By MADDY VITALE
When the Ocean City Theatre Company made the decision to cancel its summer programming in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Newtown Square, Pa., sisters Sarah and Maggie Avellino both were sad.
Sarah, 10, a third-grader, summed up why it is so important for her to be involved in the OCTC productions.
“Last year, when I first decided to do the Junior Company, I came in with three friends and at the end, it was the whole cast who were my friends,” she said. “I am sad that I won’t see my friends this summer and sad I can’t make new ones in the cast.”
Sarah’s big sister, Maggie, 16, shared her feelings.
“Your cast is your family. It is kind of sad. We all put a lot of hard work into the shows and this summer we won’t be able to,” Maggie said.
Echoing the Avellino sisters, longtime members of the Summer Broadway Series and Music Pier Children’s Theatre Series, said it is going to be tough without rehearsals and performances.
OCTC, it seems, is an extended family to countless members of the casts.
Julia Wilson, 17, of Ocean City, has been involved with OCTC for years and began with the Junior Company for the younger performers.
“I know I can trust and count on every one of my cast members,” Julia said.
Although the summer programs have been canceled, the cast members are keeping in touch via social media.
“We are all looking for a place to be our most authentic selves and OCTC gives us that. Hopefully, we are reunited soon,” Julia said.
Michael Hartman, founder of OCTC, said that there are going to be alternative ways for performers to stay involved through the summer, but the specifics will be announced at a later date.
“We are hopeful that the summer will include some performing arts activities for the kids, not how we normally do them, though,” Hartman explained. “It is really crucial that all kids have the opportunity to find their passion and the opportunity to find their truth. It is something I am really proud of in OCTC and something I hope will be included in my legacy when I am long gone from Ocean City.”
Parents of OCTC members say that the experience has helped their kids with their self- esteem, developing friendships and being able to do what they love.
Jodee Wagner’s son, Erik, 17, has been performing with OCTC for years.
“OCTC exposes all of our children to the arts, whether they watch or perform,” Wagner said. “It is a positive community — all about building self-confidence and giving them opportunities to shine.”
Erik said it will be different this summer without OCTC to look forward to.
“It is a weird change of pace for me,” he said. “The theatre company helps me with my goals and creative thinking. It is devastating that they had to shut down the productions due to the (pandemic) conditions, but I understand that it is to keep everybody safe.”
Melissa Wilson, an OCTC board member, noted that the loss of the summer programming is difficult for the kids involved. But she also is concerned about the future of OCTC.
Like Hartman, Wilson said that the company is appreciative of donations to keep OCTC going.
“OCTC has been vigilant in its mission to bring the arts through musical theatre to this area for years. So, it is even more upsetting that this year has had to be postponed, particularly our camps and Junior Company program,” Wilson said. “We are continuing to discuss with our board ways to keep the students involved in the arts at a local level. We will seek ways to cut our overhead and depending on generous donations from our wonderful local community, we can come back and continue our mission.”
Mimi Avellino, the mother of Sarah and Maggie, described why OCTC is so important for her children and the entire community of year-round residents and those who, like them, have vacation homes in Ocean City.
“Ocean City Theatre Company is family to us. They are absolutely amazing, and it brought me to tears that the kids couldn’t be in it this year,” Avellino said. “Ocean City Theatre Company has brought so much joy to this town and to so many out-of-towners. Our children have definitely benefited from it. It has made them better people.”
For more information, contact OCTheatreCo@yahoo.com or to make a donation, mail checks payable to OCTC to 1501 West Avenue, Ocean City, N.J. 08226.
