East Lynne Theater Co. presents LOUISA MAY ALCOTT'S CHRISTMAS

"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," grumbled Jo.

"It's so dreadful to be poor!" sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress.

"I don't think it's fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all," added Amy.

"We've got Father and Mother and each other," said Beth contentedly from her corner.

Many readers will recognize this as the opening of Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women," the beloved novel that will be celebrating its 150th anniversary in a few months. For seven times only, the award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company will present "Louisa May Alcott's Christmas," adapted and performed by Gayle Stahlhuth.

Stahlhuth's past solo Christmas performances of stories by Zona Gale, L. Frank Baum, O. Henry, Mark Twain, and Mary Wilkins Freeman have been praised by reviewers and audience alike. With the flick of a wrist, the bend of the waist, the turn of the head, and a change in voice, she brings thirty different characters to life in a heartbeat. These are not readings, but fully memorized and staged performances.

Tales include the opening of "Little Women" as well as "Tessa's Surprises," about an immigrant Italian family, and "What the Bells Saw and Said" in which the spirits of bells ringing high above city streets, discuss the state of affairs of mankind below. Although Alcott wrote this in 1867, it will be noticed that not much has changed in 150 years. All of these stories involve the love, laughter, and hope of the holidays.

"A Year in the Trenches" this past fall marked Stahlhuth's 100th production since becoming ELTC's Artistic Director in 1999. She's appeared in Off-Broadway, regional and touring productions, and has been awarded commissions from The National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, the Missouri and Illinois Humanities Councils, Theatreworks/USA and other theaters, and grants from the NJ Humanities Council, the NYS Council on the Arts, and the Mid-Atlantic Foundation for the Arts. She is an Active Member of the Dramatists Guild, SAG-AFTRA, and is in her 45th year as a member of Actors' Equity Association.

"Louisa May Alcott's Christmas" performs on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 24 and 25, Sunday, Dec. 3, Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 6 - 9, all at 8:00 p.m. with a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Dec. 9. The location is The First Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes St. in Cape May, where the company is in residence. As usual with ELTC's Christmas shows, the company reduces its regular ticket price as an early holiday gift to its audience. Tickets are $27 for general admission; $17 for full-time students and military (active, retired, veteran), and as always with ELTC productions, those ages twelve and under are free when accompanied by parents or guardians.

The Dinner-and-an-ELTC-Show-Package continues with Aleathea's Restaurant, The Washington Inn, and The Blue Rose. Other restaurants have closed for the season.

Season tickets for 2018 are available and make a great Christmas present! Price is only $90 for four shows, if purchased by March 31, and tickets may be used in any way at any time.

For information and reservations, call East Lynne at 884-5898 or visit EastLynneTheater.org.

ELTC's season would not be possible without Season Sponsors Aleathea's Restaurant, Curran Investment Management, The Henry Sawyer Inn, and The Washington Inn, and NJ Travel and Tourism, Dept.of State, and the 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.