PBS ‘Shore Week’ Series to Chronicle Seaside Heights Broadway Performances

Korie Lee Blossey performs on the Seaside Heights boardwalk. (Credit: Love Imagery)

New Jersey’s PBS affiliates will present a week-long series of shows dedicated to the Jersey Shore next month, with Seaside Heights’ popular “Broadway Meets the Beach” performances forming the basis for one of the episodes.

Joseph Brunetti, who produces the annual series of free stage performances which bring high-profile Broadway actors and musicians to the boardwalk, said the show will air Monday, April 21 as the kickoff show on PBS. The PBS “Shore Week” series, loosely modeled after “Shark Week” on Discovery, will feature nightly shows on Shore-specific topics ranging from arts and entertainment to serious environmental challenges, as well as the history of the region.

The episode, titled “Broadway Joe” after Brunetti, focuses on how he pulled together Broadway stars – who have often visited the Jersey Shore as tourists – together to bring performances to a superbly-unique venue that exposes the arts to the masses in a fun, family-friendly environment.

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“Through his relentless dedication, infectious optimism, and knack for bringing magic to life, Brunetti turns every show into an unforgettable memory,” a description of the show from PBS said, calling Brunetti “a fast-talking dreamer with boundless energy and a flair for the extraordinary.”

Broadway Meets the Beach. (Credit: Seaside Heights BID)

Brunetti teamed up with local entrepreneur and events organizer Diana Pellegrino to organize the first season in 2018, and it has since become a beloved and wildly-popular summer tradition. Each season, Broadway cast members have descended upon Seaside Heights for free live performances on a boardwalk-mounted stage, often in tribute to a specific writer, producer or theme. The performers normally stay to interact with audience members and sign autographs after the shows, capping the night.

The “Shore Week” series begins April 21 at 8 p.m. NJ PBS can be seen on broadcast and cable via its local stations (WNJN, WNJT, WNJB and WNJS) as well as via online streaming.