Surflight Theatre Kicks off Summer Season With The Boy Friend

The following is a press release submitted to Patch by the Surflight Theatre.

Surflight Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Director Ken Myers presents the 1920s musical comedy The Boy Friend, from May 24 through June 16.  

Sandy Wilson’s 1954 musical comedy, The Boy Friend, is a recipe for gleeful romance: Take a rich young girl, a poor boy who’s employed as a messenger, a group of happy flappers, some well-intentioned adults. Mix carefully with a new romance and a re-kindled one.  Add “jazzy” music.  Put dreams in the lyrics (“I Could Be Happy with You”) along with exuberance and joy in the dances (“Won’t You Charleston with Me?”).  Shake well, and you have Sandy Wilson’s skillfully inventive spoof of 1920s musicals. 

The Boy Friend is directed and choreographed by Norb Joerder, with music direction by Henco Espag.  The cast features Elizabeth Miller as Polly Browne, Jeff Sullivan as Tony Brockhurst, Teri Dale Hansen (London “Show Boat” Magnolia) as Madame Dubonnet, Michael Scott (Percival Browne), Samantha Berman (Maisie),Netanel Bellaishe (Bobby Van Heusen), James Young (Lord Brockhurst),Jeanne Sutton (Lady Brockhurst), Alison Gleason (Hortense), Eliza Hayes Maher (Dulcie), Sarah Beling, Mark Blowers, Tom De Michele,Amanda Fannon, Matthew Greenberg, Tommy Joscelyn, TJ Larke, and Amelia Millar. Bucks County native Elizabeth Miller makes her Surflight debut in the role that introduced Julie Andrews to American audiences.  Elizabeth will be entering her senior year at Wagner College on Staten Island, where she has had leading roles in Seussical (Jo-Jo) and Legally Blonde (Elle Woods).  Also making his Surflight debut is Jeff Sullivan, who hails from Newfoundland, Canada.  He is a graduate of the NY Film Academy. 

Director/Choreographer  Joerder numerous credits include the 1993 Broadway revival of Camelot starring Robert Goulet, and most recently Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at the Kennedy Center.  Norb will be directing Surflight’s musicals this year including South Pacific, Les Miserables, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown and White Christmas. The Boy Friend is designed by Stephan Cowles (sets), Anna Hilberry(costume), Jeremy Cunningham (lighting), A & L Sound (sound).  Harold Goldfaden is production stage manager. 

With songs including “Nicer in Niece,” “We’re Perfect Young Ladies,” “Sur La Plage,” and “The Boy Friend,” the show captures the fun and vigor of the1920’s. It was originally produced in London’s West End, but the catchy tunes and romantic story proved to be a hit on Broadway as well when it transferred to New York in 1954.  

The original Broadway cast starred Julie Andrews (becoming an overnight sensation) at the Royale Theatre running 495 performances.   The Broadway revival in 1970 starred Judy Carne, Sandy Duncan and Harvey Evans at the Ambassador Theatre.  Ken Russell directed the 1971 film version which starred Twiggy and Tommy Tune. 

Surflight Theatre previously presented The Boy Friend in 1959, 1962, 1968 and 1975. Surflight Theatre is located at 201 Engleside Avenue in historic Beach Haven, NJ.  Performances of The Boy Friend are Tuesday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Wednesday at 2 p.m.; Thursday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.  Tickets are $45, with Groups (15 or more) $35 dinner packages available. NEW: Surflight is offering military and veteran discounts: 50% off the full ticket price of all Surflight Theatre events for active military and veterans with ID.  Call the Surflight Theatre Box Office at 609-492-9477 or purchase online at www.surflight.org.