Ocean City Pops Strikes Up the Band this Summer
By Ryan Gerace
f you are a frequent visitor or a resident of Ocean City, then odds are you have attended an Ocean City Pops show, or one of their many sponsored shows, at the Ocean City Music Pier on the Boardwalk. The Pops are the entertainment pioneers of Ocean City and are responsible for putting together incredible shows, especially during the summer season. Over the years, the Ocean City Pops have brought iconic talent to the Music Pier such as the late legendary actress, Carol Channing, as well as American singer and actress, Shirley Jones. This year is their 91st season and it plans to be bigger and better than ever with a multitude of talent coming to the boardwalk this summer, including plenty of notable Broadway and Hollywood celebrities.
Ocean City Pops are an amazing nonprofit that is always looking for volunteers to help out. They raise money for scholarships for kids who want to pursue their musical talents. Musicians from the Pops also often travel to local schools in both Atlantic and Cape May County to give master classes to students there. They are often blown away by some of the talent they find.
None of these efforts would be possible without the revenue of the shows and events that The Friends of the Ocean City Pops have compiled each and every year. This 30-person board team is a big factor in the OC Pops’ success. The Friends of Ocean City Pops is chaired by Bill Sundermeier, a resident of Ocean City. “I started volunteering after we moved to Ocean City in 1996 and before I knew it, I was chairman,” said Sundermeier.
For the summer of 2019, there will be plenty of awesome shows coming to Ocean City. If you are a fan of ABBA, be sure to get your tickets for the Broadway Musical, Mamma Mia . The show will be playing from July 9 until July 12 at Hughes Performing Arts Center on 6th Street and
Atlantic Avenue. Be sure to also join Maestro Vince Lee and the Ocean City Pops for “Opening Night! A Star-Spangled Spectacular!” which kicks off the 2019 season on July 3 and will feature plenty of patriotic classics and a tribute to our troops on the eve of Independence Day. Before the show at the Music Pier, be sure to join the Pops at the Flanders Resort & Hotel from 5-7 for a BBQ fundraiser that benefits their organization.
One act that the Ocean City Pops are excited about is Caissie Levy, who originated in the role of Elsa for the Broadway adaptation of Disney’s Frozen. She will also be acting as the marshal for this year’s Ocean City Boat Parade. Be sure to also reserve tickets for the immensely talented Katherine Jenkins as she comes over from the United Kingdom to deliver her amazing classical renditions to the Music Pier. “You always want to try and get your tickets in advance if you want the best seats” explained David Coombs of Mays Landing, a long-time Trustee Board Member for the Friends of the Ocean City Pops.
Other exciting acts include Cheyenne Jackson, a popular Grammy nominated singer and actor known for his work on the Broadway stage and on television appearing in the hit FX show American Horror Story and the upcoming tv movie Descendants 3.
This summer is bound to be a great one for Ocean City as the OC Pops have an immense amount of entertainment slated for this season. To check out all of the amazing acts coming this summer and purchase tickets, visit www.oceancityvacation.com/boxoffice. You can also purchase tickets by calling 609-399-6111, or purchase them in-person at the City Hall Welcome
Center, the Roy Gillian Welcome Center on Route 52, or at the Ocean City Music Pier box office.
Ryan Gerace is a recent graduate from La Salle University with a Master’s in Strategic Communication. Born and raised in Linwood, NJ. He enjoys cooking, baking, and community events.
