The Surflight is back from the dead. Shuttered by Chapter 7 bankruptcy in February2015, it reopens with Footloose!, which will run through July 9th. That’s the kick off for a full theatrical summer, with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, from July11-23, Newsies, July 23-Aug.13, Hairspray from Aug.15 -Sept. 27 and Million Dollar Quartet Aug. 29-Sept. 10.
The Surflight ‘Broadway on the Beach’ has been in Beach Haven since 1950. With a staff of locals, actors who get paid, and a summer-stock feel, it’s part of a complex that includes the ShowPlace Ice Cream Parlour, which will reopen the end of June.
Steve Steiner, the producing artistic director of the Surflight moved to Beach Haven from New York from 1998 to 2010. Differences of artistic vision led to his departure and the theater had a rocky next 5 years until it went black in 2015.
Even before that happened Steiner was trying to resuscitate it. “We actually had most of the season planned in 2015, but the banks wanted a big-time investor to partner up.
Enter Al Parinello, real estate executive, concert/theatrical producer and former WJSE-FM owner. He and Steiner were old friends and had coproduced shows a Trump venues in Atlantic City in the early 2000’s. After a lot of teeth pulling and waving dollar bills, he closed the deal with TD bank to purchase the theater.
The intention of the new owners is to have a full summer, events in the Fall and build back up to events in each of the 12 months of the year.
Visit their web site for more information: https://www.surflight.org/