(BEACH HAVEN, NJ) -- Surflight Theatre brings back the Broadway hit musical Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story! from August 19 to September 7, 2025. Collin Yates stars as Buddy Holly in this journey through the legendary musician's life over the years (1936-1959, respectively). It is Collin's first time on the Surflight Theatre stage.
Directed by Steve Steiner, this musical begins with his early life in Lubbock, Texas, and really takes off with his rise to fame, and the trials and tribulations that brought him there. The musical emphasizes Buddy’s impact on the rock-n-roll genre and follows him all the way to his tragic death in a plane crash in 1959.
While this production marks the debut of Collins Yates at Surflight Theatre and his first time as Buddy Holly, he has a particular attachment to Surflight, being the grandson of William Yates, who worked closely with Joe Hayes for the first 7 years of Surflight’s history to build this wonderful theatre. Coming from a very theatrical family, Collin has been working as a professional musician since 2019 and has performed in many productions of Million Dollar Quartet around the country as an actor/musician.
At certain performances Michael Siktberg will be performing as Buddy Holly. An experienced actor/musician, this production marks Michael’s fourth “Buddy” and his Surflight Theatre debut. He is known for significant television work as well as numerous regional theatre productions.
Performances take place August 21,24,26,31 and September 3,4,7 at 2:00pm, August 19-23,26-30 at 8:00pm, and September 3-6 at 7:30pm. Tickets ($46 for adults, $36 for children 12 and under) are available for purchase online or by calling (609)492-9477. Surflight Theatre is located at 201 Engleside Avenue in Beach Haven, New Jersey.
The cast includes: Joey Nuhfer as Joe B. Mauldin. Brian Conlon as Jerry Allison, Nathan Roberts as Fourth Cricket, Mike Brennan as Norman Petty & Big Bopper, Kevin Hincapie as Ritchie Valens.
The rest of the cast includes: Lexie Brown, Kasie Buono, Mary Ann DiPietro, Zion Hall, Dwan Hayes, Isaiah Mayhew, Matty Mitchell, Gabriela Moncivais, Lizzy Perrone, Jordan Polefka, Alison Nusbaum, Tim Steiner, Steve Steiner, and August W. Walker.
Steve Steiner (Director) 2025 is Steve’s 60th year in the entertainment business. He started at age 13 playing professionally in bands and continued with that endeavor throughout high school and college, where he earned 2 music degrees (Voice Performance and Instrumental Education) and 5 years post college, those years entirely on the road. Buddy is particularly important to Steve having appeared in the original Broadway Production of the musical as well as producing numerous National Tours, regional and casino productions of the show.
The show features Choreography by Paula Sloan, Musical Direction by Matty Mitchell, Scenic Design by Gail Anderson, Jeffrey Weigel and Eli McKenna, Costume Design by Keith Schneider, Sound Design by Ian Wehrle, Lighting Design by Anthony Marinaro. Wig Design Dwan Hayes and Props Design Jenna Raef.
Surflight's 2025 Season sponsored by Bay Magazine and The Cheese Shoppe.
