CELEBRATE THE 75TH BIRTHDAY OF THE ALGONQUIN THEATRE ON OCTOBER 17

(MANASQUAN, NJ) -- Celebrate the 75th year of the Algonquin in Manasquan on Thursday, October 17 at 7 p.m. with a special birthday bash. Organizers are taking the Algonquin back to the movies this milestone birthday party all the way back to the first movie shown here in 1938, "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farms" starring Shirley Temple. There will be a bouncing-ball sing-along and, like any proper birthday party, a birthday cake.


Admission prices for the party have been rolled back to 1938 prices, with admission for adults set at 15 cents and children under 18 at 9 cents. Anyone born in or before 1938 will be admitted free. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and tickets will be sold at the theatre entrance. Donations to Algonquin Arts Theatre are welcome.

The evening's festivities will include a look back at the theatre's history with the debut of the short film "In Their Own Words," featuring interviews with the local residents that helped build the theater and others who helped bring it back to life as a performing arts venue in the early 1990s.

Brett Colby, the former Development Director for Algonquin Arts Theatre will emcee. Colby has appeared on the Algonquin stage many times, most recently has smooth-talking salesman Harold Hill in the 2012 production of The Music Man.

At the end of the night, Algonquin ushers will distribute tickets to the theatre's 100th birthday bash slated for 2038!

Constructed by Lee Newbury, the Algonquin served as Manasquan's movie theater for 44 years, from 1938-1981. In 1994 the once-derelict and abandoned movie theater was rescued and transformed into a year-round, multi-form performing arts center. Today, the theatre is owned and operated by Algonquin Arts Theatre, a non-profit organization.
Founded in 1992, the non-profit's mission is to provide cultural enhancement and arts education to all audiences at the Jersey Shore through high-quality performances and programs in theatre, music, film and dance. The end goal is to foster appreciation of the arts and promote lifelong learning, particularly among underserved audiences including the economically disadvantaged, senior citizens and individuals with disabilities.

The theatre's 2013-14 season kicks off on Friday, Sept. 27, with two weekends of the self-produced Broadway musical "The Full Monty."


Algonquin Arts Theatre's programs are made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts / Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts; by funds from the Paul F. Zito, M.D. Educational Foundation, by Simon Kaufman, Esq. & Maria Zito-Kaufman and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.