East Lynne and Other Area Theaters Receive Great Response at Drumthwacket

The recent partnership between The Drumthwacket Foundation, The Garden Club of New Jersey, and The New Jersey Theatre Alliance brought about a successful team for decorating Drumthwacket, the Governor's residence in Princeton. So popular was this event, named "Drumthwacket on Stage," that the Foundation added another holiday open house to the previously scheduled three, and over 4,000 people visited the Victorian mansion to see it all decked out during the month of December. Media coverage throughout the state was impressive, including a piece on NJTV.

Back in April, when the Drumthwacket Foundation asked the New Jersey Theatre Alliance if its members would be interested in helping The Garden Club of New Jersey decorate this prestigious residence, East Lynne Theater Company, based in Cape May, NJ, was among the theaters to say "yes." The Drumthwacket Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that counts among its missions the preservation of the Drumthwacket properties and broadening access. The Alliance, a consortium of professional Equity theaters throughout the state, fosters collaboration, cooperation and audience development.

East Lynne Theater Company was asked to decorate the Governor's Study. The display was created to make one think that a woman in a purple suit, could be looking at a shop window from 1914, the year that "It Pays to Advertise" opened on Broadway. Costumes, designed and built by Marion T. Brady from ELTC's 2012 production of the play, and props, including an advertising sign designed by Mark E. Lang, were used for the scene.

Centenary Stage Company, The Growing Stage, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, and Premiere Stages decorated three other rooms. Other not-for-profit theater members of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance provided set designs and props from various shows that were displayed in the dining room.

After months of planning and creating "Drumthwacket on Stage," everyone was pleased with the outcome, and East Lynne Theater Company was proud to be represented.

Although the festive floral touches and theater memorabilia were removed during the second week in January, the Governor's residence is still a lovely place to visit. If anyone would like to see East Lynne Theater Company's "woman in the purple suit," she's currently at Kaleidoscope, a clothing store on the Washington Street Mall in Cape May, in all of her Edwardian splendor.