![East Lynne Theater Company presents "Aftermath" as part of Stages Festival](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2022/Aftermath2.jpg "East Lynne Theater Company presents "Aftermath" as part of Stages Festival")
(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- East Lynne Theater Company presents a reading of the one-act play "Aftermath" by Mary P. Burrill for free, due to support from The New Jersey Theatre Alliance's Stages Festival. "Aftermath" premieres on Wednesday, April 6 at 8:00pm on ELTC's YouTube Channel and is available through Saturday, April 9 at midnight.
"Aftermath" was first published in April 1919 in Max Eastman’s periodical, "Liberator" before it was produced by the Krigwa Players in The Little Theater Competition (performing alongside plays by Eugene O'Neill and Susan Glaspell) in 1928. It tells the story of a Black soldier, who was awarded the French War Cross for his bravery in WWI, only to return home to discover that his father has been lynched.
Mary P. Burrill was not only a playwright, educator, and activist, but was the first Black graduate of Emerson College. Her partner of twenty-five years, Lucy Diggs Slowe, was appointed the first Dean of Women at Howard University. The Slowe-Burrill house in Washington D.C. was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020 for "its significance to African American and LGBT history."
"Aftermath" premieres on Wednesday, April 6 at 8:00pm on ELTC's YouTube Channel and is available through Saturday, April 9 at midnight. It can be viewed directly on a flat screen TV, but if viewing it on a computer, ELTC recommends connecting the computer to the TV with an HDMI cable so it can be seen on a larger screen. Closed Caption is available on YouTube. April 6 was the day in 1917, that the United States entered World War I. April 9 is the anniversary in 1865 of General Lee's surrender to General Grant, signifying the end of the Civil War.
The talented cast are all new to ELTC. Marie Louise Guinier, Emerald Rose Sullivan, and Anthony Goss have performed at Metropolitan Playhouse and at other theaters in NYC and regionally. Guinier was in the film "Strive" with Danny Glover, and Sullivan appeared in "FBI: Most Wanted" and "Gotham." Goss is currently performing Off-Broadway in "Gong Lum's Legacy." Brandon Dion Gregory's credits include performing at Classical Theatre of Harlem, Syracuse Stage and Baltimore Center Stage. Television credits include "Homeland" and "Resurrection." Alexa Kent was recently in RWS Entertainment's "I Love Christmas Movies" and graduated from Pace University. Leo Ebanks has been performing mostly in California at The Old Globe, Moonlight Stage Productions, and Onstage Playhouse in musicals such as "Spring Awakening" and Shakespeare’s "As You Like It."
![East Lynne Theater Company presents "Aftermath" as part of Stages Festival](https://www.newjerseystage.com/events2022/Aftermath.jpg "East Lynne Theater Company presents "Aftermath" as part of Stages Festival")
Leo Ebanks (Lonnie) Recent credits: Grown up Who Ensemble in "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" (The Old Globe), Hud in "Hair" (The Old Globe), Tonton Julian in "Once on This Island" (Moonlight Stage Productions), Benedick in Shakespeare’s "Much Ado About Nothing" (San Diego State University), Billy Nolan in "Carrie the Musical" (Onstage Playhouse), and Georg in "Spring Awakening" (Grossmont College).
Anthony Goss (Rev. Luke Moseby) is an actor/writer from Boston, Massachusetts. He has 'worked the boards' on various stages throughout New York City and is currently in production with Woody King's New Federal Theatre Off-Broadway in the World Premiere play “Gong Lum's Legacy.” He has appeared in TV and films and loves discovering new plays, creating stories and advocating for youth arts. It's a pleasure and privilege to work on this classic African American Drama and with East Lynne Theater.
