JUNE IS LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH
and
CAPE MAY STAGE, EAST LYNNE THEATER COMPANY, AND GABLES
HAVE JOINED FORCES TO CELEBRATE
by
PRESENTING STAGED READINGS OF TWO POWERFUL PLAYS
ABOUT THE FOUNDING OF TWO INTEGRAL GAY RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS
Following each reading will be a short talk-back with the cast and creative team.
Admission to both readings is donation-based:
50% will be shared between Cape May Stage & East Lynne Theater Company (both nonprofits);
50% donated to the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (another nonprofit) to support its on-going work.
and
CAPE MAY STAGE, EAST LYNNE THEATER COMPANY, AND GABLES
HAVE JOINED FORCES TO CELEBRATE
by
PRESENTING STAGED READINGS OF TWO POWERFUL PLAYS
ABOUT THE FOUNDING OF TWO INTEGRAL GAY RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS
Following each reading will be a short talk-back with the cast and creative team.
Admission to both readings is donation-based:
50% will be shared between Cape May Stage & East Lynne Theater Company (both nonprofits);
50% donated to the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (another nonprofit) to support its on-going work.
Monday, June 10 at 8:00 PM
THE NORMAL HEART (1985)
By Larry Kramer
At Cape May Stage’s Robert Shackleton Playhouse
The Normal Heart portrays a population at war, and a plague that nips at its heels every step of the way. It is a heartbreaking indictment against ignorance during the onset of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City that led to the creation of the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GNHC). Founded in 1982 by playwright Larry Kramer, Nathan Fain, Larry Mass, Paul Popham, Paul Rapoport, and Edmund White, GMHC continues to support those dealing with HIV-AIDS, but originally this bold organization had to also demand that the burgeoning HIV-AIDS epidemic be taken seriously in not only New York City, but in the nation at large. The Normal Heart follows activist Ned Weeks (based on Kramer himself) as he pursues those in politics, the medical profession, and the general public in pursuit of his campaign for awareness, which is actually a race against time, as his friends and lovers are dying.
This hauntingly beautiful play, first produced by Joseph Papp at the Public Theater, opened on April 21,1985 and ran for 294 performances. Productions in London, Sydney, and Los Angeles followed. Barbara Streisand organized and introduced a benefit reading for Broadway Cares at the Roundabout Theatre in 1993. The Normal Heart premiered on Broadway in 2011 for a limited engagement at The Golden Theatre. HBO presented it as a film in 2014.
THE NORMAL HEART (1985)
By Larry Kramer
At Cape May Stage’s Robert Shackleton Playhouse
The Normal Heart portrays a population at war, and a plague that nips at its heels every step of the way. It is a heartbreaking indictment against ignorance during the onset of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City that led to the creation of the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GNHC). Founded in 1982 by playwright Larry Kramer, Nathan Fain, Larry Mass, Paul Popham, Paul Rapoport, and Edmund White, GMHC continues to support those dealing with HIV-AIDS, but originally this bold organization had to also demand that the burgeoning HIV-AIDS epidemic be taken seriously in not only New York City, but in the nation at large. The Normal Heart follows activist Ned Weeks (based on Kramer himself) as he pursues those in politics, the medical profession, and the general public in pursuit of his campaign for awareness, which is actually a race against time, as his friends and lovers are dying.
This hauntingly beautiful play, first produced by Joseph Papp at the Public Theater, opened on April 21,1985 and ran for 294 performances. Productions in London, Sydney, and Los Angeles followed. Barbara Streisand organized and introduced a benefit reading for Broadway Cares at the Roundabout Theatre in 1993. The Normal Heart premiered on Broadway in 2011 for a limited engagement at The Golden Theatre. HBO presented it as a film in 2014.
