Coastal Conversations
Theater has a unique way of bringing people together, inspiring and entertaining audiences while creating lasting connections. In Atlantic City, Jeremy Rotolo is helping make that happen through the Atlantic City Theatre Company, an organization dedicated to bringing the excitement and creativity of live theater to the community.
As the company’s founder, Rotolo shares his journey into theater, the inspiration behind the company and his vision for the future of the performing arts in the region.
Here are some excerpts from our Coastal Conversation:
AS: What first inspired you to pursue theater, and what led you to eventually create the Atlantic City Theatre Company?
JR: I was sort of a late bloomer in terms of being a “theater kid.” I did my first play and musical senior year of high school, but I was always a creative kid. I loved music, played guitar from a young age, and my friends and I would make short films for fun and school projects. I went on to graduate from Stockton University with a B.A. in theater performance, where I fostered many connections that would become crucial to forming the Atlantic City Theatre Company, including our managing director, Thomas Smith. The initial spark came while I was commuting over three hours by train to NYC for theater projects. I noticed many artists, including myself, leaving South Jersey to pursue great theater and art. I thought, “If only there were a great regional theater down here in South Jersey.” So, Atlantic City Theatre Company was born.
AS: What was your vision when you founded the Atlantic City Theatre Company, and how has that vision evolved?
JR: The vision has always been about producing great art within South Jersey, specifically Atlantic City, that attracts local and non-local artists alike. We want to give artists a reason to stay and/or travel here for fulfilling, professional art. That vision has never changed, but it has grown stronger alongside our growth as a nonprofit theatre company.
AS: What makes Atlantic City a unique place to build and grow a theater company?
JR: The rich history of art within the city, alongside the current community and growth of the city itself. We grow with the city and are a part of the city. It’s truly a beautiful thing to watch and be a part of.
AS: What have been some of the most memorable productions, performances or moments for you since founding the company?
JR: One of the most memorable moments came during COVID-19, when we were forced into a more hybrid production style. We had been doing Shakespeare by the Beach productions at the Kennedy Plaza Amphitheater every summer. During the COVID-19 shutdown, we adapted by producing a hybrid theater performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” for ACAF’s 48 Blocks Festival. We rehearsed, performed and filmed the production, creating a very unique experience that combined theatre and film.
AS: How does the Atlantic City Theatre Company create opportunities for local performers, artists and members of the community?
JR: Three major ways are our “Art of Doing: Meisner-based acting workshops,” our productions and our bi-weekly cabarets at The Byrdcage in Atlantic City. The workshops are open and accessible to everyone, whether they have zero experience or years of experience. Our productions also begin with casting calls to the local theater community before expanding to the tri-state area. The cabarets are a newer initiative created by our managing director, Thomas Smith, and creative director, Emily Gulden. We’ve partnered with The Byrdcage to produce a variety of cabarets for the local community and local artists. They’ve had great success and provide a great night out in the city. Our next cabaret is Sept. 18 at The Byrdcage. Our next two productions are “Forever Plaid” at Stockton University’s Performing Arts Center on Sept. 25 and 26, followed by “Little Shop of Horrors” at Resorts Casino on Oct. 10, 17 and 24. I’m super excited for all of these shows because the casting has been amazing. You can find ticket links on our Instagram page, @atlanticcitytheatrecompany.
AS: What are some of the biggest challenges facing live theater today, and how do you work to overcome them?
JR: I would say accessibility, as well as the time and funds that go into each production. We have a great team of professionals with extensive experience in the arts and administration, so collaboration is key, both internally and externally. We also work with various businesses and organizations throughout Atlantic City. We have great sponsors and donors who make all of this possible. Gary Hill from Schultz Hill Foundation and Evan Sanchez especially stand out because they have been with us from the very start. Community is everything.
AS: What would you like to see happen for the arts and theater community in Atlantic City and throughout South Jersey in the coming years?
JR: I would simply like to keep seeing more of it. For us, that means having our own venue or residency within the city at a major location. This would give us the flexibility to produce more productions with unique twists.
AS: For someone who has never attended one of your productions, what would you tell them about the experience and why they should give live theater a try?
JR: All of our productions are truly unique because of the immersion aspect of our production style. We like to make the entire experience, from the time you walk to the box office to the time the actors take their bows, immersive and unique to ACTC. That means decorating the box office and theatre, as well as staging productions with actors coming into the audience. It becomes a really interactive live experience that is hard to find anywhere else.
From the shore to your door, let’s keep the conversation going.
