A Jersey Shore theater as famous for its difficulties in recent years as the shows it puts on has reopened for business.

The Surflight Theatre reopened Friday with a performance of the musical “Footloose” after being shut down for two years. 

The theater went bankrupt after a string of difficulties including a fire and damage by Superstorm Sandy. The theater then needed months of repairs once the new owner took over.

“Everybody is back doing what we already know how to do,” says artistic director Steve Steiner.

Surflight had provided entertainment for summer visitors to Long Beach Island for 70 years. Stage veteran Andrew Foote started his career there at age 19 and says that he is glad to see the tradition of Surflight giving young actors their start return once again.

"It does focus on that youth and to get back to that core mission for the first summer back is just fantastic,” he says.

“Footloose” is the first of five shows scheduled for this summer.