Bellarine Theatre Company (BTC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to servicing the members of local and surrounding communities in Southern Ocean County, NJ with innovative and original work. As the Founder and Artistic Director, I dreamed of this company in my dorm room as a sophomore in college at Rowan University. This dream became a reality when my (now) husband encouraged me to pursue my passion.

Between performances, classes, and exams, I researched non-profit law and by the end of that school year, BTC was fully functioning. With $10,000 of Pepsi Refresh grant money ready for implementation, Bellarine’s first production of The Wedding Singer, performed at Pinelands High School, was a bold choice and a great success. The area had not been exposed to newer works of theatre, but the community fell in love with this new group and this new idea of reimagined theatre. In our second season, next to normal was produced along with Annie. Two big firsts for BTC: a challenging groundbreaking show and a contract with an Equity actress. BTC earned credibly, respect, and gained an impressive following. We proved to the community that we could produce classics along side newer works, giving everyone the opportunity to enjoy our performances.

For our third year, a local art gallery approached us, looking to have Bellarine Theatre Company perform in their space. Coming from an undergraduate program that encouraged thinking out of the box and trying new things, I was eager to see this new space and envision what it could hold for us. The space was a gem hidden within the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences (LBIF) in Loveladies, NJ. We immediately formed a relationship, and the Foundation has become the closest thing to home us. We planned our fourth season, exceeding everyone’s expectations by offering four productions to the community. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Dorothy Meets Alice, Oklahoma!, and Bat Boy: The Musical. Our season was diverse and challenging, yet we felt that it offered something to every genre of audience member we had garnered. In addition to these productions, we offered a special needs friendly viewing of Dorothy Meets Alice, a Winter Improvisational Cabaret, and a few small fundraisers. 

Completing our fifth season, Bellarine has grown immensely. We presented Songs For A New World in March, our first-ever youth performance of Into The Woods, Jr. in May, and set the bar high for our summer production, Legally Blonde. In addition to these main stage events, we offered educational opportunities to our members. We presented a Student Director Showcase, another Improvisational Cabaret, and a showing of The Rocky Horror Picture show, which completely sold out and broke box office records. I’ve been fortunate enough to attract fabulous collogues that share my passion for Bellarine. From all walks of life, these people, that now inhabit our board of directors, are energized and ready to take the leap that we have been waiting for. My team and I are ready to take the next step with this organization by dedicating ourselves to its success. Another five years have come and gone, and we are thrilled to venture into our tenth season! 

​