NJ's Historic Surflight Theatre Struck By Fire
By: Kelsey Denette
On Sunday, April 8th, the largest housing unit of the historic Surflight Theatre suffered extensive damage when a blaze broke out at The Gables, a neighboring establishment. No one was injured in the fire. Although the severity of the damage is still being assessed, the housing unit that provides a home to production personnel sustained enough damage to render the unit uninhabitable for at least a portion of the 2012 season.
Surflight Theatre Executive Producer Timothy Laczynski said, “We are grateful that there were no injuries. We extend our gratitude to the Beach Haven Volunteer Fire Department and units from all other companies that were called into action. This is a very sensitive time for us having recently exited Chapter 11 reorganization. Surflight is still walking a financial tightrope and this fire comes as a major blow to us. We are scrambling to make other housing arrangements. Despite this setback, Surflight Theatre is alive and well and looking forward to a full and successful 2012 season!”
Surflight Artistic Director Roy Miller added, “It is too early to know whether the entire cost of recovery will be covered by insurance. We are reaching out to the community for their assistance. Off-campus housing is very expensive during the season, and at this late stage availability for the full season is incredibly limited. With the need to house production personnel off-campus, transportation is also a critical issue. Your help will go a long way towards getting us through this recovery.”
All forms of support are welcome, whether it is financial, through our “Adopt-An-Apprentice Program,” opening the doors to your home for temporary housing or lending a car so that we can transport those who are not within walking distance to the theatre. Despite this setback, Surflight has vowed to not cancel any performances. Laczynski said, “We are confident this community will provide the support needed to overcome this final hurdle standing in the way of a healthy, prosperous Surflight Theatre.” All donations, financial or otherwise, are tax deductible to the full extent the law allows.
The 2012 season will kickoff with THE RAT PACK REVUE, which opens April 18 and celebrates the Swingin’ 60s with Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Frank Sinatra, followed by ALL I ASK OF YOU – A TRIBUTE TO Andrew Lloyd Webber, two family favorites ANNIE and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC, an all-new and entirely original musical comedy ONCE UPON A TIME IN NEW JERSEY (think “The Sopranos” meets “Happy Days”), I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE (touted as“Seinfeld set to music”), two award-winning plays STEEL MAGNOLIAS and Neil Simon’s BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, and Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS.
?For more information, visit the website at www.surflight.org.
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