Ocean Professional Theatre Company Partnering With Three Barnegat Restaurants

As it readies itself for the start of the first season, the Ocean Professional Theatre Company, , is partnering with area restaurants — three of them in town — to create dinner-and-a-show packages for theater-goers.

Theater-goers can choose to either attend a show and then dine at the restaurant, or have a meal before the performance, the theater's managing director said.

“We send a mailing out to group leaders, it’s a brochure listing all the shows and the pricing, as well as the menus for 12 partner restaurants for both lunch and dinner,” said Ruth Blankemeyer, the theater’s managing director. “And the group leaders call and tell me what show they’d like to see and how many people they’ll be bringing, and what restaurants they’d like to go to, and then I make the reservation.”

Former artistic director of LBI's Surflight Theatre Steve Steiner formed OPTC last December, after disagreements with Surflight’s leadership. The theater held two performances at the Ocean County Community College since then, and is now ready to start the season in May at the Barnegat High School. OPTC will be using that facility through an agreement with the Barnegat School District.  

The Barnegat restaurants that OPTC is partnering with include Spiaggia e Luna, and .

“It’s a great business opportunity and it’s great for the entire community,” Joseph Dringus, owner of Sweet Jenny’s, said. “It’s great to have performing arts theater events, especially within the confines of the school district.  We‘ve already had quite a few luncheons booked with them (for this upcoming season). It seems to be really
working out.”

“It just seems like a nice thing to get involved with,” said Jon Serpico, owner of Spiaggia e Luna. “Culture is always good to keep. Hopefully, this will bring some new people in, bring some new faces to Barnegat. I can’t wait to go to some of the shows, myself.”

The new theater’s season will start on May 8, with a production of "Nunset Boulevard."

Here is the list of the season’s other shows:

• May 5 – 18: “Nunset Boulevard”
• June 19 – July 8: “Man of LaMancha”
• July 11 – 29: “Titanic, the Musical”
• Aug. 1 – 19: “Gypsy”
• Aug. 21 – Sept. 1: “Ring of Fire -The Songs of Johnny Cash”
• Sept. 11 – 16: “I Left My Heart: The Music of Tony Bennett”
• Oct. 24 – 28: “The Poe Mysteries”
• Dec. 7 – 16: “Home for the Holidays – A Musical Christmas Party” performed at the OceanFirst Theatre in Stafford Township.

For more information, email the theater at ruth@oceantheatre.org.