Sally Bingham, Artist-in-Residence working with Wildwood students in the After-School Program, and heading up ELTC's Summer Workshop BIOS FOR ELTC'S ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE Sally Bingham has been involved in theater as an actor, director, and playwright in Chicago and Philadelphia for 25 years. She has participated in shows ranging from full length improvisational plays to fringe festivals to children’s musical theater, and has taught acting skills and creativity to corporate executives and children. She and her husband, playwright Ken Bingham, founded the professional theater company, Edge Productions, and Over The Edge Comedy Troupe. In 2012, she started the after-school theater program at West Cape May Elementary School by directing Hamlet, and this year, she's directing 3rd-6th grade students in Macbeth. Sally resides in Philadelphia and Cape May. Rudy Caporaso is a professional actor and Co-Founder/Co-Artistic Director of Rev Theater Company. He is also Co-Founder of the recently created Scranton Shakespeare Festival. He's appeared in numerous Off-Broadway, Philadelphia, regional, and London productions with roles including Hamlet in Hamlet, Iago in Othello, and Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream. As Rev’s Educational Director, Rudy has worked extensively in outreach theater programs with children in Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs, United Neighborhood Centers, and charter and public Schools in NYC, Philadelphia, in upstate New York, and throughout Connecticut. He is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, is a member of Actors' Equity Association and lives in New York City. Grace Wright is a native of South Jersey and has performed in ELTC 's He and She and The Poe Mysteries. Roles she has performed with other South Jersey companies include Susan in Narnia, Beatrice in Much Ado, Queen of Hearts in Alice, and Hodel in Fiddler. She has also appeared in several independent films and worked on crew as music director and stage manager for Sojourn Productions. In March 2012, she assisted Gayle Stahlhuth with the in-school residency at Glenwood Avenue School where 5th grade students wrote and performed plays to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Wildwood.
Students, with teaching artist Patti Chambers, participating in ELTC's workshop in Whitesboro, NJ, funded by Target THANK YOU LETTERS Dear Gayle, I wanted to write to formally thank you for your participation in our 21st Century Community Learning Centers funded after school program at the Wildwood Middle School this year. The fact that we were able to pursue our theme of visual and performing arts from the start of the program with a professional theater company that also has such skill working with young students, has been a tremendous help to getting our program off on the right foot. Your dedication, and that of your staff, in working with us, not just as a contractor, but as a true community partner in the achievement of our goals for the program, has been wonderful. We know we can count on you every week to provide our students with meaningful experiences that they would not otherwise have. Our two trips so far to see East Lynne productions at your theater have also been opportunities for our students to broaden their life experiences which can only benefit them, especially in providing them background which will help them in their academics. You have also been a great asset in connecting us with other potential partners in the theater arts. We look forward to continuing and expanding our relationship with East Lynne throughout the life of this five year grant and beyond. Josepha M. Penrose Supervisor of Curriculum & Instruction Wildwood Public School District
Dear Gayle, Thank you for the information that you shared with our fifth grade students during your play writing sessions in March. This made for unique and exciting educational experiences. The event was new and outside of their comfort zone. Their participation was highly enriching and possessed immeasurable intrinsic value. I was very proud to see them come out of their shell and perform for their peers, teachers, and parents. We so appreciated your visit at Glenwood Avenue Elementary School, as well as did our students. - John Kummings, Principal Glenwood Avenue Elementary School, Wildwood Students in Glenwood Avenue Elementary School production of 100 YEARS OF WILDWOOD Funding by Target Dear Gayle, - Student Megan, who played Capt. Mulrooney & Mrs. Sawyer
Students participating in ELTC's Summer Workshop production of The Little Princesses Dear Gayle, On behalf of the students, staff, and parents of the West Cape May School District, I would like to commend and thank you for the excellent work you do with our young people during the March Artist-in-Residence program funded by the East Lynne Theater Company and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance. It is always gratifying to watch the growing excitement of the children as they become involved with preparing and performing a play. Having working with you in the past, I can speak from personal experience that your enthusiasm and devotion to theater arts motivates the students to present their very best. In his August, 2009 letter to educational leaders, Secretary Arne Duncan emphasized the "importance of the arts as a core academic subject and part of the complete education of all students." The Arts are an extremely important part of the education of all children, and, in these days of rapidly shrinking budgets, I am proud and thankful that we are able to continue to enhance the academics of our district with quality programming and activities such as yours. We are indeed fortunate to be able to have you work with our students. Thank you and wishing you well in all that you do. - Brenda Williams Elliott, Supervisor, West Cape May Elementary School Dear
East Lynne Theater,
- Victoria Zelanek, Superindent, Cape May City Schools
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Scroll Down for information on our Student Summer Workshop, Internships, Residencies, Adult Workshops, Playwriting Get-Aways, and even Murder Mystery Weekends!
ELTC provides after-school programs and is now involved with Wildwood Middle School due to Josepha M. Penrose, Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction for The Wildwood School District, receiving funding from the federal program, The 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant. From 2012 through 2016, for an average of two days a week, ELTC will provide exciting theater programs for 5th through 7th graders that result in productions for the community, attending live professional theater, and working with special guest theater artists like James Rana. (See sidebar for letter from Ms. Penrose to ELTC,and letters from others as well.) Whether after-school, or in the classroom, working on plays reinforces reading and use of language, self-assurance, cooperation, and social skills. Since ELTC’s mission embraces American history and literature, the company brings its unique perspective into schools, further supporting Core Curriculum Standards in Visual and Performing Arts, Language Arts Literacy, and Social Studies.
