Beth Corets, a Glen Cove High School alumna, celebrated with productions of The Outsiders and SUFFS at this year’s 77th annual Tony Awards. Tony Awards recognize outstanding achievement in Broadway productions and have 26 competitive categories.
Corets co-produced two Broadway musicals in the 2023-2024 season, both of which won in their respective categories. Corets worked on the shows through her company, Oddly Specific Productions.
SUFFS earned six nominations and won in two highly competitive categories: Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score.
The Outsiders won Best Musical, one of the most prestigious awards a musical can win. The musical won three additional awards, including Best Direction of a Musical, Best Lighting Design of a Musical and Best Sound Design of a Musical.
Corets’ work on these shows is critical for success, especially in the early stages of production. Producers work with marketing teams, general managers and production staff to ensure the success of the project.
“Simply put, producing a Broadway show–or any show for that matter–is akin to launching a business,” Corets said. “Producers raise capital to finance workshops, backers’ auditions and other presentations to gain potential interest from investors who, then hopefully, continue ongoing support for a production.”
Corets’ work in The Outsiders and SUFFS has played an integral role in their success. As a co-producer, Corets does a lot during the shows’ development. SHe wears many different hats in her role.
She explains: “As a co-producer on The Outsiders and SUFFS, my role thus far has included securing capital, attending planning and strategy meetings, having discussions about pricing, marketing and partnerships and promoting initiatives.”
Corets works behind the scenes now, but she grew up participating on the stage.
“I was involved in choir and theatre beginning in middle school and continuing through my senior year of high school. Dale Alan Zurbrick, ‘Z,’ was my middle-school music and drama instructor who then transferred to Glen Cove High School, so I had him as my teacher for six years.”
Zurbrick was an incredibly passionate teacher and offered his students opportunities to connect with professionals in the field.
“His friends included working theatre actors who he would bring into the classroom. We had vocal warmups with Lisa Vroman, who at the time was Christine in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, among others,” said Corets. “These opportunities left an indelible imprint.”
After high school, Corets decided to work behind-the-scenes on theatrical productions and co-founded a television station in college with her school’s entertainment committee. There, she was in charge of bringing musical acts, artists and lecturers to campus. Later on, she interned with a production company in London during a semester abroad.
In order to help current students receive the same music education she experienced, Corets started the non-profit FAME GC (Friends of Arts & Music Enrichment in Glen Cove).
Corets founded the organization with her fellow Glen Cove High School alumnae in 2020 to ensure that the students would receive arts education.
“We were inspired to provide students with enrichment opportunities as exceptional as those we enjoyed as kids,” she said. “Though FAME GC was launched to support students in the Glen Cove City School District, it was always our intention to scale our outreach to other cities in New York and eventually expand nationwide.”
FAME GC provides students, faculty and administration with financial and educational support. The nonprofit currently offers four annual scholarships to GCHS graduating seniors in various categories including Music & Theatre arts, Literature & Language Arts, Visual Arts, and Digital.
“I have tremendous gratitude for the robust performing arts curriculum I received in the Glen Cove public schools. It gave me a creative outlet, taught me about dedication and resilience, afforded me lifelong friendships and enriched my life immeasurably.”
Corets continues to look for ways that intertwine her professional work with the nonprofit. For example, this upcoming semester, the Glen Cove Middle School eighth-grade students will read S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders and then see a matinee performance of the musical on Broadway. The organization will look for professionals to come speak to students for master-classes as well.
For more information about FAME GC, please visit www.famegc.org or contact info@famegc.org.
Corets encourages everyone to support their local theatre organizations.
“While I would love everyone to see The Outsiders and SUFFS, I also believe there is great value in attending school and community theatre productions,” she said.
Congratulations to Corets for her recognition at this year’s Tony Awards, as well as her ongoing work with FAME GC.
