Surflight Theatre

The Surflight Theatre, is a beach-side theatre located in the community of Beach Haven, New Jersey, USA, on Long Beach Island on the Jersey Shore.

Surflight produced up to nine mainstage theatrical productions per season, children's theatre, a comedy and concert series, Surflight-To-Go Touring Educational Theatre and The Show Place Ice Cream Parlour.

After being closed in 2015 the Surflight Theatre will reopen on June 23, 2017 under the ownership of Al Parinello whose offer for purchase was accepted by TD Bank in early 2017.

In 1950, Surflight Theatre was founded by Joseph P. Hayes in Beach Haven Crest, on Long Beach Island. At first the performances were held in a 2,200-seat tent with a cast of 60 and a season that lasted three weeks. Surflight theatre transitioned through many locations. At the end of the 1960s a permanent facility was built on Engleside Avenue in Beach Haven, New Jersey.

The Show Place Ice Cream Parlour opened in 1975 by Hayes, in partnership with banker Scott Henderson, in a former bakery next to the theatre. This facility sold ice cream and presented a cabaret show. In 1976 Hayes died and was succeeded by Eleanor Miller. When Hayes died suddenly in 1976 Michael Curry, a college student, took over day-to-day management. He created the still existing roles of "Singing Manager", and the singing waiters, waitresses, dishwashers and icecream scoopers, who created a series of unique songs and comedy skits, added to by generations of singing staff.

In 1987, the current theatre was constructed with 450 seats at the cost of $1.9 million. That same year the theatre reached an agreement with Actors Equity Association. Eleanor Miller retired in 1990 succeeded by Guil Fisher who became the artistic director with Scott Henderson as producer. Both were later replaced by Eddie Todd who was followed by Steve Steiner (a former intern and Broadway performer) from 1998 to 2010.

Early in the millennium, Surflight transitioned into a not-for-profit corporation as the Joseph P. Hayes Theatre, Inc. who in turn purchased the theatre, Show Place Ice Cream Parlour and all associated buildings.

Surflight Theatre went on to become a full member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance as well as a member of the South Jersey Cultural Alliance. Then in 2003, the theatre was presented with the Governor’s Tourism Arts Award.

In 2010, Roy Miller (a former intern and Broadway producer) and colleague Tim Laczynski were contracted to run the theatre. The board of directors chose to file for bankruptcy protection in order to reorganize the financial foundation of the institution.

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