There won't be a monologue from Snooki. The Situation will not sing a tribute to his abs. For once since MTV's reality television phenomenon swept the globe two years ago the term "Jersey Shore" will be synonymous with its real residents.
On April 9, the Algonquin Arts Theatre in Manasquan will host "Jersey Shore! A Multimedia Musical Adventure," a multimedia stage show about the vibrant life and history of the Jersey Shore.
The production is the culmination of months of work put in by the Squonk Opera, a Turtle Creek, Pa.-based theater company.
Members of the organization visited the area last year and conducted interviews with a number of local residents including children, community leaders, business owners and elected officials.
They also did exhaustive research on the area's rich local history, collecting photos and history for their performance.
The all-ages production will feature original music and appearances by local dance troupes.
Among those local residents interviewed as research for the production were Brian Devro, owner of Max Devro's Restaurant; Jillian Moran a third-grader from the Antrim School in Point Pleasant Beach; Jack MacFarlane, a fourth-grader at Sea Girt Elementary School; Jamyn Panepinto of the Spring Lake School of Dance; Dorian Parreott of Asbury Park; Aimee Hawes Ferguson, a lifetime resident of Sea Girt and Brielle; George Dempsey, the Mayor of Manasquan; Carl Mertens of Merten's Jewelers and Bobby Duerr of O2 Marketing.
Also interviewed were: Ryan Pace, a local surfer from Sea Girt; Carl Danish, a Special Education teacher in Jackson and resident of Manasquan; Henry Schwier of Schwier Realty; Dominick Bossone of Squan Tavern; ShiQuell Scurry of Asbury Park, Jess Spataro, a student of Manasquan High School; Gretchen Steiger of Manasquan, Bridget Mastrorilli, an eighth grade student at H.W. Mountz School in Spring Lake and Ashlynn Hayes of Manasquan.
The show will premiere on April 9 at 7:30 p.m. for a one-time performance. Tickets range in price from $20 to $25 and a chocolate tasting reception will follow the show.
For tickets and more information, visit the Algonquin Arts Theatre online at http://www.algonquinarts.org/.
