TEACHING ARTISTS
Robert LeMaire has been working with children and young adults for over twenty-years. During the 1990’s he coordinated Education Programs, including running the Junior Apprenticeship Program, at Historic Cold Spring Village in Cape May County. Since 2001, he’s worked as an Educational Computer Specialist for the Ocean City (NJ) School District, assisting students and teachers in use of technology.
As an actor, he appeared in Vistas of Democracy, a video in NJ Network Public Television's Educational NJ Legacy Series, and the History Channel's Civil War Terror. Since 2001, Robert has performed almost yearly in ELTC productions, including To the Ladies, The Dictator, The Ransom of Red Chief, The Late Christopher Bean, and Dracula. For ten years, he’s worked the live sound effects and performed in ELTC’s radio-style Sherlock Holmes and Nick Carter detective productions.
His love of acting led him to directing. For the Ocean City High School Drama Guild, he was the assistant director for Robin Hood, Legally Blonde: The Musical, A Christmas Carol, The Man Who Came to Dinner, and Bye-Bye Birdie. He directed Footloose: The Musical, Arsenic and Old Lace, and Spamalot.
Wishing to further support keeping theater in schools, Robert is the President of the Board of Trustees for the Chartertech High School for the Performing Arts, a public school, in Somers Point, NJ.
Heading up ELTC’s Student Summer Workshop and getting involved with other arts-in-education opportunities is, as he said, “not only a chance to share my experiences and passion of and for the performing arts, but is also an opportunity to learn and grow with the next generation of actors and theater lovers."
Robert, along with others who are involved in teaching theater and directing shows with school-age students in the Garden State, was honored by ELTC and The New Jersey Theatre Alliance in 2018 at the Alliance's annual Curtain Call gala.
As an actor, he appeared in Vistas of Democracy, a video in NJ Network Public Television's Educational NJ Legacy Series, and the History Channel's Civil War Terror. Since 2001, Robert has performed almost yearly in ELTC productions, including To the Ladies, The Dictator, The Ransom of Red Chief, The Late Christopher Bean, and Dracula. For ten years, he’s worked the live sound effects and performed in ELTC’s radio-style Sherlock Holmes and Nick Carter detective productions.
His love of acting led him to directing. For the Ocean City High School Drama Guild, he was the assistant director for Robin Hood, Legally Blonde: The Musical, A Christmas Carol, The Man Who Came to Dinner, and Bye-Bye Birdie. He directed Footloose: The Musical, Arsenic and Old Lace, and Spamalot.
Wishing to further support keeping theater in schools, Robert is the President of the Board of Trustees for the Chartertech High School for the Performing Arts, a public school, in Somers Point, NJ.
Heading up ELTC’s Student Summer Workshop and getting involved with other arts-in-education opportunities is, as he said, “not only a chance to share my experiences and passion of and for the performing arts, but is also an opportunity to learn and grow with the next generation of actors and theater lovers."
Robert, along with others who are involved in teaching theater and directing shows with school-age students in the Garden State, was honored by ELTC and The New Jersey Theatre Alliance in 2018 at the Alliance's annual Curtain Call gala.
Gayle Stahlhuth (full bio with Staff bios) In the early 1980s, she was a pioneer in the artist-in-residence movement, being one of the first theater professionals to receive a grant from the New York State Council on the Arts in this “new” program designed to put art back into public schools. She is on The Arts in Education rosters for New York, New Jersey, Utah, and Wyoming. For her work, she was selected to be one of two hundred artists of different disciplines listed in the "Directory of Community Artists" published by the National Endowment for the Arts. She's been a member of Actors' Equity Association for over 40 years, and is also a member of SAG-AFTRA and The Dramatists Guild.
Tom Byrn has performed with ELTC since 2009, most recently in two solo shows, Will Rogers U.S.A. (2018), and Mr. Lincoln, which was part of ELTC's 2015 and 2016 seasons and toured to Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble in PA. Howard Shapiro’s excellent review for “Newsworks” and WHYY TV and Radio stated: “Tom Byrn evokes Lincoln.” The link for the full review click here. Tom was also in ELTC’s Within the Law, He and She, Biography, The Dictator, and the world premiere of The Ransom of Red Chief.
Also for ELTC, Tom directed Silent Sky (2018) and is directing Summerland (2019).
In the past few years, Tom also performed in The Importance of Being Earnest and One Slight Hitch by Lewis Black (Cider Mill Playhouse, Endicott, NY), Jane Austen Readings (Franklin Stage Company, Franklin, NY); and Circle Mirror Transformation by Annie Baker (The REP Stage, Baltimore/D.C.).
He has acted at various theaters in the Philadelphia area, including, People's Light & Theatre, Interact, Lantern, Act II Playhouse, and Montgomery, and at various other theaters in PA, NY, and OH.
