OCIS presents ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ and more to do this week in Ocean City

Last Updated on Wednesday, January 09, 2013 02:22 pm Written by Claire Lowe Wednesday, January 09, 2013 01:00 am

Be their guest

OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City Intermediate School Theatre Club invites you to be their guest as they present “Beauty and the Beast” 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11 at the Hughes Performing Arts Center in Ocean City High School, Sixth Street and Atlantic Avenue.

Follow Belle as she enters the mysterious world of the Beast’s castle, meets all of his servants from Lumiere to Mrs. Potts, and learns to look beyond the Beast’s rough exterior to find true love.

This musical stage show of the classic Disney film features Ocean City’s youngest thespians.

Tickets are available at the intermediate school office or at the door, and cost $5 for adults and $3 for students. Preschool students and under are free.

For even more art this weekend in Ocean City, attend two different meet the artist receptions.

The Ocean City Fine Arts League has reopened the Art on Asbury Gallery after Hurricane Sandy’s flood waters wrecked the interior. To celebrate, a meet the artist reception will be held 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11 at the gallery, 608 Asbury Ave. in Ocean City, featuring the artwork of the Art on Asbury judges, who volunteered their time and expertise to judge the shows throughout the year. Featured artists include: Marilyn Brent, Lance Balderson, Michael Waters, Steve Kuzma, Paula Angelo and Judy Scull. A. Light refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to the public and the show runs through the end of January. For more information, call 814-0308 or see www.oceancityfineartsleague.org.

In recognition of the Ocean City Fishing Club’s 100th year, the Ocean City Arts Center in the Community Center, 1735 Simpson Ave., is hosting an exhibition of new paintings depicting the iconic fishing pier and clubhouse at 14th Street and the beach created by the South Jersey Plein Air Group. While this exhibit will run through the month of January, a meet the artists reception will be held 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11 at the arts center. For more information about the Ocean City Fishing Club’s Centennial celebration, call 398-0534.

The TED Talks at the Ocean City Public Library, 1735 Simpson Ave., have changed days from Thursday to the second and fourth Saturday of each month. The first talk of 2013 will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12. TED Talks are videos, about 15-20 minutes long, fostered by an international organization created to inform, educate and entertain an audience on a great variety of topics. This week’s speaker is Brene’ Brown on the power of vulnerability. Brown studies human connection – the ability to empathize, belong and love.

Join neighbors and local and federal representatives 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12 in the Ocean City Free Public Library Auditorium, 1735 Simpson Ave., for an interactive presentation, “Coping and Recovery: Hope and support after Sandy's recent storms and flooding,” presented by the New Jersey Division of Mental Health Addiction Service, and other government agencies. New Jersey Project Hope and Healing is about managing the emotional consequences of storms and flooding, understanding the impact, and exploring strategies for coping with weather emergencies' stressful aftermath.

Also on Saturday, Debbie Pruitt, the former Miss Cape May County 1996 and Miss New Jersey runner-up, will host a local concert to raise money for OCNJ CARE. The fundraising concert will be 4 p.m. Jan. 12 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 10th Street and Central Avenue. Joining Pruitt will be members of the St. John’s congregation, Debby and Jim Dalfonso, and Nancy Fox, Pruitt’s first performance instructor, among others. For information, call (609) 390-0860.

On Sunday, the community is invited to an inclusive worship service adapted to meet the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities 2 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church, 1001 Central Ave. in Ocean City. St. John is the first church in New Jersey to host monthly Rejoicing Spirits worship services. Although the Rejoicing Spirits service is adapted to more readily engage people with developmental disabilities, it remains inspiring and meaningful to everyone who attends. Rejoicing Spirits worship services will be held the second Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. For more information, contact the church office at 399-0798 or  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For directions, see www.stjohnlutheranoc.org.

Standing are Caroline Byrne as Lumiere, Christa Michel as Babette, Payton Ortzman as Mrs. Potts, and seated are “silly girls” Gabrielle Waid and Rosalie Graham.

From left are Pat Kistler as Gaston, Mae Fluharty as Belle, Walter Luchay as the Beast, Ben Wiley as Maurice and Elaine Estlow as Madame de la Grande Bouche.

Fourth- and fifth-graders portray village people.