher Sieber, Annaleigh Ashford, Randy Graff, Melinda Doolittle, Jeff Daniels, Linda Eder, Andrea McArdle, Sondheim Unplugged, Taboo: 10th Anniversary Reunion Concert, Beth Leavel, Lindsay Mendez and Derek Klena.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Libra Theater Company's "Songs You Should Know" on Tuesday, February 4th. "Songs You Should Know" is an annual concert of great music theater, showcasing new and rarely performed songs written by some of today's most talented emerging and established writers.

The date is Thursday, November 7, and the evening begins at 5:30p.m. with hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar. At 6:00p.m. is a special tastings of Aleathea's specialties, like last year, and at 7:00p.m., the competition begins! The MCs for the evening are Mark Lang and James Rana.

Patrons will have the opportunity to ask these and other questions on Friday, September 27, after seeing 'The Late Christopher Bean' written by Sidney Howard, who received the Oscar for Best Screen Play for 'Gone with the Wind.'

The award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company, after a successful summer, continues its exciting 33rd season into the fall with 'The Late Christopher Bean,' a comedy, with a cast of nine, under the direction of ELTC's artistic director, Gayle Stahlhuth.