Monday, June 24 at 8:00 PM
THE TEMPERAMENTALS (2009)
By Jon Marans
At East Lynne Theater Company in Residence at The First Presbyterian Church of Cape May
In 1950, two Temperamentals, the code word used by homosexuals to quietly define themselves, saw the need to start an organization whose purpose was to unite, inform and empower. Founders Harry Hay, a communist and social radical, and famed Austrian-born avant garde fashion designer Rudi Gernreich, named it the Mattachine Society after a Medieval French secret society of masked men who were the anonymous social critics of their time, because Harry and Rudi, too, believed theirs should be, at first, an "underground" society. This was the era of McCarthyism, when much of American politics and culture was focused on containing the spread of communism. It was also the time of the “Lavender Scare” when federal and state governments investigated and fired thousands of employees who were suspected of being gay or lesbian, claiming that they were “security risks” who were vulnerable to Soviet blackmail.
While this intelligent, witty, and entertaining play explores the trials of the society’s founders as they risked their
lives and livelihoods to gain equality, it also reveals the relationship between Hay and Gernreich as their passion
for each other grew, along with their cause.
After premiering at The Barrow Group Studio in April 2009, The Temperamentals moved off-Broadway to New World Stages from February 18 - May 30, 2010. It received the Drama Desk Award for Best Ensemble Cast. Michael Urie, who originated the role of Rudi Gernreich, received a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actor.
THE TEMPERAMENTALS (2009)
By Jon Marans
At East Lynne Theater Company in Residence at The First Presbyterian Church of Cape May
In 1950, two Temperamentals, the code word used by homosexuals to quietly define themselves, saw the need to start an organization whose purpose was to unite, inform and empower. Founders Harry Hay, a communist and social radical, and famed Austrian-born avant garde fashion designer Rudi Gernreich, named it the Mattachine Society after a Medieval French secret society of masked men who were the anonymous social critics of their time, because Harry and Rudi, too, believed theirs should be, at first, an "underground" society. This was the era of McCarthyism, when much of American politics and culture was focused on containing the spread of communism. It was also the time of the “Lavender Scare” when federal and state governments investigated and fired thousands of employees who were suspected of being gay or lesbian, claiming that they were “security risks” who were vulnerable to Soviet blackmail.
While this intelligent, witty, and entertaining play explores the trials of the society’s founders as they risked their
lives and livelihoods to gain equality, it also reveals the relationship between Hay and Gernreich as their passion
for each other grew, along with their cause.
After premiering at The Barrow Group Studio in April 2009, The Temperamentals moved off-Broadway to New World Stages from February 18 - May 30, 2010. It received the Drama Desk Award for Best Ensemble Cast. Michael Urie, who originated the role of Rudi Gernreich, received a Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actor.
WHO'S WHO FOR THE TEMPERAMENTALS
Mitchell Malnati (Director of the Staged Reading/Dale Jennings/Nigel Butler) graduated from Fordham University in NYC with a B.A. in Theatre. While a love of theatre began through acting, Mitchell found his groove in playwriting. While at Fordham, he was the President of the Playwright’s Guild and had his original plays The American Family and Testament performed for audiences. His former production company, Mayhaps Productions, produced his original play Girls: A Two-Act Play about Men at the Producer’s Club in Times Square for an extended run. In another life, Mitchell was a certified Sommelier and Mixologist. He worked as a Corporate Wine & Beverage Director for many years and traveled through Spain and France visiting vineyards and learning about the winemaking process. One of Mitchell’s proudest accomplishments was starting the Rainbow Alliance, New York’s first gay/straight alliance at a Jesuit college. After becoming a Cape May County resident last year, Mitchell has described coming to Cape May Stage as its Development Director, as a perfect moment of serendipity and is so incredibly happy to be involved with the theater once again.
