A UNIQUE THEATRICAL EVENT
Directed by Craig Fols
ROTATING CASTS - A "NEW" SHOW EVERY WEEK!
September 6 - October 14
Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 PM
Tickets: $35 General Admission, $30 Seniors*
$20 Students & Military | Ages 12 and under are always free
* LOVEFEST REPEAT VIEWING DISCOUNT - Please note that with six different casts, audience members can come back each week to experience the show again with new actors; just bring your original ticket to the box office for $10 admission! Use as many times as you like. Cash only, please.
September 6 - October 14
Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 PM
Tickets: $35 General Admission, $30 Seniors*
$20 Students & Military | Ages 12 and under are always free
* LOVEFEST REPEAT VIEWING DISCOUNT - Please note that with six different casts, audience members can come back each week to experience the show again with new actors; just bring your original ticket to the box office for $10 admission! Use as many times as you like. Cash only, please.
Join a rotating cast of couples for this funny and poignant portrait of love and friendship.
Meet Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III, two childhood friends who share a lifetime of correspondence, beginning with birthday party thank-you notes and ending with a heartfelt goodbye.
Meet Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III, two childhood friends who share a lifetime of correspondence, beginning with birthday party thank-you notes and ending with a heartfelt goodbye.
BIOS - WEEK 6
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ARIJA BAREIKIS* (Melissa) can be seen in THE PURGE, BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD, MELINDA AND MELINDA, NO RESERVATIONS, A PAINTED HOUSE, SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS, DEUCE BIGALOW, THE MYTH OF FINGERPRINTS and many other films. On television she worked on POWER, SOUTHLAND, GREY’S ANATOMY, CROSSING JORDAN, AMERICAN EMBASSY, OZ, the LAW AND ORDER shows, and more. In the theater she has starred on Broadway and worked for the Roundabout, the Mark Taper Forum, Manhattan Theatre Club, Edge, Rattlestick, Williamstown, Bay Street, amongst many others.
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CRAIG FOLS* (Andrew) grew up in South Jersey, and began acting professionally in Philadelphia at 15. At 19, he moved to New York to study at Circle In the Square, and went on to study with Stella Adler and Wynn Handman, among many others. In New York, he played Colleen Dewhurst’s son, originated roles in new plays by Lanie Robertson, did 1,000 developmental readings and workshops, filmed a Diet Dr. Pepper commercial, and played the leading man in THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS off-Broadway for more than 500 performances. (Original Cast Album, Jay Records.) In 2023, he returned to South Jersey as Artistic Director of East Lynne Theater Company.
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BIOS - WEEK 5
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ALISON J. MURPHY* (Melissa) recently appeared in Who Am I This Time? and Ah, Wilderness! with ELTC. Also Zelda & Scott: A Life Affair at the Fitzgerald Museum in Montgomery, Alabama; and Lunt and Fontanne: The Celestials of Broadway at the New York International Fringe Festival and The Classic Theatre of San Antonio (with Mark Edward Lang). NYC: East Lynne Theater Company’s Why Marry? at the historic Players Club. Past ELTC productions include The Late Christopher Bean, The Dictator, The New York Idea, Voice of the City, Four by Four, Why Marry?, You and I, Dulcy, and The Guardsman. For Access to Art she was Rosalind in As You Like It and Margaret Roper More in Bound by Truth by Sheila Rinear. She has also worked with American Stage Company and Shakespeare in the Garden, in productions of Extremities, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Othello, The Tempest and Twelfth Night. Film: Lead role in The Love of My Life, directed by Frank Faralli.