Brandon Dion Gregory (John) was born and raised in Stone Mountain, Georgia and currently lives virtually; going wherever the work calls him. Gregory’s recent stage roles include “Thoughts of a Colored Man” (Syracuse Stage, Baltimore Center Stage) where Broadway World says, “Brandon Dion Gregory delivers an expressive and heartfelt performance as Passion. His smile lights up the stage.” Before that, “The New York Times” said Brandon is a whole lot of “fun” on stage in the twist on the holiday classic – “Christmas Carol in Harlem” (Classical Theatre of Harlem.) If you are addicted to your screen, you may have also seen him on BET’s “Let the Church Say Amen,” Showtime’s “Homeland,” ABC’s “Resurrection,” and commercials for Reese’s and Crunch. If your ears are working, you may have heard his voice for Tim Horton’s and Toyota. Brandon has studied and taught acting at Penn State University and is currently an Acting Instructor for the New York Film Academy as well as a private coach.
Marie Louise Guinier (Mam Sue) Although the last two years limited opportunities to perform in person, she appeared several times via Zoom with the Metropolitan Playhouse (“Aunt Betsy’s Thanksgiving” and “Hearts”), with the New Federal Theatre and now in “Aftermath” with the East Lynne Theater. In person performances include “Eating the Wall Street Journal” by Pope.L at MoMA, “Messiah” at the iconic La MaMa Theatre, “Scissoring” (INTAR Theatre) and “Evensong”* at APAC (*NY IT nomination for Best Featured Actress) both written by Christina Quintana, “On Strivers Row” and “Self” both at the Metropolitan Playhouse and early on in “Patience of Nantucket” at the Boston Center for the Arts where she received an IRNIE nomination for Best Actress. Film & TV work include “Strive” with Danny Glover, “Confession” directed by Dayna Hanson (in post-production) – and on the small screen, HBO’s “High Maintenance” (including Fingerbutt episode 307) and ABC’s “What Would You Do?" Grateful to The Most High.
Alexa Kent (Mrs. Hawkins) is making her East Lynne Theater Company debut in “Aftermath.” Recent credits include “I Love Christmas Movies” with RWS Entertainment and “A Simple Vow” directed by Zoey Martinson. Alexa has a BFA for Acting in Film/TV/Voice-Overs/Commercials from Pace University.
Emerald Rose Sullivan’s (Millie) previous theatre credits include “The Mountaintop” at Hattiloo Theatre, “”Riots: B’Hoys Do Macbeth at the Metropolitan Playhouse and “Pipeline,” “The Mountaintop,” “Knock Me A Kiss,” “The Piano Lesson” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. Her TV/Film credits include: “FBI: Most Wanted”, “Gotham”, “Baby Ruby” and “Meaty.” Emerald Rose received her BA degree in Acting from Pace University.
Gayle Stahlhuth (Director) has 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, the Missouri and Illinois Humanities Councils, and grants from the NJ Humanities Council, the NYS Council on the Arts, and 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: AEA, SAG-AFTRA, Dramatists Guild, and NAPW.
For more information about "Aftermath," click here. ELTC begins live performances on May 14 with "Sherlock Holmes Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle."
ELTC is proud to offer "Aftermath" as part of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance's (NJTA) "Stages Festival" that offers over 70 in-person and online events at theaters and community venues throughout the state for free or modest prices. To see the Stages Festival" schedule, running through May, visit www.njtheatrealliance.org/stages.
For those who watch "Aftermath," the NJ Theatre Alliance would like them to take their online 4-minute survey for a chance to win 1 of 4 $50 VISA Gift Cards. Only adults 18+ are eligible to win. Responses to this survey help the Alliance evaluate their programming to ensure they are providing the best theater experiences possible. The survey is located here.
"Stages Festival" is made possible by support from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts; Bank of America, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, OceanFirst Foundation, and the New Jersey Historical Commission. Founded in 1981, NJTA is the first statewide organization for professional, not-for-profit theater companies in the United States.
Photo: Cast photo for "Aftermath:" Leo Ebank, Marie Louise Guinier, Anthony Goss, Emerald Rose Sullivan, Brandon Dion Gregory, and Alexa Kent