Jared Mason Murray (Bob Hull/George Shibley) is currently portraying Chief Inspector Joseph Tooker in ELTC’s Summerland. NEW YORK: The Seeing Place Theater: Measure for Measure (Escalus). REGIONAL: The Kennedy Center: Shear Madness (Mikey), Chesapeake Shakespeare Company: Richard III (First Murderer), Olney Theatre Center: Red Riding Hood A New Fable (Wolf), Imagination Stage: Rapunzel (Brian/Simon U/S), Impossible Theatre Company: Macbeth (Donalbain), Naked Theatre Company: ClickB@it (Cat), THE Theatre Company: The House of Yes (Marty). FILM: Amazon Prime: King Lear (Burgundy). Jared wants to thank God and his loving wife and family. Member Actors’ Equity Association. jaredmasonmurray.com
Phil Pizzi (Chuck Rowland/Vincente Minnelli) began his career in broadcasting at WCMC AM/FM in Wildwood, NJ in 1977. He co-hosted Music Plus on the local original cable TV station, featuring bands and interviews with everyone from William Shatner to Weird Al Yankovic. He appeared in The Music Man, Guys & Dolls, and The Odd Couple with the Sea Isle Players. He performed with ELTC in The New York Idea, Why Marry?, It Pays to Advertise, and two radio-style productions: Adventure of the Copper Beeches and Adventure of the Specked Band. Indie films include The Corner Bar and Bittercress. Phil produces Jersey Cape Fishing, South Jersey's longest running fishing show, distributed on Comcast Cable to over 2 million house-holds throughout the Delaware Valley. Until recently, he hosted The Morning Show on 98.7-FM The Coast, WCZT, the most listened-to radio station in Cape May County.
Thomas Raniszewski (Rudi Gernreich) was in the world premiere of Dying Like Ignacio at the Workshop Theater's Main Stage Theater in New York. East Lynne Theater Company credits include Arsenic and Old Lace, Ah, Wilderness!, Dracula, Strictly Dishonorable, Berkeley Square and It Pays to Advertise. In 2014, he portrayed Tommy in Rachel Handler's 2015 short feature Disabilidates which premiered at the Hollyshorts Film Festival in Hollywood. He received critical acclaim for his role as Warren in the 2011 and ‘12 Philadelphia productions of Tom Jacobson's award-winning psychological drama The Twentieth-Century Way. In May, 2013, he reunited with East Lynne's 2006 cast of Why Marry? for a staged-reading performance in New York City at the prestigious Players Club. Member Actors’ Equity Association.
Christopher Marlowe Roche (Harry Hay) is an Assistant Professor in The Department of Theatre and Dance and coordinator of the Musical Theatre track at Rowan. He holds an M.F.A. in Acting and New Works and a Ph.D. in Theatre from The Ohio State University, as well as a B.A. in Musical Theatre from The Catholic University of America in Washington DC. He is a founding member and Artistic Associate with the for/word company, which creates new works based on the historical record. With the for/word company he has originated the roles of Antoine de Saint Exupery (North) and E.B. White (The Little Book). The for/word company has performed in Seattle, WA., Chicago, IL., and most recently Off-Broadway at the 59th E 59th St. Theatre in New York City. Chris has also performed at The Walnut Street, Freedom Theatre and Bristol Riverside Theatre in Philadelphia as well as The Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Woolly Mammoth, Source, Studio and Theatre J, all in Washington DC. He is a proud member of The Actors’ Equity Association.
Gayle Stahlhuth (Stage Directions/The Women) recently received an excellent review in “The Wall Street Journal” for playing Martha and directing ELTC’s Arsenic and Old Lace. She’s performed off-Broadway (Manhattan Theatre Club, etc.), in national tours (Cabaret, Fiddler, etc.), regional theater (Gateway Playhouse in Long Island, etc.), television, and radio. Other work involves directing cabaret shows in NYC, starting a dinner theater in Billings, MT, and creating a Medieval Festival at The Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore. A Year in the Trenches (2017), marked her 100th production for ELTC since becoming the company’s artistic director in 1999. She’s been awarded commissions from The National Portrait Gallery and grants from the Mid-Atlantic Foundation for the Arts. For several years, she was a judge for the Emmy Awards in the field of broadcast news. In 2016, she was honored for her work in theater by The National Association of Professional Women (NAPW). Member: Actors’ Equity Association, SAG-AFTRA, Dramatists Guild, and NAPW.