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MARK EDWARD LANG* (Andrew) is a NYC based actor, director, graphic designer and playwright. He is the author and co-star of the biographical plays Zelda & Scott: A Life Affair (NYC, NJ and at the Fitzgerald Museum in Montgomery) and Lunt & Fontanne: The Celestials of Broadway (NYC & San Antonio). Regional: many shows with ELTC, including Who Am I This Time?, The Rainmaker, Ah, Wilderness!, Biography, Zorro!, The Guardsman (opposite Alison J. Murphy), Why Marry? and, as director, Kyle Bass’ Possessing Harriet and Eugene O’Neill’s Anna Christie. Other regional theater includes lead and featured roles in Terra Nova (Captain Scott), The Importance of Being Earnest (Jack), Stones in his Pockets and Welcome Home, Marian Anderson (Off-Broadway and tour). Tours: National Shakespeare Co. and the Asolo. International: Copenhagen, Istanbul, Tanzania and Bangalore, India with Leadership-Masters. Kazan Prize recipient, Vassar College. Member AEA, SAG-AFTRA, The Dramatists Guild.
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BIOS - WEEK 4
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MARLENA LUSTIK* (Melissa) made her debut on Broadway as a dancer in Foxy with Bert Lahr. Other Broadway credits include Pousse Café and Days in the Trees. Off Broadway she appeared in the original productions of the Pulitzer Prize winning play The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds as Tillie and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest as Candy Star. Regional theatre credits include The O’Neill Sea Plays at The Long Wharf Theatre, Lady Be Good at The Goodspeed Opera House and A Seagull at the Kennedy Center working with artists like David Straithorn, Swoozie Kurtz, Tony Bennett, Colleen Dewhurst and Peter Sellars. She has done numerous commercials for such products as Birdseye, 00Listerine, and Special K cereal and was nominated for a CLIO for best actress in a commercial. Television and film credits include Rodeo Red and the Runaway, Times Square, With All Deliberate Speed and roles on Another World and One Life to Live. She appeared as Anna in the cult film My Brother Has Bad Dreams and there is an interview with her about that film in the August 2022 issue of Videoscope Magazine. At Cape May Stage, she has played Emily in The Life Span of a Fact, Aoife in Outside Mullingar, Mrs. Gottlieb in Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Julia in Lend Me A Tenor, Silda in Other Desert Cities, Berthe in Boeing Boeing, Lillian in I Hate Hamlet and Ouiser in Steel Magnolias. Along the way she has had the pleasure of performing opposite Roy Steinberg, the love of her life, and her favorite acting partner as Patricia in Adopt a Sailor, Mrs. Banks in Barefoot in the Park, and Eleanor in The Lion in Winter. She is delighted to be acting with him again in “Love Letters” by A.R. Gurney, one of her favorite playwrights. Thanks as always to my daughter Alexa for using her professional psychological skills to keep me calm when I am acting. “Breathe Mom, Breathe”!
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ROY STEINBERG* (Andrew) made his Broadway debut in the Tony nominated “Wings” with Tony Award winner Constance Cummings and his off-Broadway debut playing Lysander in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Jean Cocteau Repertory Company. He has played the title roles in “King Lear”, “Richard III” and “Macbeth” in theaters across the country. Mr. Steinberg played opposite Academy Award winner Christopher Walken in “Measure for Measure” at Yale Rep. and played opposite Academy Award winner William Hurt in “The Rimers of Eldritch” at the International Drama Festival in Dundalk, Ireland. His long resume of classical and contemporary work includes the Kennedy Center, Public Theatre in New York, Boston Shakespeare Company and Santa Fe Festival Theater. He is grateful to be playing opposite his favorite actress tonight.
