Steve Steiner News

Financial problems started when the decades-old theater was flooded by Hurricane Sandy.

Subscribers, donors, supporters and celebrities attended the standing room only Opening Night Gala of the Laguna Playhouse's first show of its 2016-2017 Season, ALL SHOOK UP. This perfect family summertime, fun-time musical features a book by Joe DiPietro, musical direction by Jeff Biering, choreography by Paula Hammons Sloan and is directed by Steve Steiner. ALL SHOOK UP presents the fabulous music of Elvis Presley, along a story inspired by William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Scroll down for photos from the opening festivities!

Laguna Playhouse Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham is thrilled to announce the first show in the Laguna Playhouse 2016-2017 season, the perfect family summertime, fun-time musical, ALL SHOOK UP, book by Joe DiPietro, musical direction by Jeff Biering, choreography by Paula Hammons Sloan and directed by Steve Steiner. 

In response to Surflight Theatre filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Steve Steiner and a group of Investors have presented an offer to the Trustee, Jack McDonnell, Esq. overseeing the Chapter 7 dissolution bankruptcy of the Surflight Theatre. This plan and offer which includes a solid financial plan going forward to keep the institution viable for generations to come, also includes in the immediate future a full summer stock theatre season for 2015 including MainStage Shows, Children's Theatre, The ShowPlace Ice Cream Parlour and an Intern and Apprentice Program. The offer is in excess of the $1.9 million that TD Bank holds in a mortgage as the first lien holder.

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham in association with Boebe Productions are thrilled to present the first show of their 2014-2015 season, BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY, featuring over twenty of Buddy Holly's and rock & roll's greatest hits and directed by Steve Steiner (who directed last season's smash-hit production of RING OF FIRE). 'Oh Boy! To have our theatre rocking out to the songs of such greats as Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper is going to be music to the ears of our audiences and subscribers this Summer,' offers Wood. 'We are overjoyed to be partnering with Steve Steiner and Boebe Productions again and know they are going to blow the roof off the Playhouse with this spectacular telling of one of the most enduring stories in rock & roll history,' adds Wareham. BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY will begin previews today, July 9and will open on Saturday, July 12 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, August 10, 2014 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham in association with Boebe Productions are thrilled to present the first show of their 2014-2015 season, BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY, featuring over twenty of Buddy Holly's and rock & roll's greatest hits and directed by Steve Steiner (who directed last season's smash-hit production of RING OF FIRE). "Oh Boy! To have our theatre rocking out to the songs of such greats as Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper is going to be music to the ears of our audiences and subscribers this Summer," offers Wood. "We are overjoyed to be partnering with Steve Steiner and Boebe Productions again and know they are going to blow the roof off the Playhouse with this spectacular telling of one of the most enduring stories in rock & roll history,' adds Wareham. BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY will begin previews on Wednesday, July 9and will open on Saturday, July 12 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, August 10, 2014 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

It's that time of year again and thank goodness the Northeast winter has finally given way to a glorious spring into summer with plenty to see on our stages. Whether you are a center city baby enjoying all the cultural the city has to offer or a rural explorer heading south, this is the summer of musicals from Philly to Cape May.

Jukebox musicals come in all shapes and sizes. Some find a way to integrate the songs of a particular group or singer in such a way that the end result is more than satisfying as an evening of theatre.

