Photo of Gayle Stahlhuth
(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- In October, Classic American Tales (CAT) presents four different events in two different Cape May locations: The Dormer House B&B and Rea's Farm. Events include their annual presentation of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart," with Gayle Stahlhuth.
At the Dormer House on Thursday, October 2 at 4:00pm, it’s L. M. Alcott and A. M. Barnard, two stories penned by Louisa May Alcott, but one of them, "A Double Tragedy: An Actor's Story," was first published under her pseudonym, A. M. Barnard. It’s about an actor haunted by her past. The other story, "Psyche's Art,” is about a young woman who longs to be a sculptor. Both are read by CAT’s artistic director, Gayle Stahlhuth, who, for 25 years, performed her one-woman play, Lou: The Remarkable Miss Alcott off-Broadway, as part of solo festivals and the Chautauqua circuit, twice at The Smithsonian, several times at Alcott's home in Concord, MA, and for numerous theaters, museums, schools, and libraries.
On Thursday, October 9 at 4:00pm at the Dormer House, Suzanne Dawson presents selections from Marion Davies’ autobiography, The Times We Had, in which she discusses her life as an actress and her time with William Randolph Hurst. Hurst, age 54, first saw Davies, age 20, when she was in the chorus of The Ziegfeld Follies in 1917. Suzanne Dawson has performed in Off-Broadway, regional, and national productions. In Cape May, she performed in a dozen shows produced and directed by Gayle Stahlhuth that include Arsenic and Old Lace and Dorothy Parker: A Certain Woman.
The final Dormer House appearance for 2025 is on Thursday, October 16 at 4:00pm. Under the title Fun Favorites, stories will be read by three of CAT’s popular storytellers, Stephanie Garrett, Frank Smith, and Gayle Stahlhuth, all who have been reading tales on porches for over 15 years.
At “Tales at The Dormer House,” guests are treated to lemonade and tasty treats while listening to stories by American authors. This historic B&B is located at 800 Columbia Avenue, and performances are on the porch, weather permitting. Otherwise, they will be inside. Cost is only $12.00, cash at the door, and guests at The Dormer House and children ages 12 and under are free. Reservations are made through CAT by calling 609-884-5898 or emailing [email protected].
On Halloween Night, Friday, October 31, CAT’s annual presentation of Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Tell-Tale Heart," with Gayle Stahlhuth, will take place in the barn at Rea’s Farm at 6:30pm and 7:30pm. Rea's Farm’s Dinner and Poe by Candlelight, running from 5:00pm – 8:00pm at 400 Stevens Street in West Cape May, also includes hayrides, a pumpkin patch, and a corn maze. There is no entrance fee, and guests may come in costume with the whole family.
Dinners are available and tables and chairs will be set up, giving a new look to the big red barn. Bottles are available for purchase from Cape May Winery. Vendors will be present as usual at the farm on Fridays and include Obscura Brewery, Rita's, Nonna Lisa, Gigi's House, Exit 000 Skincare, and Nauti Spirits.
Classic American Tales is a nonprofit theater with the mission to “Tell America’s stories one tale at a time.” Their 2025-2026 season includes performances and lectures at The Cape May Public Library, The Dormer House, and touring locations.
Funding for CAT is possible in part by the NJ State Council on the Arts/Department of State, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners through the Cape May County Division of Culture & Heritage, Season Corporate Sponsor OceanFirst Bank, and the generosity of many patrons.
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