Lee O’Connor (Technical Director/Stage Manager) served in Vietnam, first in the field, and then on stage in Saigon as part of an Army theater troupe. He began stage managing for ELTC in the mid-‘80s. NYC credits include: A Christmas Carol (10 years) at Madison Square Garden Theatre, Liza Steppin’ Out at Radio City, running lights for Pageant, stage managing for Ontological Theatre (Richard Forman), Irish Repertory Theatre, The Staten Island Ballet, and Dancers Over 40 Special Events and was prop master for Penn and Teller Rot in Hell. Regionally, he has worked at Ivoryton Playhouse, American Stage Company, Centenary Stage, The Bickford Theater, and The Women's Theater Company. He was road manager for CORE Ensemble, Jose Melina, and NJ Ballet. He and his wife, Gayle, have homes in Manhattan and West Cape May. Member Actors’ Equity Association.
Jon Marans (playwright) has written a brand-new book for the Lerner & Loewe musical Paint Your Wagon which premiered at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in Seattle in June 2016 and then transferred to the Ordway Theater in August 2016. The next production will be July 2019 at the MUNY Theatre in St. Louis. Other works include The Temperamentals, produced by Daryl Roth and Stacy Shane, which ran for over eight months Off-Broadway at the Barrow Group Theater and at New World Stages. The Temperamentals was nominated for the Lucille Lortel and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway play and Mr. Marans was nominated for the John Gassner Award. It was a 2012 American Library Association Stonewall Honor Book in Literature. The entire cast won the Drama Desk Award for Best Ensemble and Michael Urie won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstand-ing Lead Actor. Mr. Marans’ play Old Wicked Songs was a Pulitzer Prize Finalist for Drama, won the New York Drama League Award (including play and both actors). It was first presented by the Walnut Street Theatre, then in NYC by the Barrow Group, and then moving (produced by Daryl Roth and Jeffrey Ash) to the Promenade Theater where it ran for a season. In England, Old Wicked Songs started at the Bristol Old Vic, transferring to London's West End at the Gielgud Theater starring Bob Hoskins and James Callis. The play has been produced throughout the U.S. and has been translated and produced in over a dozen countries. Other produced shows include A Strange and Separate People at the Penguin Rep in Stony Point, NY and Studio Theater/Theater Row, NYC (2014 American Library Association Stonewall Honor Book in Literature), Jumping for Joy at the Laguna Playhouse and the International Adelaide Theater Festival, the musical Legacy at the San Jose Rep (book by Jon Marans, lyrics by Ronnie Gilbert, music Jeff Langley & Henry Mollicone based on Studs Terkel’s book Coming of Age), The Irrationals at the Village Theater and ATA, NYC (book & lyrics Jon Marans, music by Edward Thomas), A Raw Space at the Bristol Riverside Theatre and A Girl Scout World at the Bloomington Playwrights Project. In film, Jon Marans and Yuri Sivo were hired by Universal Pictures/Tribeca Productions to write a political/war screenplay based on Roy Rowan's acclaimed book Chasing the Dragon which takes place in 1947 China, in the middle of their civil war. In television, Mr. Marans was a writer for Cookin' in Brooklyn and a writer/lyricist for the 1991 New Carol Burnett Show. Mr. Marans is a graduate of Duke University in mathematics with a minor in music. His play The Temperamentals is currently in film development with Daryl Roth Productions and his play Old Wicked Songs in film development with Avi Levy. Mr. Marans is a recipient of a 2013 Guggenheim Fellowship.
Mitchell Malnati (Director of the Staged Reading/Dale Jennings/Nigel Butler) graduated from Fordham University in NYC with a B.A. in Theatre. While a love of theatre began through acting, Mitchell found his groove in playwriting. While at Fordham, he was the President of the Playwright’s Guild and had his original plays The American Family and Testament performed for audiences. His former production company, Mayhaps Productions, produced his original play Girls: A Two-Act Play about Men at the Producer’s Club in Times Square for an extended run. In another life, Mitchell was a certified Sommelier and Mixologist. He worked as a Corporate Wine & Beverage Director for many years and traveled through Spain and France visiting vineyards and learning about the winemaking process. One of Mitchell’s proudest accomplishments was starting the Rainbow Alliance, New York’s first gay/straight alliance at a Jesuit college. After becoming a Cape May County resident last year, Mitchell has described coming to Cape May Stage as its Development Director, as a perfect moment of serendipity and is so incredibly happy to be involved with the theater once again.