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BIOS - WEEK 3
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NANCE WILLIAMSON* (Melissa) has been a professional actress for thirty-nine years performing in theater, television, film and in numerous commercials. Most recently She can be seen in the movie The Hating Game. On TV Nance can be seen in The Walking Dead-The World Beyond, The Good Wife, Law and Order, Law and Order-Criminal Intent, Law and Order SVU, The Fringe, Dawson’s Creek among others. On Broadway, Nance played in Cyrano, Romeo and Juliet, and at Lincoln Center Henry IV, Arthur Miller’s Broken Glass. Off-Broadway, Nance has performed in Cyrano, Pride and Prejudice, Marvin’s Room, Two Gentlemen of Verona for the New York Shakespeare in the Park, An Empty Plate at the Café du Grand Beouff and The Seagull among others. Regionally, Nance has performed across the country in plays classical and contemporary. Nance and her husband, Kurt Rhoads have been members of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival for over 22 summer seasons where her favorite roles include Martha Washington in The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington, Tamora in Titus Andronicus, Kate in Taming of the Shrew, Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra, Lady Macbeth, The Nurse in Rand J, Mrs. Malaprop, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, and recently Juliet to Kurt’s Romeo in an age-blind Romeo and Juliet. Nance was a member of the Dallas Theater Center Acting Co for 10 years as a student, journeyman and professional actress, and 5 seasons with the Dallas Shakespeare Festival. Nance received her BA from St. Olaf College and MFA from Trinity University. She and her husband have been married for 39 years and have performed together in 72 theatrical productions.
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KURT RHOADS* (Andrew) is excited to make his debut at East Lynne Theatre Co. He has performed and directed at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival for 25 seasons. Credits at HVSF: the poet in The ILIAD; Romeo, Macbeth, Tartuffe, Antony, Petruchio, Benedick, others. On Broadway, Kurt has appeared in Julius Caesar with Denzel Washington. Off Broadway: Fashions for Men at the Mint Theatre; Othello and The Good-Natur’d Man at the Pearl Theatre. Regional: Toby Belch in 12th Night at Two River Theatre Co. How I Learned to Drive at Arena Stage, Merry Wives of Windsor, Richard III, Antony and Cleopatra, Julius Caesar at Shakespeare Theatre. Beauty Queen of Leenane at Delaware Theatre Co. Other theatres: PlayMakers’ Rep, Old Globe, Denver Center, Trinity Rep, San Jose Rep, Arizona Theatre Co, Rep Theatre of St. Louis, others. Education: University of Chicago and DePaul University. Film/TV: The Walking Dead: The World Beyond; Law and Order; The Blacklist, Walker, Texas Ranger. This is the 73rd production with Nance Williamson.
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BIOS - WEEK 2
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VEANNE COX* (Melissa) Broadway: An American in Paris, A Free Man of Color, La Cage Aux Folles, Caroline or Change, The Dinner Party, Company, Smile. Off Broadway shows at Vineyard, TFANA, Signature, NYTW, The Public, MTC, MCC, Playwright's Horizons, Women's Project, Rattlestick. Shakespeare Theatre Company: Twelfth Night, Comedy of Errors, Merry Wives of Windsor, Way Of The World, The Beaux Stratagem. TV/FILM includes: Summoning Sylvia,The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Mandalorian, New Amsterdam, NCIS New Orleans, Seinfeld, Cinderella, Erin Brockovich, You've Got Mail. Web Series: Indoor Boys and Cady Did. She has been nominated for Tony, Emmy, Outer Critics and Helen Hayes Awards, and has received special Drama Desk and Obie Awards for excellence in the Theatre.
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EZRA BARNES* (Andrew) appeared in East Lynne’s A Tale of Two Cities earlier this summer and is very happy to be back. Select credits include: Off Broadway: Breakfast With Mugabe, Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird (Queens Theatre in the Park), In White America (New Federal), Far and Wide (Mint). Regional: McCarter, Geva, Portland Stage, Hartford Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse, Denver Center, Pioneer, Paper Mill. TV: currently, the hit YouTube series Group, an innovative show about a therapy group, previously on New Amsterdam, Jessica Jones, Orange is the New Black, The Sinner, Bored to Death, Law & Order, SVU. Film: Motherless Brooklyn, birth/rebirth, Unintended, Noah, Joshua, Once More With Feeling. Ezra was awarded the Connecticut Critic’s Circle Award for Outstanding Direction for his production of Diary of Anne Frank at Playhouse on Park. He is the Founding Artistic Director of Connecticut’s Shakespeare on the Sound festival and lead the company from 1996-2008. Ezra is a Brooklyn resident, where he runs the Young Actors Workshop.
