Theatre-by-the-Sea is back in business this summer with an Aug. 8 production of Stephen Sondheim’s nine-time Tony winner A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, the only offering as the reopened theater gears up for the full 2008 season.

Theater-by-Sea, which had been closed since 2003, was just purchased by Bill Hanney, a Massachusetts man who has done some independent producing of plays and musicals and who owns a chain of movie theaters. Hanney has been expressing interest in mounting a production this summer, and now has a team of professionals in place to help him.

Broadway veteran Amiee Turner, who also has a background in film, television and non-profit theater, will serve as producing artistic director. Joel Kipper, a well-traveled actor, is the managing producer.

“We are very excited to give audiences a taste of things to come,” said Turner in a release.

Hanney, who owns an eight-screen movie complex in South Kingstown, said the company is in the process of sending out information to former subscribers about how they can become the first to purchase tickets to this special event. Within the next few weeks he said, he anticipates opening the box office to previous subscribers and then the general public.

Hanney said he also plans to re-open the theater’s restaurant, the former Seahorse Grill, as the new Bistro by the Sea. The restaurant is adjacent to the theater.

“Forum is one of American’s greatest and best loved musical comedies,” said Turner, “and a true celebration of the theater. We all feel it is a perfect way to celebrate the reopening of this historic Rhode Island landmark. The show runs through Aug. 26.

Theatre-by-the-Sea has been producing musicals and summer stock since 1933. Partners Laura Harris and Renny Serre ran it for almost two decades before deciding to get out of the theater business and publish children’s books. The 500-seat structure, one of the last old barn theater’s in the county, had been vacant for the past three summers.

The theater had been on the market for $1.795 million. Hanney had expressed interest in buying the facility soon after it closed. He had been on the radar since then, said Serre.

cgray@projo.com