surf side19

* In April of 1959, a dynamic and excited group of erstwhile Thespians presented its plans for a live theatre in Brevard County. They called themselves The Surfside Players of Cocoa Beach. The Players began implementing its plans, approved by city officials, civic groups and local residents.
* In May, 1959, their first production, "The Moon is Blue" was presented at the Cocoa Beach Fire House. In following years, the Players staged their shows at the fire house, in churches & motels, and even on the beach!
* On January 6, 1963, ground was broken for Surfside Playhouse at the corner of Fifth Street South and Brevard Avenue in Cocoa Beach. In April of 1963, the dream came true with the official opening of Surfside Playhouse.
* The theatre seats an audience of 269, is fully air-conditioned and offers special equipment for the hearing-impaired.
* The annual programs feature a variety of high quality performances ranging from light-hearted comedy to lilting musicals to riveting dramas.
* A children's theatre group was officially formed in 1979 and has continued with the current class, known as the Surfside Youth Players. Graduates of SYP and other teenagers have been able to continue the theatre experience with the Outreach Players, launched in 1998.
* Educational programs include workshops in such areas as Stagecraft, Costuming, Play Writing, Audition Techniques, and specific performance skills. Surfside Players has also supported junior & senior high school productions.
* A snack bar in the brightly decorated lobby serves as a source of revenue for the non-profit, 501(c)3 organization. The Players have also sponsored Jazz Festivals, Golf Tournaments, Barber Shop Quartets, celebrity auctions and yard sales as fund raisers. Additional support comes from matching grants and corporate & personal donations, assuring the facility of continued maintenance and upgrades.
* Surfside Players extends a warm welcome to aspiring thespians, seasoned performers, and to anyone with a love for the Theatre.

Come - Break A Leg!

(Edited by Robin Pena, June 2003, From a compilation by Jean Barber, May 1998)