Jared Mason Murray (Bob Hull/George Shibley) is currently portraying Chief Inspector Joseph Tooker in ELTC’s Summerland. NEW YORK: The Seeing Place Theater: Measure for Measure (Escalus). REGIONAL: The Kennedy Center: Shear Madness (Mikey), Chesapeake Shakespeare Company: Richard III (First Murderer), Olney Theatre Center: Red Riding Hood A New Fable (Wolf), Imagination Stage: Rapunzel (Brian/Simon U/S), Impossible Theatre Company: Macbeth (Donalbain), Naked Theatre Company: ClickB@it (Cat), THE Theatre Company: The House of Yes (Marty). FILM: Amazon Prime: King Lear (Burgundy). Jared wants to thank God and his loving wife and family. Member Actors’ Equity Association. jaredmasonmurray.com
Phil Pizzi (Chuck Rowland/Vincente Minnelli) began his career in broadcasting at WCMC AM/FM in Wildwood, NJ in 1977. He co-hosted Music Plus on the local original cable TV station, featuring bands and interviews with everyone from William Shatner to Weird Al Yankovic. He appeared in The Music Man, Guys & Dolls, and The Odd Couple with the Sea Isle Players. He performed with ELTC in The New York Idea, Why Marry?, It Pays to Advertise, and two radio-style productions: Adventure of the Copper Beeches and Adventure of the Specked Band. Indie films include The Corner Bar and Bittercress. Phil produces Jersey Cape Fishing, South Jersey's longest running fishing show, distributed on Comcast Cable to over 2 million house-holds throughout the Delaware Valley. Until recently, he hosted The Morning Show on 98.7-FM The Coast, WCZT, the most listened-to radio station in Cape May County.
Thomas Raniszewski (Rudi Gernreich) was in the world premiere of Dying Like Ignacio at the Workshop Theater's Main Stage Theater in New York. East Lynne Theater Company credits include Arsenic and Old Lace, Ah, Wilderness!, Dracula, Strictly Dishonorable, Berkeley Square and It Pays to Advertise. In 2014, he portrayed Tommy in Rachel Handler's 2015 short feature Disabilidates which premiered at the Hollyshorts Film Festival in Hollywood. He received critical acclaim for his role as Warren in the 2011 and ‘12 Philadelphia productions of Tom Jacobson's award-winning psychological drama The Twentieth-Century Way. In May, 2013, he reunited with East Lynne's 2006 cast of Why Marry? for a staged-reading performance in New York City at the prestigious Players Club. Member Actors’ Equity Association.
Christopher Marlowe Roche (Harry Hay) is an Assistant Professor in The Department of Theatre and Dance and coordinator of the Musical Theatre track at Rowan. He holds an M.F.A. in Acting and New Works and a Ph.D. in Theatre from The Ohio State University, as well as a B.A. in Musical Theatre from The Catholic University of America in Washington DC. He is a founding member and Artistic Associate with the for/word company, which creates new works based on the historical record. With the for/word company he has originated the roles of Antoine de Saint Exupery (North) and E.B. White (The Little Book). The for/word company has performed in Seattle, WA., Chicago, IL., and most recently Off-Broadway at the 59th E 59th St. Theatre in New York City. Chris has also performed at The Walnut Street, Freedom Theatre and Bristol Riverside Theatre in Philadelphia as well as The Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Woolly Mammoth, Source, Studio and Theatre J, all in Washington DC. He is a proud member of The Actors’ Equity Association.