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BIOS - WEEK 1
VERONIQUE HURLEY* (Melissa) (She/Her) It is always a pleasure to return to East Lynne Theater. Currently, co-hosting the comedy podcast: Grumble Goat @grumblegoatpodcast. Recent credits include: Who Am I This time?, The Rainmaker, Sherlock Holmes Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle, Silent Sky (East Lynne Theater) Off Broadway Theatre Credits include: The Tempest, As You Like it, Twelfth Night, Hunting and Gathering (The Glass Eye), and Women are crazy because men are A*holes (Cherry Lane Theatre); Regional Credits Include: Noises Off, To Kill A Mockingbird, Christmas Carol, (The Hartford Stage Company) The Straight Marriage Plays, Moon Over Buffalo (Cape May Stage), Around the World in 80 Days (Playhouse on Park) (won best ensemble, Broadwayworld.com). Member AEA @verhurley Veroniquehurley.com
MAT LABOTKA* (Andrew) An alum of Chicago’s Second City Conservatory and Marquette University, Mat is both classically trained and freshly comedic. Previous East Lynne credits include The Rainmaker (File), Who Am I This Time (Harry Nash), and Sherlock Holmes (Announcer). Next month Mat can be seen in the new play, Honor at ART NY Theatre in New York. Mat also hosts the delightfully comedic podcast, Grumble Goat. matlabotka.com Member AEA.
A.R. GURNEY (1930-2017) The author of 61 plays, Gurney was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in 2004. His shows for Broadway include LOVE LETTERS, SYLVIA, SWEET SUE and THE GOLDEN AGE. LOVE LETTERS debuted on Broadway in 1989.
His other plays include: SCENES FROM AMERICAN LIFE, THE DINING ROOM, THE MIDDLE AGES, RICHARD CORY, WHAT I DID LAST SUMMER, THE PERFECT PARTY, ANOTHER ANTIGONE, THE COCKTAIL HOUR, LOVE LETTERS, THE SNOW BALL (adapted from his novel), THE OLD BOY, THE FOURTH WALL, LATER LIFE, A CHEEVER EVENING, LET’S DO IT (A COLE PORTER MUSICAL), LABOR DAY, FAR EAST, DARLENE AND THE GUEST LECTURER, ANCESTRAL VOICES. Opera: the libretto for STRAWBERRY FIELDS, with music by Michael Torke. Novels: “The Gospel According to Joe,” “Entertaining Strangers,” and “The Snow Ball.”
Awards: Drama Desk, N.E.A., Rockefeller Foundation, New England Theatre Conference, Lucille Lortel, American Association of Community Theatres, American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. Honorary degrees: Williams College and Buffalo State University. Gurney was on the faculty of M.I.T. until 1996. The husband of one, father of four, and grandfather of six.
His other plays include: SCENES FROM AMERICAN LIFE, THE DINING ROOM, THE MIDDLE AGES, RICHARD CORY, WHAT I DID LAST SUMMER, THE PERFECT PARTY, ANOTHER ANTIGONE, THE COCKTAIL HOUR, LOVE LETTERS, THE SNOW BALL (adapted from his novel), THE OLD BOY, THE FOURTH WALL, LATER LIFE, A CHEEVER EVENING, LET’S DO IT (A COLE PORTER MUSICAL), LABOR DAY, FAR EAST, DARLENE AND THE GUEST LECTURER, ANCESTRAL VOICES. Opera: the libretto for STRAWBERRY FIELDS, with music by Michael Torke. Novels: “The Gospel According to Joe,” “Entertaining Strangers,” and “The Snow Ball.”
Awards: Drama Desk, N.E.A., Rockefeller Foundation, New England Theatre Conference, Lucille Lortel, American Association of Community Theatres, American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. Honorary degrees: Williams College and Buffalo State University. Gurney was on the faculty of M.I.T. until 1996. The husband of one, father of four, and grandfather of six.
Craig Fols (Director) is the Artistic Director of East Lynne Theater Company. READ MORE
