A Town in Pictures

Michael Scotto, a familiar face around town, often has his camera in hand before the sunrise on the boardwalk, at memorable moments, dance recitals, stage performances, and community gatherings. His photographs have documented life in Spring Lake, capturing not just special events, but the everyday moments that make the town special.

Beginning Wednesday, August 5, Scotto will bring together his extraordinary collection of historic photographs and contemporary images from his collection to the Spring Lake Community House and Theatre’s Upper Gallery, sponsored by Chris Smith Realty. All proceeds will benefit the Community House. Some of his images have the power to transport viewers to long-ago moments, while others capture the beauty and traditions that continue to define Spring Lake today. Together, they create a visual timeline for all to enjoy. Scotto, who is also the Vice President of the Board at the Community House, says, “People will see the old photographs that I have digitized and enhanced and stop me on the street. They always have a smile on their faces, and they tell me stories. A picture is worth more than a thousand words; it brings back memories and reminds people of relationships and specific times in their lives. It’s very special.”

Inside the Art

The exhibition, which runs through Oct. 5, offers visitors the opportunity to experience Spring Lake through both yesterday’s lens and today’s. Historic landmarks, modified through AI, stand beside modern perspectives. Familiar streets reveal how much, or how little, they have changed over the years. The result is this creative exhibition that will spark conversations across generations. “Spring Lake is a canvas, an artist’s dream,” says Scotto. “There are changes in the seasons, in the day. I am lucky enough to capture it. I find it a great way of freezing history, freezing the memories.”

There could hardly be a more fitting venue for the exhibition than the Spring Lake Theatre. For decades, the Community House has served as a gathering place where patrons have celebrated music, art, and performance. The exhibition also supports another significant milestone. This summer marks the 50th anniversary of Spring Lake Theatre, a volunteer organization that has become an essential part of the community’s cultural life. Proceeds from the sale of Michael Scotto’s artwork will directly benefit the Community House, helping preserve the theatre for future generations.

Impact of the Theatre

Few people understand the theatre’s remarkable journey better than Bill Reinhard. Now serving as Director of Development, Reinhard’s connection to the theatre stretches back to its very beginning. 50 years ago, the Spring Lake Town Council approached his mother, longtime H.W. Mountz School music teacher Dottie Reinhard, and asked if she would direct a musical using only Spring Lake residents. The result was “Bye Bye Birdie,” the production that launched what would become Spring Lake Theatre.

Reinhard was cast as Randolph MacAfee, the mischievous younger brother in the show. “The adults all knew each other from town,” he recalls. “All the kids were classmates from Mountz, St. Catharine’s, Manasquan, or St. Rose. It was like putting on a play with your best friends.” 

He still remembers performing in the summer heat before air conditioning was installed. During performances, the large doors along both sides of the theatre remained wide open, allowing passersby to pause outside and enjoy the show. “But what I remember most,” Reinhard says, “was how much fun everyone was having.”

For him, the Community House has always been far more than a theater. “If there’s such a thing as a home away from home, this is the place,” he says. “I can still see my mom at the piano, directing with one hand and playing with the other. I think of her every time I walk into the theater.”

The theater would later shape his personal life as well. Years after “Bye Bye Birdie,” he met his future wife, Christina, when the two were cast as dance partners in a production of “The Secret Garden.”

Today, another meaningful connection remains. Reinhard now works alongside Patricia Barry, one of the few people who has shared the theater’s journey from the very beginning. This August, that journey comes full circle. 50 years after opening the theater’s inaugural season, “Bye Bye Birdie” returns to the Community House stage. Barry not only produced the original production but also performed in it, making this summer’s revival especially meaningful.

For Reinhard, the anniversary production represents far more than a revival. “It’s another fortunate thing that’s happened to me here,” he says. “Pat is my oldest friend in the theater.”

Visitors are invited to attend the exhibition’s opening reception on Wednesday, August 5, at 6:30 p.m., featuring wine and light fare. The reception is free and open to the public. The gallery will be open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., as well as during all performances of “Bye Bye Birdie.”

Performances will be August 12 to 16, and 20 to 23. Visit springlaketheatre.com for more information and to purchase tickets. All artwork will be available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting the Spring Lake Theatre and helping ensure that one of the town’s most cherished institutions continues inspiring audiences for generations to come.