Gayle Stahlhuth (Stage Directions/The Women) recently received an excellent review in “The Wall Street Journal” for playing Martha and directing ELTC’s Arsenic and Old Lace. She’s performed off-Broadway (Manhattan Theatre Club, etc.), in national tours (Cabaret, Fiddler, etc.), regional theater (Gateway Playhouse in Long Island, etc.), television, and radio. Other work involves directing cabaret shows in NYC, starting a dinner theater in Billings, MT, and creating a Medieval Festival at The Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore. A Year in the Trenches (2017), marked her 100th production for ELTC since becoming the company’s artistic director in 1999. She’s been awarded commissions from The National Portrait Gallery and grants from the Mid-Atlantic Foundation for the Arts. For several years, she was a judge for the Emmy Awards in the field of broadcast news. In 2016, she was honored for her work in theater by The National Association of Professional Women (NAPW). Member: Actors’ Equity Association, SAG-AFTRA, Dramatists Guild, and NAPW.
Lee O’Connor (Technical Director/Stage Manager) served in Vietnam, first in the field, and then on stage in Saigon as part of an Army theater troupe. He began stage managing for ELTC in the mid-‘80s. NYC credits include: A Christmas Carol (10 years) at Madison Square Garden Theatre, Liza Steppin’ Out at Radio City, running lights for Pageant, stage managing for Ontological Theatre (Richard Forman), Irish Repertory Theatre, The Staten Island Ballet, and Dancers Over 40 Special Events and was prop master for Penn and Teller Rot in Hell. Regionally, he has worked at Ivoryton Playhouse, American Stage Company, Centenary Stage, The Bickford Theater, and The Women's Theater Company. He was road manager for CORE Ensemble, Jose Melina, and NJ Ballet. He and his wife, Gayle, have homes in Manhattan and West Cape May. Member Actors’ Equity Association.
Jon Marans (playwright) has written a brand-new book for the Lerner & Loewe musical Paint Your Wagon which premiered at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in Seattle in June 2016 and then transferred to the Ordway Theater in August 2016. The next production will be July 2019 at the MUNY Theatre in St. Louis. Other works include The Temperamentals, produced by Daryl Roth and Stacy Shane, which ran for over eight months Off-Broadway at the Barrow Group Theater and at New World Stages. The Temperamentals was nominated for the Lucille Lortel and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway play and Mr. Marans was nominated for the John Gassner Award. It was a 2012 American Library Association Stonewall Honor Book in Literature. The entire cast won the Drama Desk Award for Best Ensemble and Michael Urie won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstand-ing Lead Actor. Mr. Marans’ play Old Wicked Songs was a Pulitzer Prize Finalist for Drama, won the New York Drama League Award (including play and both actors). It was first presented by the Walnut Street Theatre, then in NYC by the Barrow Group, and then moving (produced by Daryl Roth and Jeffrey Ash) to the Promenade Theater where it ran for a season. In England, Old Wicked Songs started at the Bristol Old Vic, transferring to London's West End at the Gielgud Theater starring Bob Hoskins and James Callis. The play has been produced throughout the U.S. and has been translated and produced in over a dozen countries. Other produced shows include A Strange and Separate People at the Penguin Rep in Stony Point, NY and Studio Theater/Theater Row, NYC (2014 American Library Association Stonewall Honor Book in Literature), Jumping for Joy at the Laguna Playhouse and the International Adelaide Theater Festival, the musical Legacy at the San Jose Rep (book by Jon Marans, lyrics by Ronnie Gilbert, music Jeff Langley & Henry Mollicone based on Studs Terkel’s book Coming of Age), The Irrationals at the Village Theater and ATA, NYC (book & lyrics Jon Marans, music by Edward Thomas), A Raw Space at the Bristol Riverside Theatre and A Girl Scout World at the Bloomington Playwrights Project. In film, Jon Marans and Yuri Sivo were hired by Universal Pictures/Tribeca Productions to write a political/war screenplay based on Roy Rowan's acclaimed book Chasing the Dragon which takes place in 1947 China, in the middle of their civil war. In television, Mr. Marans was a writer for Cookin' in Brooklyn and a writer/lyricist for the 1991 New Carol Burnett Show. Mr. Marans is a graduate of Duke University in mathematics with a minor in music. His play The Temperamentals is currently in film development with Daryl Roth Productions and his play Old Wicked Songs in film development with Avi Levy. Mr. Marans is a recipient of a 2013 Guggenheim Fellowship.
