East Lynne Theater Company Presents Scholarship to Cape May Resident

On Thursday, November 12, at East Lynne Theater Company's only Cape May fundraising event in 2009, Robert J. LeMaire III (aka Bobby), was named the third recipient of the Historic Jackson Street Neighborhood Association Scholarship Fund (HJSNA) in the Name of Bob and Toni Green. This fund was started in the fall of 2006 with a generous $5,000.00 donation from HJSNA, in honor of the Greens, who first owned The Puffin on Jackson Street. Bob Green was at one time President of ELTC's Board, and Toni came up with the idea for "Tales of the Victorians." They currently live in Kentucky.

The $300.00 Scholarship is slated for students from Cape May County, who are usually preparing to attend college, or are already into their first college year, and are majoring in theater or who have worked with ELTC. This year, the Board of Directors decided to give it to thirteen-year-old Bobby to help him to pay for his current classes in dance and gymnastics. He lives with his family in Cape May County and he and his father, Rob, and his sister, Sara have all worked for ELTC.

Bobby is a familiar face to many of East Lynne's regular patrons. He first started attending rehearsals and productions in 2001 when Rob first performed with ELTC. The show was "The Dictator," and the LeMaire family have been involved with ELTC ever since. It was after Artistic Director Gayle Stahlhuth saw Bobby deliver the opening speech for ELTC's 2008 production of "Helpful Hints" at The Chalfonte Hotel, that she asked Bobby if he'd like to play the lead in an adaptation of O. Henry's "The Ransom of Red Chief." Bobby read the story, thought about it, and when he said "yes," Gayle began writing the script. Last year he was in his Middle Township Middle School's production of "Annie," and he recently performed in "It's a Wonderful Life" at Ocean City High School. Since he was helping out at ELTC's fundraiser, he was able to accept the check in person, with heartfelt thanks.

And the Staff and Members of the Board of Trustees of the Equity professional, nonprofit, East Lynne Theater Company also give their heartfelt "thank yous" to everyone who attended and performed at the fundraiser; to those who were unable to attend but were thoughtful enough to send donations anyway; to Beth Eastman and The Inn of Cape May for help with housing ELTC guests and performers from NYC; and to Beth Eastman (again) and the staff at Aleathea's Restaurant for providing the venue and delicious food. Ticket prices cover only half of what it takes to run the company, which involves educational outreach, touring productions, and the Cape May mainstage season.

For information about this unique, entertaining, and enlightening theater company, call 609-884-5898 or write to the office at: 121 Fourth Ave., West Cape May, NJ 08204, or go online to www.eastlynnetheater.org. Season Tickets for 2010 are available. The cost is only $90 for 5 shows and the tickets may be used in a variety of ways. These may be obtained by sending checks to the office or with credit card through the website.

East Lynne's season would also not be possible without the support of Curran Investment Management, La Mer Beachfront Inn, the NJ State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts; the NJ Dept. of State, Division of Travel and Tourism; the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, through the National Endowment for the Arts, administered by the NJ State Council on the Arts; and the generosity of many patrons.

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