Peter Marshall, Dawn Wells, Judd Hirsch, Cindy Williams and JoAnne Worley are among performers announced for the theatre's 62nd season. The March 2 announcement is part of the company's goal to reorganize and relaunch after its February filing for protection under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. Surflight is "restructuring its finances and stabilizing and rebuilding its future."
Rent (May 28-June 19), Jonathan Larson's Tony Award-winning, Pulitzer Prize-honored rock musical about modern bohemians, will star New Jersey's Paul Iacono (star of the current MTV hit series "The Hard Times of RJ Berger" and the recent remake of the motion picture "Fame").
The 1950s rock 'n' roll musical comedy Grease will play June 22-July 10.
A. R. Gurney's Love Letters will play five performances only, July 14-17, starring Dawn Wells (Mary Ann from the classic TV series "Gilligan's Island") and Peter Marshall (the five-time Emmy Award-winning host of "The Hollywood Squares" from 1966-1981). The play follows the relationship between Andrew Makepeace Ladd (Marshall) and Melissa Gardner (Wells) from second grade through adolescence, young adulthood and into middle age.
Art, playing July 19-31, is Yasmina Reza's internationally acclaimed, Tony Award-winning comedy about friends bickering over a painting, directed by and starring Emmy and Tony Award winner Judd Hirsch ("Numb3rs," "Taxi"). Neil Simon's The Female Odd Couple, Aug. 4-21, is the gender-switched version of his 1960s classic about mismatched roommates. Cindy Williams (Shirley on the classic TV series "Laverne & Shirley") and JoAnne Worley (star of the classic TV series Rowan & Martin's "Laugh-In") star.
I Do! I Do!, Aug. 24-Sept. 4, the story of a marriage, is by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones, the authors of The Fantasticks.
In November, Surflight will present Plaid Tidings — A Special Holiday Edition of Forever Plaid. The show continues the story of the singing group whose lives were lost in an accident involving a busload of teens. Encouraged by a heavenly phone call from Rosemary Clooney, the harmony-happy boys of Forever Plaid — Frankie, Sparky, Jinx and Smudge — are transported from the ethereal cosmos to stage a nostalgic holiday extravaganza for world-weary mortals on Earth. It plays Nov. 25-Dec. 23.
Additional stars, a summer concert series, fall shows and children's theatre performances will be announced soon.
Subscribers have exclusive access to tickets through March 6. Tickets go on sale to the general public March 7, and for the first-time ever, Surflight patrons will be able to purchase tickets online at www.surflight.org.
For tickets or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.surflight.org or call the Surflight Theatre box office at (609) 492-9477 ext. 1.
