5 Summer Musicals On Tap As Moorestown Theater Company Continues Anniversary Season

MOORESTOWN, NJ — The Moorestown Theater Company continues its 15th anniversary celebration with five musicals suitable for children this summer. It all begins Wednesday night when “Disney’s High School Musical Jr.” opens at Hope Community Church, 235 West Main Street in Moorestown.

The recent Disney franchise "High School Musical" started with this musical about the students at East High School. It features these favorite songs: “Start Of Something New,” “Get’cha Head In The Game,” “Breaking Free,” “Stick To The Status Quo” and, of course, “We’re All In This Together.” A 77-member cast will present the story of Troy, Gabriella, Ryan, Sharpay, Chad, Taylor, Coach Bolton, Mrs. Darbus, and the rest of the Wildcats.

• Wednesday, July 12: 7 p.m.;
• Thursday, July 13: 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 7 p.m.;
• Friday, July 14: 10 a.m., 2 p.m.

Other shows this summer include “The Wizard of Oz,” “Willy Wonka,” “West Side Story” and “Broadway Kids III.”

Frequent MTC performer and Trustee Rick Williams, of 6 ABC, will share the role of the Cowardly Lion in “The Wizard of Oz,” which runs July 20-29 at Hope Community Church. A 65-member all-ages cast, directed by MTC’s Producing Artistic Director Mark Morgan, will perform this musical with such well-known songs as “Follow The Yellow Brick Road,” “If I Only Had A Brain / A Heart / The Nerve,” “We’re Off To See The Wizard,” “Merry Old Land Of Oz,” “King Of The Forest,” “Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead,” and the Oscar winning “(Somewhere) Over The Rainbow.”

• Thursday, July 20: 7 p.m.;
• Friday, July 21: 7 p.m.;Saturday, July 22: 2 p.m., 7 p.m.;
• Sunday, July 23: 2 p.m.;
• Wednesday, July 26: 7 p.m.;
• Thursday, July 27: 7 p.m.;
• Friday, July 28: 7 p.m.; and
• Saturday, July 29: 10 a.m., 7 p.m.

Up next is “Willy Wonka Jr.,” the Roald Dahl musical that features such beloved characters as Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregard, Mike Teevee, Charlie Bucket, the Oompa-Loompas, and, of course, the title character. The six-to-17-year-old cast will sing such favorites as “The Candy Man,” “Cheer Up, Charlie,” “Think Positive,” “(I’ve Got A) Golden Ticket,” “I Want It Now,” and “Pure Imagination.”

• Wednesday, Aug. 2: 2 p.m., 7 p.m.;
• Thursday, Aug. 3: 10 a.m., 7 p.m.; and
• Friday, Aug. 4: 10 a.m., 2 p.m.

In “West Side Story: School Edition,” MTC’s sixth all-teen cast will present the stage version of the 1961 Hollywood movie that still holds the record for most Oscars by a movie musical with 10. MTC’s teens will bring this modern-day tale of Romeo And Juliet to life as Tony and Maria and their Jets and Sharks gangs sing and dance their way into your hearts.

• Wednesday, Aug. 16: 7 p.m.;
• Thursday, Aug. 17: 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 7 p.m.; and
• Friday, Aug. 18: 10 a.m., 2 p.m.

“Broadway Kids III” rounds out MTC’s summer musical lineup. MTC’s fourth all-pre-teen summer cast will present a new musical revue highlighting songs from such favorite musicals as Hamiliton, Moana, Anastasia, and Guys And Dolls, among others.

• Wednesday, Aug. 23: 7 p.m.;
• Thursday, Aug. 24: 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 7 p.m.; and
• Friday, Aug. 25: 10 a.m., 2 p.m.

“Disney’s High School Musical, Jr.,” “Willy Wonka, Jr.,” “West Side Story: School Edition,” and “Broadway Kids III” will be presented at the end of the first, second, third, and fourth sessions, respectively, of Summer Stage ’17, MTC’s award-winning Musical Theater Camp for children between the ages of 6 and 17. The camp is held at Hope Community Church. There are still openings for Sessions II, III, and IV. Session I has already started. To register for Summer Stage ’17, visit MoorestownTheaterCompany.org or call MTC at 856-778-8357.

Tickets for all five musicals are reserved, and can be purchased online at MoorestownTheaterCompany.org , or in the lobby 60 minutes before curtain time. Tickets are $17 for adults and $13 for seniors and students for “The Wizard of Oz.” They are $12 for all other shows.

The theater will open 30 minutes before curtain time. Call MTC at 856-778-8357 with any questions or to get group rates.

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