Surflight Theatre Returns To Beach Haven After A Two-Year Absence

BEACH HAVEN, N.J. - It all started back in 1950, when Joseph P. Hayes founded the Surflight Theatre as an outside venue to bring entertainment to Long Beach Island.

The property eventually grew to include an inside theater and a four-building compound. But the former owner ended up having to file for bankruptcy and the buildings were shuttered for several years.

Enter Al Parinello, who bought the theater and compound earlier this year. He's added a new sound system and lighting and a newly renovated stage. The Show Place Ice Cream Parlour will also reopen.

"Indeed, our Surflight Theatre harkens back to a time when life was simple and summer family fun was in abundance," he said. "That's what has made the dramatic closure and now return of this theatre so special and very emotional for many -- it is part of so many families' history and memories. The Surflight Theatre is synonymous with warm, wonderful experiences associated with summer, community, pride, family and fun."

Surflight Artistic Director Steve Steiner said arrangements are in place to keep the Surflight around for a long time.

The Surflight Theatre will now have a solid succession plan that will survive us all," Steiner said. The Surflight will maintain its legacy as a vital component to Beach Haven and LBI.”

Steiner and production manager Gail Anderson Steiner auditioned more than 1,300 people for the 35 roles in the summer show lineup.

In addition to Footloose, the mainstage summer season includes daily performances of :
July 11 - July 23: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
July 25 - August 13: Newsies
August 15 - August 27: Hairspray
August 29 - September 10: Million Dollar Quartet

"These past two years when the Surflight Theatre was dark, our community lost a great deal of spirit," Beach Haven Mayor Nancy Taggart Davis said. "We couldn’t be happier having our beloved Surflight Theatre and its Show Place Ice Cream Parlour operating.”

The Surflight Theatre expects to host nearly 25,000 guests this season, based on advance ticket sales. Its adjacent Show Place Ice Cream Parlour is expected to bring in sales of $350,000, all of which helps support the Theatre’s operations.

Surflight Theatre's award-winning Children's Theatre will bring some children's classics to life throughout the summer with productions such as “Cinderella,” “Peter Pan,” “Snow White,” “Wizard of Oz,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Jungle Book” and “Winnie the Pooh.” Shows for the summer season will run from June 28 - September 3, beginning at 6 p.m. from Wednesday through Sunday.

In addition, the Surflight will offer a series of concerts from artists including the Coasters, Drifters and Platters to jazz musicians. Comedy shows are also offered at the theatre.

The Surflight Theatre is located at 201 Engleside Avenue, Beach Haven, N.J. 08008. To buy tickets, call 609-492-9477 or visit www.surflight.org.

Image: Courtesy of Surflight.org