Anyone who has been to the Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven, LBI, knows that when they settle into the 450 seat theatre that they are about to watch an amazing show, what many people do not realize is that much more goes on at Surflight than just acting.

The Surflight Theatre is located at the corner of Engleside and Beach Avenues in Beach Haven. The theatre is currently in its 57th season and still going strong after all these years. “Broadway at the Beach,” Surflight’s slogan attracts young actors and actresses from all over the country and brings in many old and new faces each year.

The Performances
This summer Surflight will wow audiences with hits such as The Boys from Syracuse, Annie Get Your Gun, Grease, Miss Saigon, and Man of La Mancha.

The Boys from Syracuse is a Shakespeare rendition about identical twins mixed up at birth. Annie Get Your Gun tells the story of a gun-slinging tomboy who meets her match in a man. The classic Grease needs no explanation and will be performed in full with Born to Hand Jive, Hopelessly Devoted to You, Summer Nights, and You’re the One that I Want. Miss Saigon is next with a more serious script about love during the Vietnam War. Finally in August, Man of La Mancha tells the adventures of Don Quixote played by John Davidson. This play along with others is selling out fast, warns Steve Steiner, Producing Artistic Director.

Not only will the theatre hold these plays but will also host concerts throughout the summer. This year Tommy Emanuel, an Australian guitarist, and The Oak Ridge Boys will perform. Also Beatlemania Now, a night of tributes to the Beatles is a must-see for Beatles fans.

The Actors

Stars of the Show

Those attending the plays are sure to catch some rising stars but if you are a yearly visitor, there will be many new faces on stage. Each year Surflight sets out to recruit talented upcoming actors and actresses from all over the United States. Similar to a miniature “American Idol” talent search, Surflight holds auditions in different cities throughout America.

Sandy Goldsborough, Director of Development, explains that getting picked is as much about personality as it is about acting. Because the crew must live together on and off set, its crucial to pick kids who can work hard and cooperate, she says.

“We can’t have any divas,” she explains, saying that like a college dorm, actors are paired up and live in close proximity.

And while it may seem easy to get caught up in the limelight of being on stage all summer, many of the Surflighters are extremely down to earth and humble.

Stephanie Feigen, a 20 year old from Connecticut, is enjoying her first year with the Surflight. She will be playing “Patty” in Grease and says she is very happy to be spending her summer living in the Surflight Crew house.

Liz Clarke, 21, from Alabama, and Natalie Roy, 21, from New Hampshire are both enjoying their first season with the Surflight. Both agree it is something they hope to be able to do again and really are happy to be by the beach for the summer.

While the crew lives right down the street from the beach, they do not have much time to suntan. The Surflighters practice daily from 9:30am to 5pm and even put on shows in between.

Behind the Scenes

The costume department all dressed up!

The behind the scenes crew works equally as hard. At this year’s opening Gala, members of the costume department wore hula skirts and shirts to get noticed. While they weren’t on stage, they play a huge role in making the actors and actresses “look” their parts.

Andi Lyn, a full time costume designer says her department not only makes all the costumes but gets to design and accessorize each outfit for each character. She says making jewelry has also become a big part of the department’s responsibilities. With help from Leah Kaliszewski, Carlen Adler, Wendy Edwards, and Liz Polly, the costume team has designed a wide range of costumes for this year’s plays.

The Children's Theatre
They also help out in getting the crew ready for the children’s theatre plays which are performed throughout the summer for children from preschool to 10 years old. These plays are rehearsed in only 5 hours and put on for about an hour each for younger audiences.

John Bow, who is in charge of these children’s plays, says that classic tales such as Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, The Wizard of Oz, and Peter Pan are performed Wednesday through Saturday during the summer. Also after each show, children are invited to meet and greet the actors who stay in costume.

Summer School can be Fun
If a child or teenager sees a play and decides they want to learn how to dance, act, or sing, Surflight even offers classes. STARS or the Surflight Theatre Arts Resource School holds small classes from July to August. Erin Esposito, STARS program director, has been with Surflight for 10 years and says that there are many professional actors and actresses that instruct children in dance, singing, and acting.

For more information on any Surflight plays, concerts, or children’s shows, contact the theatre at (609)492-9477 and for more information about the STARS class contact Erin@surflight.org.

Stacey Smith
AboutNewJersey.com
Travel Writer