A new performing arts company will make Barnegat High School's theater its home stage, officials announced today.

The Ocean Professional Theatre Company, founded late last year by former head of LBI's Surflight Theatre Steve Steiner, is planning a full summer season of live musicals to be staged in the 600-seat auditorium at the high school, according to a joint press release issued by the district and OPTC.

The partnership will generate revenue for the district "and be an economic engine for the Township," the release said. In addition, Steiner said the theater company is looking forward to creating apprenticeships for talented high school students, allowing them to gain experience alongside professional actors.

Steiner's Ocean Professional Theatre Company recently produced two holiday shows in Toms River. Previously, he spent twelve years as artistic director at Surflight before parting ways with the theater's leadership because of differences over how to best fix Surflight's financial problems. The LBI nonprofit emerged from bankruptcy last month.

The planned 2012 season at Barnegat High School will include productions of Sunset Boulevard, Man of La Mancha, Titanic the Musical, Ring of Fire – the Music and Story of Johnny Cash, I Left My Heart – The Music of Tony Bennett and a world premiere play, The Poe Mysteries. 

Check back with Barnegat Patch soon for more details on the partnership.