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham kick off the New Year with the legendary songs of that legendary man in black, RING OF FIRE, The Music of Johnny Cash, with choreography by Paula Hammons Sloan and musical direction and direction by Steve Steiner. 'What better way to begin 2014 than to offer our subscribers and audiences a musical tribute to an American Icon,' offers Wood. 'Who doesn't love such classics as 'I've Been Everywhere,' 'I Walk The Line' and so many more! A fascinating look at a fascinating man.' 'With thirty extraordinary songs performed by a talented cast of 10, this 'Ring' starts our new year off 'On Fire,' adds Wareham. RING OF FIRE will begin previews onToday, January 7 and will open on Saturday, January 11 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, February 2, 2014 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham kick off the New Year with the legendary songs of that legendary man in black, RING OF FIRE, The Music of Johnny Cash, with choreography by Paula Hammons Sloan and musical direction and direction by Steve Steiner. 'What better way to begin 2014 than to offer our subscribers and audiences a musical tribute to an American Icon,' offers Wood. 'Who doesn't love such classics as 'I've Been Everywhere,' 'I Walk The Line' and so many more! A fascinating look at a fascinating man.' 'With thirty extraordinary songs performed by a talented cast of 10, this 'Ring' starts our new year off 'On Fire,' adds Wareham. RING OF FIRE will begin previews onTuesday, January 7 and will open on Saturday, January 11 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, February 2, 2014 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

In just three short years, Buddy Holly set the music world on fire and forever changed the face and sound of rock and roll. Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story, the musical that charts his meteoric climb, legendary adventures and tragic fall on the fateful day the music died, is the next Broadway Sacramento production, running at the Community Center Theater today, December 27, 2013 through January 2, 2014.

It was an exciting, interesting and surprising season in the Philadelphia/ South Jersey theater world. Here are some of my favorites picks with one additional New York entry worth remembering.

In just three short years, Buddy Holly set the music world on fire and forever changed the face and sound of rock and roll. Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story, the musical that charts his meteoric climb, legendary adventures and tragic fall on the fateful day the music died, is the next Broadway Sacramento production, running at the Community Center Theater December 27, 2013 through January 2, 2014. Armed with a Fender Stratocaster guitar, his signature specs and a charismatic blend of rockabilly swagger, Buddy explodes onto the stage in this jukebox musical fully loaded with classics "Peggy Sue," "Oh Boy," "That'll Be the Day," "Well All Right," "Not Fade Away" and many more, with an encore that will have you on your feet and dancing in the aisles.

The Orpheum Theatre is thrilled to bring the musical Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story to Memphis, TN. Tickets are available now for performances October 15 to 20.

Ocean Professional Theatre Company welcomes the rock and roll star that started it all: Buddy in The Buddy Holly Musical, starring Todd Meredith as Buddy Holly, and directed by Steve Steiner of the original Broadway Company. The production will run at the Bengal Auditorium, 180 Bengal Blvd. Barnegat NJ.

This October, the television and film actress and singer Misty Rowe makes a rare New York stage appearance as she premieres a brand new club act, "Blondes STILL Have More Fun," in an exclusive four-show engagement at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street. Widely recognized in the 70's and 80's for her roles on Hee Haw, Happy Days and Mel Brooks' When Things Were Rotten, Rowe makes her well-reasoned case for blonde hegemony in a revue filled with country-tinged folk, rock and pop that makes hay of her 40+ years in show business.

Now that the world premier of 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' has opened and is enjoying ever-growing and receptive audiences of all ages, the adaptor of this famous Washington Irving tale, James Rana, sat down with Gayle Stahlhuth, artistic director of the Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company, to talk. Like last year's 'The Poe Mysteries,' Stahlhuth is also the director.

Come one, Come all to the Jellicle Ball for a purrrrrefectly wonderful evening as Ocean County celebrates CATS at the Jersey Shore area.

Ocean Professional Theatre Company Presents Cole Porter's ANYTHING GOES, starring Jill Slyter as Reno Sweeney, at the Bengal Auditorium on the Campus of the Barnegat High School, 180 Bengal Blvd. Barnegat NJ: 2:00pm: July 7, 9, 10,11; 8:00pm: July 5. 9.10.11,12.13.

Ocean Professional Theatre Company Presents Cole Porter's ANYTHING GOES, starring Jill Slyter as Reno Sweeney, at the Bengal Auditorium on the Campus of the Barnegat High School, 180 Bengal Blvd. Barnegat NJ: 2:00pm: July 7, 9, 10,11; 8:00pm: July 5. 9.10.11,12.13.