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Cutting the ribbon for the Ocean City Theatre Company’s first official home base Friday morning, the theatre companys founder and Artistic Director Michael Hartman smiled as he talked about what it meant to open a spacious downtown office and large, wide-open studio areas for aspiring thespians and dancers to perform and fine-tune their talents.

Earlier in the week, a member of the OCTC’s junior company went on a tour of the spacious digs at 848 Asbury Ave. with her mother; an emotional Hartman said they were more than just a little impressed.This is what happens when you follow your dreams,” the mother explained to the aspiring performer.If you dream it, you can achieve it.

It was he said more than a dream come true to have followed his passion for theatre.  Being able to start with nothing and create something magical he said, illustrates theatres never-ending power. Hartman said he loves theatre, the process of making it happen.The OCTC he noted started with nothing and grew into a regional powerhouse.  A few months ago the donated space was barren and crumbling. With the support of the community, the space has been transformed.While it may not be our own theater its the next step in that direction said Hartman.

Hartmans theatrical dream began at Ocean City High School. The 1998 OCHS graduate went on to West Chester University and during the summers coordinated a number of local productions. In 2001 he assembled a cast and with the help of his parents, Janice and James Hartman, and a small army of friends and supporters, produced “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.Say it with flowers