“Jaws” Turns 50: The Shark Still Haunts Us, But the Behind-the-Scenes Drama Bites Even Harder
As the world celebrates the 50th anniversary of Jaws—the film that forever changed summer movies and made us all afraid to go back in the water, a different kind of shark story is surfacing in New Jersey.
A stage play called “The Shark is Broken” will be holding open auditions this summer for what is described as an “absolutely hilarious” play about the production the the iconic “Jaws” movie.
Everyone knows the iconic theme, the jump scares, and the unforgettable great white terrorizing Amity Island. But what many don’t know is that the making of Jaws was nearly as nightmarish as the movie itself. Weather delays, malfunctioning mechanical sharks, and ego clashes turned the set into a pressure cooker of frustration and absurdity. Now, five decades later, that chaos has become the centerpiece of a wildly entertaining play: The Shark Is Broken.
Related – Kismet Theatre Auditions in Clifton, NJ for Play
Upcoming Auditions
Tue., July 29, 2025
7:00 PM — 10:00 PM
CDC Theatre – 78 Winans Ave, Cranford, NJ 07016
It’s the 50th Anniversary of the blockbuster movie “Jaws”!
Filming Jaws is a nightmare. The weather is hell, the mechanical shark is on the fritz, and the actors? Trapped together on a too-small boat, battling egos, booze, and boredom. Robert Shaw—the old-school pro. Richard Dreyfuss—the young upstart. Roy Scheider—caught in the crossfire. As tension rises and patience wears thin, Hollywood chaos churns beneath the surface. But from the wreckage, something legendary is born.
Fifty years later, the shark still haunts us. But the real storm? It was behind the scenes. Jaws isn’t funny—but The Shark is Broken is absolutely hilarious.