Currently an Associate Member, for eleven years, Tom was a full-time Ensemble Member of the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble in Bloomsburg, PA, where he acted, directed, wrote, and taught. He is co-editor of the trade paperback Letters to the Editor (Simon & Schuster) and a member of the Lincoln Center Director's Lab. He is a graduate of Vassar College, and a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Tom resides in the Susquehanna River Valley of central PA.
Also for ELTC, Tom directed Silent Sky (2018) and is directing Summerland (2019).
In the past few years, Tom also performed in The Importance of Being Earnest and One Slight Hitch by Lewis Black (Cider Mill Playhouse, Endicott, NY), Jane Austen Readings (Franklin Stage Company, Franklin, NY); and Circle Mirror Transformation by Annie Baker (The REP Stage, Baltimore/D.C.).
He has acted at various theaters in the Philadelphia area, including, People's Light & Theatre, Interact, Lantern, Act II Playhouse, and Montgomery, and at various other theaters in PA, NY, and OH.
Currently an Associate Member, for eleven years, Tom was a full-time Ensemble Member of the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble in Bloomsburg, PA, where he acted, directed, wrote, and taught. He is co-editor of the trade paperback Letters to the Editor (Simon & Schuster) and a member of the Lincoln Center Director's Lab. He is a graduate of Vassar College, and a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Tom resides in the Susquehanna River Valley of central PA.
James Rana After the success of James’ adaptation of The Poe Mysteries, a world premiere presented by East Lynne Theater Company in 2012, artistic director Gayle Stahlhuth commissioned him to write adaptations of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Zorro!, and Huckleberry Finn, all receiving world premieres at ELTC, directed by Gayle. Due to the creative relationship between James and Gayle, the NJ State Historical Commission and the NJ State Council on the Arts commissioned a script about World War I to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the U.S. (and particularly those in NJ) entering The Great War.) What began as staged readings throughout the state, culminated in a production at ELTC in 2017 and 2018. For more info about this production Click Here.
He also wrote and narrated Poe: A Celebration for NPR radio; his adaptation of Jules Verne’s The Earth to The Moon had a staged reading/workshop at Tri-State Actors Theatre in Newton, NJ; and his adaptation of A Christmas Carol was produced by Actors Shakespeare Company in Elizabeth, NJ.
As an actor for ELTC, he performed in The Poe Mysteries, Zorro!, Strictly Dishonorable, portrayed Professor Abraham Van Helsing in Dracula, and played several roles in radio-style Sherlock Holmes and Nick Carter productions. James has worked throughout the nation and abroad at numerous theaters including Ensemble Studio Theatre, Pan Asian Rep, Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Luna Stage, Royal Shakespeare Company (UK), and Neuss and Bonn Biennale (Germany). His film work includes several award-winning independent films and roles in television's Third Watch, Law & Order, Chicago Fire, and Madame Secretary.
During the spring and summer of 2017, he performed in the Off-Broadway production of The Government Inspector starring Michael Urie. In the fall of 2017, he began rehearsals for Broadway’s Tony Award-winning The Band's Visit, and has gone on several times in the role of the Band's Leader, originally performed by Tony Shalhoub, and other roles. When The Band's Visit closed on Broadway, James performed in the National Tour.
He received his MFA from Trinity Rep and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, SAG-AFTRA, and the Dramatists Guild.
He also wrote and narrated Poe: A Celebration for NPR radio; his adaptation of Jules Verne’s The Earth to The Moon had a staged reading/workshop at Tri-State Actors Theatre in Newton, NJ; and his adaptation of A Christmas Carol was produced by Actors Shakespeare Company in Elizabeth, NJ.
As an actor for ELTC, he performed in The Poe Mysteries, Zorro!, Strictly Dishonorable, portrayed Professor Abraham Van Helsing in Dracula, and played several roles in radio-style Sherlock Holmes and Nick Carter productions. James has worked throughout the nation and abroad at numerous theaters including Ensemble Studio Theatre, Pan Asian Rep, Contemporary American Theatre Festival, Luna Stage, Royal Shakespeare Company (UK), and Neuss and Bonn Biennale (Germany). His film work includes several award-winning independent films and roles in television's Third Watch, Law & Order, Chicago Fire, and Madame Secretary.
During the spring and summer of 2017, he performed in the Off-Broadway production of The Government Inspector starring Michael Urie. In the fall of 2017, he began rehearsals for Broadway’s Tony Award-winning The Band's Visit, and has gone on several times in the role of the Band's Leader, originally performed by Tony Shalhoub, and other roles. When The Band's Visit closed on Broadway, James performed in the National Tour.
He received his MFA from Trinity Rep and is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, SAG-AFTRA, and the Dramatists Guild.
