'Screen To Stage' Plays At Ocean City Music Pier This Season

OCEAN CITY, NJ — The Ocean City Theatre Company will present three shows with the “screen-to-stage” theme during the upcoming fall/winter season. The famous and iconic movies adapted for the stage will feature a mix of professional and educational programming at the Ocean City Music Pier.

In October, the professionals will take center stage in the Broadway Musical, “Xanadu.” In November high school students will shine in the whodunnit show, “Clue.” The holidays will be magical as professionals perform alongside student performers to bring to life the musical “Annie.”

“Xanadu” runs Oct. 5-6 at the Ocean City Music Pier. This Tony Award-nominated, roller-skating, musical adventure about following your dreams despite the limitations others set for you rolls along to the original hit score composed by pop-rock legends Jeff Lynne and John Farrar.

Based on the Universal Pictures cult classic movie of the same title, which starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, “Xanadu” follows the journey of a magical and beautiful Greek muse, Kira. Kira descends from the heavens of Mount Olympus to Venice Beach, California. in 1980 on a quest to inspire a struggling artist, Sonny, to achieve the greatest artistic creation of all time – the first ROLLER DISCO! (Hey, it's 1980!) But, when Kira falls into forbidden love with the mortal Sonny, her jealous sisters take advantage of the situation, and chaos abounds.

OCTC’s “Xanadu” is directed by Shannon Agnew with music direction by Andrew Hink. The professional cast is made up phenomenal performers with touring, regional and off-Broadway credits. The cast includes Erin Whitcomb, Danny Drewes, Gabriel Rodrigues, Shannon Agnew, Hannah Breed, Natalie Ragazzo, Kari Lochstoer, Andrew Pace and Robert F. Taylor.

Taking to the Music Pier Stage on Nov. 2 and 3 is the play “Clue.” Yes, the popular board game and movie is a play! It's a dark and stormy night, and you've been invited to a very unusual dinner party. Each of the guests has an alias, the butler offers a variety of weapons, and the host is, well . . . dead. So whodunnit?

Join the iconic oddballs known as Scarlet, Plum, White, Green, Peacock, and Mustard as they race to find the murderer in Boddy Manor before the body count stacks up. Based on the cult classic film and the popular board game, “Clue” is a madcap comedy that will keep you guessing until the final twist. This production will feature the Ocean City Theater Company Jr. Company.

“Annie” caps off the season from Dec. 8-15 at the Ocean City Music Pier. Based on the popular comic strip by Harold Gray, “Annie” has become a worldwide phenomenon and was the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The beloved book and score by Tony Award winners, Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, features some of the greatest musical theatre hits ever written, including “Tomorrow.”

With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage that is run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan.

With the help of the other girls in the Orphanage, Annie escapes to the wondrous world of NYC. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations... and even befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt! She finds a new home and family in billionaire, Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

Auditions will be held for “Annie” on Saturday, Oct. 6. Girls ages 7-13 are invited to audition for the roles of Annie and the other orphans. To learn more about auditions visit www.oceancitytheatrecompany.com or call 609-398-1118.

Tickets for all of these shows are now available at oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice or by calling 609-399-6111. Ocean City Theater Company is currently seeking presenting sponsors to help underwrite these productions. Interested supporters should call 609-398-1118 or email info@oceancitytheatrecompany.com.

The attached images of Erin Whitcomb and Danny Drewes were provided by Ocean City Public Information Director Doug Bergen