Scene from East Lynne Theater Company’s “A Year in the Trenches” with Matt Baxter Luceno, Ryan Genualdi, Mike Newman, Tara Reuter, Osborn Focht and Jennie Bissell. Photo credit: Gayle Stahlhuth
Professional actors Jennie Bissell, Osborn Focht, Ryan Genualdi, Matt Baxter Luceno, Mike Newman and Tara Reuter bring 30 people to life in the award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company’s fast-paced look at World War I in “A Year in the Trenches.” Live music is performed throughout and audiences are encouraged to sing along. Commissioned by the NJ Historical Commission and the NJ State Council on the Arts, standing ovations have been the norm for this world premiere written by James Rana and developed with Gayle Stahlhuth, who also directed.
Dottie Knapp’s excellent review in “Exit Zero” included: “Stahlhuth has taken me down the Mississippi on a raft, in a sword fight in old California and now in the trenches of WWI. My expert tour guide brings me there with attention to detail and unsurpassed artistic style. I don’t just see Stahlhuth’s shows – I experience them.”
Show times are 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11, and 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The final performance will be on Oct. 14. Tickets are $32, $27 for seniors, and $17 for students and military (active/retired/veteran); 12 and under are free. As part of Cape May’s Theater Week (Oct. 9-15), ELTC is offering a top ticket of $24 on Thursday. Location is the First Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes St., Cape May. For reservations, call (609) 884-5898 or visit www.eastlynnetheater.org.
Entertainment, food and the cast of “Trenches” will all be at ELTC’s fundraiser at Nauti Spirits, 916 Shunpike Rd., on Oct. 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. Suggested donation is $5. “Trenches” then travels to Ocean County College and the NJ State Museum.