Surflight Theatre: A Grand Night for Singing

Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven is presenting Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “A Grand Night for Singing” on weekends from May 23 through June 7, according to the theater and New Jersey Stage. The production is a musical revue built from the Rodgers and Hammerstein songbook rather than a single-book musical, and it opened at the shore venue on Saturday night. Sunday’s schedule includes two performances, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., as the run continues through early June. Tickets are listed at $46 on Surflight’s website. ### What exactly is Surflight staging in Beach Haven? “A Grand Night for Singing” is described by Surflight as a “fresh take on the Rodgers & Hammerstein canon,” featuring reworked arrangements of songs associated with the composing team. The theater’s event page says the revue opened the 1994 Broadway season and earned two Tony nominations, including best musical. (surflight.org) New Jersey Stage said the revue was conceived by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie. Its preview highlighted songs including “Shall We Dance?,” “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?,” “Honeybun,” “Kansas City” and “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair” as part of the show’s updated arrangements. (surflight.org) ### When are the performances? May 23 through June 7 is the advertised run for the production, with performances concentrated on weekends and several weekday matinees and evening shows. New Jersey Stage listed 8 p.m. performances on May 23-24, 29-30 and June 4-6, along with 2 p.m. performances on May 24, 28, 31, June 2, 4 and 7. (newjerseystage.com) Surflight’s main site shows the same lineup, with Sunday, May 24 featuring both a 2 p.m. matinee and an 8 p.m. evening performance. A regional events listing from the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce also shows the production running from May 23 at 8 p.m. through June 7 in Beach Haven. ### Where is the theater and how much are tickets? Surflight Theatre is located at 201 Engleside Avenue in Beach Haven, New Jersey, according to both the theater and New Jersey Stage. (newjerseystage.com) The theater’s cast page also lists the same Beach Haven address and a box office phone number. $46 is the ticket price shown on Surflight’s website for “A Grand Night for Singing.” The theater’s homepage says patrons who want tickets emailed can contact the box office for assistance, and those choosing will-call pickup should allow extra time on arrival. (surflight.org) ### Why is this show being billed as a revue instead of a standard musical? Rodgers and Hammerstein songs are the core of the production, but the material is presented in newly arranged combinations and performance styles rather than within the original plots of shows such as “South Pacific” or “The Sound of Music.” Surflight’s description says the revue uses “innovative musical arrangements” to present the catalog in an updated format. (surflight.org) (surflight.org) Concord Theatricals is handling the licensing arrangement for the production, New Jersey Stage reported. That listing identifies the presentation as “A Grand Night For Singing” and says it is offered by special arrangement with the licensing company. ### What comes next for audiences this week? (surflight.org) Sunday, May 24, is the next day with performances, with shows scheduled for 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven. After that, the run continues on May 28, May 29-31, June 2 and June 4-7, with tickets and schedule information posted on Surflight’s website and in New Jersey Stage’s event listings. (surflight.org) (newjerseystage.com)