Examples of School Residences
On March 20, 2013, forty 5th-7th graders who are part of Wildwood's After-School Program performed a play and musical they'd written, under the guidance of ELTC's artists-in-residence Sally Bingham, Rudy Caporaso, and Grace Wright. Students, parents, friends, and teachers all had a terrific time at this free perfomrance for the community, and the party afterwards - and the students are ready to put on another show. Pictured here are photos from this production. To read an article about this exciting theater program in The Press of Atlantic City, Click Here.
After six days of working with Gayle Stahlhuth, who also wrote the script, 5th and 6th grade students at West Cape May Elementary School performed Henry Sawyer and the Civil War, about Cape May's own Civil War hero. An enthusiastic audience attended the free performance on March 27, 2009, and the students did a great job. (Most of the cast is pictured left.) Tom Sims, Executive Director of the Cape May Film Festival and members of The Young Filmmakers Program created a terrific documentary! To see it on YouTube, CLICK HERE. ELTC has conducted residencies in West Cape May Elementary School since 2000. Shows students have performed include scenes they've written about the Civil War, The Wizard of Oz, and Alice in Wonderland, adapted by Chicago playwright Alice Gerstenberg in 1917. Other schools in Cape May County where ELTC has conducted residencies include Ocean City Primary School, Cape May Elementary School, Glenwood Avenue Elementary School in Wildwood, Teitelman Middle School, Middle Township Middle School, and Lower Regional High School. To read a 2012 article in The Press of Atlantic City about an ELTC residency: Click Here To read a 2011 article in The Press of Atlantic City: Click Here
Historic Jackson Street Neighborhood Association Scholarship Fund Started in the fall of 2006 with a $5,000 donation from HJSNA, in honor of Bob and Toni Green, who first owned The Puffin Bed and Breakfast on Jackson Street, ELTC gives this award annually to those pursuing theater. Recipients have been: 2007: Caitlin Wallace; 2008: Erin Callahan; 2009: Bobby LeMaire; 2010: Tiffany-Leigh Moskow; 2011: Grace Wright; and 2012: Gabrielle Wilson. Intern Program:
Picture left are students in Utah performing a play they wrote about Bingham Canyon, and right is a photo from The Wizard of Oz at West Cape May Elementary School. Examples include:
Example of a Residency Meeting
the Core Curriculum Content Standards A 10-day residency developed between the PTA President, fifth grade teachers, and the artist-in-residence titled The Civil War: A Students’ Perspective, entailed the students creating and performing scenes from the Civil War. The Social Studies core curriculum content standards for New Jersey 6.3, 6.4 and 6.6 in which students are to acquire an historical understanding of political, economic and diplomatic ideas and social values that helped shape the United States, were met. This residency also directly supported the core curriculum content standards for the Language Arts Literacy 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4, and the Visual and Performing Arts 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6.
Road Scholars (formerly Elderhostels), Adult Education and Classes with Special Needs Letter to ELTC from Donna Groome, Social
Worker, Cape May County Board of Social Services:
The reviews are in, and our Third Annual Get-Away will be on Feb. 28 and March 1, 2014 “I had never written a play before, but I cannot tell you how totally supportive the director Gayle was, and my fellow attendees. The high point was listening to our plays read by the director, and other actors from East Lynne Theater Company. It was magical! I definitely want to attend another one of these weekends - sign me up! The Henry Sawyer Inn was wonderful! People coming together on a weekend to create and share their talents - I cannot imagine a more worthwhile way to spend a weekend. A real life changing experience!” - Deana Sasdelli from Avalon, NJ “It had been a while since I had tried my hand at playwriting, but the nurturing atmosphere and Gayle’s genuine delight in exploring language and ideas gave me courage and confidence. I was thrilled to have accomplished writing a ten-minute minute play, but to have it read/performed by terrific, accomplished actors was icing on the cake! All this and the perfect venue—the charming Henry Sawyer Inn—with its serene atmosphere, warm hospitality, and delectable "food for thought"—made for a most memorable and rewarding experience. Highly recommended!” - Linda Stankard, Suffern, NY Cost is $399 for 2 people and $299 for one (plus tax), which includes accommodations, breakfast, afternoon tea and treats for two nights, and the workshop fee. Reservations are made through The Henry Sawyer Inn by calling (800) 449-5667 or going online to henrysawyerinn@verizon.net. For detailed information about the workshop, contact Gayle Stahlhuth at East Lynne Theater Company by calling (609) 884-5898 or online at eastlynneco@aol.com.
Murder Mystery Weekends at The Henry Sawyer Inn and Twin Gables On the following Fridays & Saturdays in 2014: February 21 & 22; March 7 & 8; and March 21 & 22 These exciting weekends allows guests to try their hand at solving a murder mystery with an experienced retired Philadelphia police detective, Frank Smith, who gives just enough information to get sleuthing skills going. Packages include Friday night appetizers at the Henry Sawyer Inn, dinner at one of Cape May’s fine restaurants, breakfasts at the inn, and a dessert reception on Saturday evening – all while guests continue to gather clues to solve the crime. Cost is $349 plus tax for accommodations in a room; $399 for accommodations in a 2-room suite. Reservations are made through The Henry Sawyer Inn by calling (800) 449-5667 or going online to
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Residencies are tailored to the needs of the teachers, curriculum,
and/or the community, and may be part of the regular classroom experience
or after school. Residencies are usually 1-30 days with 5-10 days
being most requested. The artists-in-residence are creative and,
given appropriate time for preparation, are capable of creating a
residency with specific goals and needs. They are also accustomed
to working with special populations. 
Original web & graphic design by TBE Design