East Lynne Artistic Director Teaches at Writer's Conference June 7-8

For the ninth year in a row, the North Wildwood Beach Writers' Conference brings together prestigious and inspiring speakers who discuss the craft of writing. This year, the dates are June 7 and 8 and the location is the Wildwoods Convention Center, 4501 Boardwalk, all under the guidance of co-chairs Carolyn Miller and Carolyn Mee.

Among the speakers is East Lynne Theater Company's Artistic Director, Gayle Stahlhuth, who will conduct a workshop on "The Ten-Minute Play." In 1990, The Actors Theatre of Louisville added the "Ten-Minute Play" to its annual Humana Festival. Since then, other theater companies have followed suit, finding it an excellent way to discover new playwrights. Using pictures and exercises to trigger the imagination, participants will be encouraged to create their own ten-minute plays. Many of these plays can become longer one-acts or full-length plays.

Since 1999, Stahlhuth has been East Lynne Theater Company's Artistic Director. Aside from performing, directing, and producing, she is also a playwright, receiving commissions for her work from The Smithsonian Institution, Theatreworks/USA and The Illinois and Missouri Humanities Councils, and grants from The New Jersey Humanities Council. Her plays have been performed at such places as the NYC International Fringe Festival, The Samuel French One-Act Festival, Manhattan Theatre Club, Arvada Center in Denver, the Pennsylvania Stage Company, the Phoenix Theater in Indianapolis, and the Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company, located in Cape May. She has also worked as a "book doctor" for Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional productions, and has taught playwriting and theater in schools (grade school through college), for Road Scholars (formerly Elderhostel), and for other private and public institutions throughout the country. This is the third time she's been asked to speak at this conference.

Other exciting presenters include historical mystery writer Cordelia Frances Biddle of Philadelphia, Mother/daughter authors Jane Rubino and Caitlin Rubino Bradway (who also works for a literary agency), Charis Conn, contributing editor at "Harper's", and John Riddle, author and founder of "I Love to Write Day."

Michelle Dawn Mooney, the charismatic news anchor of NBC40 out of Atlantic City, will be the keynote speaker at this year's event. Mooney is a talented songwriter, as well as a singer. In addition to performing, she'll be discussing her creative process that lead to fulfilling her alter-career.

The cost of the conference, including continental breakfast and dinner with the keynote speaker, is $95. Visit www.nwbwc.com for more details and reservation forms, or e-mail NWBWC11@gmail.com.

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