Erik Larsen

@Erik_Larsen

BEACH HAVEN - Closed in 2015, Surflight Theatre is to reopen under new ownership after it is restored to its former glory this summer.

Earlier this week, real estate investor and Broadway producer Al Parinello held a news conference at the New Jersey Maritime Museum in Beach Haven to announce that he planned to save the landmark, 450-seat auditorium and its four other buildings on its campus at Engleside and Beach avenues.

Who is Al Parinello?

Al Parinello is the former owner of the WJSE radio station in Lower Township, Cape May County. Parinello is also the current lead producer of the long-running, Off-Broadway musical, "The Fantasticks," at The Theater Center at 50th Street and Broadway in New York. He is also an occasional film producer and actor.

What are his plans for Surflight?

Parinello plans to lease Surflight Theatre to the nonprofit Ocean Professional Theatre Company in Barnegat, under the supervision of Steve Steiner, Surflight's former longtime artistic director. Parinello would retain ownership of the property and pay property taxes on the complex and its grounds, which is a total area of 27,150 square feet.

Under Parinello's ownership and Steiner's management, Surflight Theatre is to reopen under its original mission dating back 65 years ago to serve as a working theater school for young artists "in a supportive summer stock environment and to provide quality entertainment to the residents and vacationers of Long Beach Island."

Who is Steve Steiner?

Steiner served as Surflight Theatre's artistic director for 12 years, until the theater's board of trustees fired Steiner and his wife, Gail, the former theater production manager, in August 2010, after the board sought to restructure its staff.

Parinello and Steiner are friends and now business associates. Steiner had sought out Parinello's help in saving Surflight from the wrecking ball and is the key figure in arranging this partnership.

Steiner is to be given the title of producing artistic director of Surflight Theatre, which essentially puts him back in charge of its day-to-day operation.

Why did Surflight close in the first place?

Surflight Theatre has long been plagued by financial troubles.

According to Surflight's 2009 financial statements, the theater had total expenses in the amount of $3.28 million in 2008 and took in just in excess of $3 million for a deficit of $214,158.

In 2009, the theater was able to reverse its spending issues. The theater spent more than $3.5 million that year while taking in just a little more than $3.6 million.

However, by February 2011, Surflight was in the red again with $4 million in debt. The Board of Trustees declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy that month but still opened the theater the following spring.

Surflight's issues were exacerbated when a fire damaged the complex on Easter Sunday in 2012 and then in October of that same year, superstorm Sandy came and flooded the theater under 4 feet of water.

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In early October 2014, the board announced an "urgent" campaign to raise $600,000 to save the theater's 2015 season. The campaign failed and in February 2015, the theater appeared to "permanently" shutter its doors after its operators declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

RELATED COVERAGE: Surflight Theater re-opening confirmed

In 2015, Surflight’s total debt of $3.5 million exceeded the real estate value of the 0.61-acre corner lot on Engleside Avenue and the property became tied up in federal bankruptcy court. A majority share of the debt, or about $2 million, was owed to TD Bank, and a minority share of the debt, about $1.5 million, was owed to a company called Show Place Inc., which owned Surflight when it was a for-profit theater in the 1990s.

Two attempts in 2015 to sell the property at auction failed.

While real estate developers would prefer to demolish the complex and build houses or condominiums in its place (the property is one block from the beach), Surflight is located in Beach Haven's historic district, therefore future land use options are heavily restricted.

Why do Parinello and Steiner think they can turn Surflight's fortune around now?

According to them, a commitment on their part to the arts. There is also a feeling in town that there is a renewed sense of public interest in Surflight Theatre that resulted from the community outcry that came when it appeared certain it had closed forever.

Steiner has presented a business plan to the borough that he contends will make Surflight sustainable in the long run. He insists that the issues that led to the theater's bankruptcies in 2011 and 2015 were the result of poor business decisions on the part of the Board of Trustees after he and his wife, Gail, were forced out seven years ago.

Steiner contends that the operation of Surflight was successful under his leadership between 1998 and 2010, and will be again.

When will Surflight reopen?

The curtain is scheduled to go up at Surflight on June 23 with a production of the musical "Footloose." Subsequent shows are to follow, including "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" from July 11 to July 23; "Disney's Newsies" from July 25 to Aug. 13; "Hairspray" from Aug. 15 to Aug. 27; "Million Dollar Quartet" from Aug. 29 to Sept. 10; and "Home for the Holidays: A Surflight Celebration" from Dec. 7 to Dec. 17.

What about the Show Place Ice Cream Parlour next door, where the waiters and waitresses used to sing to the customers?

There will be plenty of song and dance with your milkshake or ice cream cone this summer; Show Place will be reopening with Surflight Theatre.

What are borough officials saying about all this?

They're hopeful but skeptical. Beach Haven Mayor Nancy Taggart Davis has promised that the municipal government will do everything within its legal authority to help make Surflight Theatre a success. However, Davis has questioned whether the financial troubles that led to Surflight's bankruptcies can be overcome with a new business model that is not all that dissimilar from the old business model. Moreover, she said it was also not clear whether all of the conditions required to close on the sale of the property, which TD Bank owns, have been met.

"Hopefully, it will work out," Davis said. "I'm a little nervous, I don’t want to have to go through this again."

Where can I find more information about Surflight?

​Surflight Theatre's website is back up and running: www.surflight.org

Erik Larsen: 732-682-9359 or elarsen@gannettnj.com