By Gina Marie Rodriguez, JerseyArts.com
originally published: 05/08/2025

"Jaws." It was an iconic moment in cinema history. The three-time Academy Award-winning film is credited as the first true “summer blockbuster,” having toppled box office records to become the top-grossing film of 1975. And as we approach its 50th anniversary, George Street Playhouse is bringing the behind-the-scenes story of the film’s making to the stage.
FADE IN: The open ocean, 1974. Filming is delayed…again. The lead actors—theatre veteran Robert Shaw and young Hollywood hotshots Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider—are crammed into a too-small boat, entirely at the mercy of foul weather and a faulty mechanical co-star. Alcohol flows, egos collide, and tempers flare on a chaotic voyage that just might lead to cinematic magic…if it doesn’t sink them all.
That’s the official description of the play, “The Shark is Broken,” written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon. Shaw is the son of the late actor Robert Shaw who played the memorable Captain Quint. He brings to life the moments of Jaws that had, prior to this show, lived only in the tall tales of Hollywood memory.
Check out today's episode to meet the talented cast of "The Shark is Broken," directed by Peter Flynn.

George Street Playhouse presents "The Shark is Broken" through May 18, 2025 at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. Click here for tickets or more information.
About the author: Gina Marie Rodriguez is an award-winning screenwriter, director, and actress. Her foray into filmmaking began at a young age as a way to avoid public speaking in school. From there, it grew into a love of telling stories and creating new worlds. Gina Marie boasts a Bronze Remi win from Worldfest Houston, Best Female Filmmaker from the Cosmic Film Festival, and a Best Actress in a Comedy from the Hang Onto Your Shorts Film Festival alongside nominations from the Golden Door International Film Festival, Official Latino Film and Arts Festival and Los Angeles Cinefest among others.
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Discover Jersey Arts, a project of the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation and New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
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