Moorestown Theater Company Presents "High School Musical JR." As Its Fourth 'Penguin Project' Show!

MOORESTOWN, NJ — The award-winning, non-profit Moorestown Theater Company (MTC) will continue its 24th Season with its fourth-annual ‘Penguin Project’ production of “Disney’s High School Musical JR.” four times at First Methodist Church (FMC), 446 E. Camden Avenue, on these dates and times:

Wednesday, April 22 @ 6 PM
Thursday, April 23 @ 6 PM

Saturday, April 25 @ 7 PM
Sunday, April 26 @ 2 PM

Reserved-Seat Tickets are available online for $13 per ticket until three hours before ‘Curtain Time’ (when we have to close down to print seating lists for that performance) or at the door one hour before each curtain time (where they are $15, so buy ahead of time!). The musical will run approximately an hour and 30 minutes, including intermission, and it is appropriate for audience members of all ages. Come celebrate the 20th Anniversary of this Disney musical with our ‘Penguins’!

The Penguin Project is a nation-wide program, with 50+ Chapters in 25 states, where neurodivergent students (the ‘actors’) play all of the lead roles and neurotypical students (the ‘mentors’) support the actors by singing and dancing in Ensemble roles. MTC has the first, and still, the only chapter of the Penguin Project in New Jersey.

In “Disney’s High School Musical JR.”, MTC’s 40-member Children’s Cast of 10- to 21-year-olds, including 20 ‘artists’ and 20 ‘mentors’, will bring to life familiar characters like ‘Troy’, ‘Gabriella’, ‘Sharpay’, ‘Ryan’, and the rest of the ‘Wildcats’ of East High School. They will sing such great songs as “Bop To The Top”, “Get ‘Cha Head In The Game”, “What I’ve Been Looking For”, “Stick To The Status Quo”, and “We’re All In This Together”, among others.

The Production Staff for “Disney’s High School Musical JR.” incudes Producers Mark Morgan and Carol Ann Murray, Director Susan Mauer, Vocal Director Jaclyn Valenziano, Choreographer Stacy Brophy, Costume Director Thom Sirkot, Props Director Amy Evangelisto, Technical Director Harrison Kutalek, and Stage Manager John Wells.

In 2025, MTC presented 69 performances of 15 productions by 581 performers, and in its first 23 Seasons, MTC presented 1,137 performances of 251 productions by 10,536 performers.

MTC, which still has 12 more productions in its 24th Season this year, which are listed on its website, has received these recent awards and highlights:

– February ’26: MTC partnered with Holy Cross Academy to revive their musical theater program

– January ’26: ‘Excellence In Ensemble Work’ Award presented to the Cast of “Mary Poppins JR.” at the iTheatrics Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta, GA (our first ‘Ensemble’ Award, and 11th overall, after seven ‘Acting’, two ‘Music’, and one ‘Dance’ Awards)

– November ’25: MTC presents “Something Rotten” as its 250th Production near the end of its 23rd Season

– June ’25: ‘Twink Lynch Organizational Achievement Award’ by American Association of Community Theater at its national Theater Festival (AACT Fest)

– March ’25: ‘40 Fabulous Females’ Award presented to MTC’s Founding Managing Director Carol Ann Murray by Donnelly Media at the Camden County Boat House

– January ’25: ‘Excellence In Dance’ Award presented to the Cast of “Alice In Wonderland JR.” at the iTheatrics Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta, GA (our first ‘Dance’ Award, and 10th overall, after seven ‘Acting’ and two ‘Music’ Awards)

– January ’25: ‘Freddie G Fellowship’ Award presented to MTC’s Founding Producing Director Mark Morgan at the iTheatrics Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta, GA

Questions about “Disney’s High School Musical JR.”, the ‘Penguin Project’, or about MTC in general, can be answered by calling 856 / 778-8357.