2003 in Review

2003 was Surflight’s most successful year ever, both in terms of box office and artistic level.  Even before our season started, we attended the Governor’s Conference on Tourism where Stuart Ambrose, Bob Welch, Adam Tait, Matt Senese, Vince Urbani and I sang Into the Fire from THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL during the opening session. We then attended a luncheon where Sharon Harrmgton, the Chair of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, awarded Surflight the 2003 Governor’s Tourism Award for the Arts.  A nice start indeed.

The artistic highlights of the season, in my opinion, were MY FAIR LADY,  A CHORUS LINE and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.  That is in no way intended to slight the other productions, of course, as I feel we had strong productions throughout the season.  I just think these three stood out.  We were very fortunate to have Clive Wilson and Baayork Lee from the original Broadway production of A CHORUS LINE to direct and choreograph our show.  Many felt that our 2003 production of A CHORUS LINE stood out above anything we have ever done at Surflight.

The comedic highlights were NUNSENSE and LEND ME A TENOR.  More people saw NUNENSE than any post-Labor Day show since I have been at Surflight (with the exception of our December Holiday show).  The Nuns will be back next season with MESHUGGA-NUNS, a new sequel that combines Catholic and Jewish humor.  I know you will look forward to that one.

Our December show, EBENEZER, was also very popular, living up to the standard set last year by MIRACLE ON 34th STREET .  We are glad that so many of you were able to join us for what has become a Holiday Tradition in Beach Haven.  EBENEZER‘s entire cast consisted of returning Surflighters, including  David Sitler (Scrooge), Vince Urbani  (Fezziwig and The Ghost of Christmas Present), Scott McGowan (Bob Cratchit), Stuart Ambrose (Fred, Young Scrooge), Andrew Foote (Jacob Marley) Rebekah Sheppard (The Ghost of Christmas Past), Karyn McNay (Belle), Kristin Bohr (Mrs. Fezziwig), Erin Esposito (Mrs. Cratchit), Devon Perry (Tiny Tim), and Ashley Carlo (Fan).  The rest of the cast included John Bow, Kneeland Whiting, Richard Earl, Bryan Tramontana, Kimberly Walther, Jenna Stephanie Miller, Suzette Whiting, Walter Ryon, Christian D’Eletto, Alexis Wachter, Alexandra Schettini, and Kaitlyn Bradley.

By the time EBENEZER closed our season, over 39,000 attended Surflight MainStage productions in 2003, up 10.5% over 2002 and 1000 more than attended MainStage AND Children’s Theatre in 1997 when total Surflight attendance was approximately 38,000. When we add in 2003 Children’s Theatre and our concert series, over 62,000 tickets were  sold for Surflight events this season. We thank you again and again for making Surflight your choice for live theatre.

Our 2004 Season

2004 is shaping up to be an even stronger season than this past one. We are very excited about our 2004 Mainstage lineup:

MEMORIAL DAY GALA        

FUNNY GIRL        

STATE FAIR with John Davidson        

CATS        

ANYTHING GOES        

BYE BYE BIRDIE        

SHOWBOAT        

MESHUGGAH-NUNS        

FOREVER PLAID    

YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU        

BILOXI BLUES        

MAGIC IN THE MUSIC        

MIRACLE ON 34th STREET

You can find all the details elsewhere on this website - just click here!

There are several special events among our shows too. For the first time ever, a nationally known Broadway, Television and Film star will appear in a theatre production on our stage. John Davidson, a member of our Advisory Board, approached us about reprising his Broadway role as Abel Frake in STATE FAIR and we jumped at the chance!  His daughter, Ashleigh, will also join us playing Abel s daughter, Margy, in this production. Ashleigh is a lovely singer and a terrific actress, and I look forward to introducing her and her talent to you.  STATE FAIR will be the first show ever to play Surflight for 3 weeks.

Surflight's production of CATS will be the New Jersey Professional Premiere (with the exception of touring companies originating elsewhere) and will also play for 3 weeks. YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU will be a Surflight Premiere, and MAGIC IN THE MUSIC will be a World Premiere. This show is a review of music from shows by Stephen Schwartz (Pippin, Godspell, Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Magic Show, Wicked and others) with illusions created by master magician Dennis Bush.  Add to the MAGIC IN THE MUSIC new musical arrangements by yours truly and we will have the birth of a brand new show.  Don' t miss this opportunity to witness an exciting new  entertainment melding theatrical music and conventions along with amazing  classic magic (including the Zig-Zag, Saw the Lady in Half, Levitation, disappearance and reappearance of doves, lions and many other things both inanimate and alive).

Concert attractions are still being booked, but we expect to have another eclectic and stellar lineup just as we did in 2003. The Celebrity Concert Series will be announced here on Surflight's web site as soon as we finalize it, so check back often.

So, we look forward to yet another increasingly successful season at Surflight, knowing that it's because of your attendance and generosity that we can continue to raise the bar on the work we do and provide you with the kind of quality productions you expect and deserve.

We thank you.