Written by Roi Cooper Megrue and Walter C. Hackett, "It Pays to Advertise" was a Broadway hit that was twice made into a movie. Decades before AMC's "Mad Men," it demonstrates that an ad campaign might be better than the product. All it takes is one adventurous young man to announce, "Advertising is responsible for everything!" and he and his two friends are off and running in this mad comic romp.
In the cast are five who have been in several ELTC productions: Tom Byrn, John Cameron Weber, Phil Pizzi, Thomas Raniszewski, and Gayle Stahlhuth, who also directs.
Tom plays Ambrose Peale, the fast-talking ad-man who convinces Rodney that "advertising is everything." He has worked with many theatres in Pennsylvania and throughout the country, most recently in "God of Carnage" at River Valley Rep in Poughkeepsie, NY. John portrays Cyrus Martin, a self-made millionaire who wants his son, Rodney, to strike out on his own. He played Michael Husted in CBS's "As the World Turns," and has worked in many regional theaters. Phil Pizzi, whose voice is known to many who listen to 98.7 The Coast, takes on several roles. Thomas recently reprised his role as Warren in "The Twentieth Century Way" which made its Philadelphia premiere in 2011, receiving critical acclaim, and in "Advertise" portrays the son of the owner of Ivory Soap.
New to ELTC are Matt Baxter Luceno, Kate Shine, Maria Silverman, and Glen Corlin. Matt plays Cyrus's son, Rodney. Recently he performed in a new adaptation of H. G. Wells' "The Island of Doctor Moreau" in Brooklyn with Piper Theater Productions. Kate portrays Mary Grayson, Martin senior's secretary. She recently performed in New York Avant Garde Festival's "My Past Girlfriends," which won Best Play at the Hudson Guild in NYC. Enter Comtesse de Beaurien, speaking only French and in a hurry to make a business proposition, played by Maria Silverman who was in "A View from the Bridge" on Broadway and has performed with numerous NYC and regional companies. Glen is Johnson, the always-ready butler in the Martin household. He has performed in Hawaii and Germany in productions ranging from "Oklahoma!" to "Crimes of the Heart."
This marks Gayle Stahlhuth's forty-third ELTC production that she has directed. She has produced over seventy different shows for the company since she was asked to become artistic director in 1999.
ELTC presents this screwball comedy from September 19 through October 13, with an 8:00 p.m. curtain. It is the usual Wednesday through Saturday schedule, except there is no show on Wednesday, October 3, and an added show on Sunday, October 7 at 7:30 p.m.
The performances are at The First Presbyterian Church of Cape May, 500 Hughes St., where the company is in residence. Tickets are $30 for general admission; $25 for seniors (ages 62 and over); and $15 for full-time students. As always, to encourage whole families to attend, ages 12 and under are free. For information and reservations, call 884-5898 or go online to www.eastlynnetheater.org. ELTC partners with the following restaurants for further savings: Aleathea's, The Washington Inn, 410 Bank Street, and Frescos. While staying at The Henry Sawyer Inn or The Victorian Lace Inn, ELTC tickets may be purchased for $20.
ELTC's production season would not be possible without season sponsors Curran Investment Management and Aleathea's Restaurant; Show Sponsors La Mer Beachfront Inn, The Henry Sawyer Inn, and Exit Zero; The NJ Dept. of State, Division of Travel and Tourism; NJ State Council on the Arts/Dept. of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts; and the generosity of many patrons.
Matt Baxter Luceno and Kate Shine in ELTC's "It Pays to Advertise." Photo credit: Gayle Stahlhuth
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