First Time For Everything: Moorestown Theater Company To Perform 'Les Miserables' For The Second Time

Moorestown, NJ -- Even though it’s 122 productions old, there can still be firsts for the Moorestown Theater Company.

For the first time in the company’s history, one show will have a second run when the company presents “Les Miserables: School Edition” at the middle school for the next two weekends.

The company performed the show at Hope Community Church and it did really well, so Artistic Director Mark Morgan said they decided to bring the show back for a second run.

“It was a great show and it sold well in the summer,” Morgan said. “ … Half the summer cast said they could come back, including the two leads.”

There are a few notable differences.

The summer performance only allows actors two weeks to prepare for a show. For “Les Miserables,” auditions were held in the spring so those performing in the show could come in and get right to rehearsing.

For this show, the actors have had two months to prepare.

The middle school is bigger and provides more of a theatrical atmosphere.

Morgan points out there will also be padded cushioned theater seats. Typically, MTC performs its fall show at the Upper Elementary School, where the seating consists of metal folding chairs.

The theater company will even be rolling out its new line of merchandise, including hoodies, pajama pants and socks with the MTC logo on them. Future merchandise will include hats, scarves and mittens.

One thing that remains the same is what Morgan calls the "all star" talent level of the cast.

“Les Miserables” is not a show many people decide to do, so for many of the high school students in this show, it will be their only opportunity to perform it.

In the summer, the show drew 53 actors from 19 local high schools. This show has drawn 47 actors from 25 high schools, including a West Deptford student who is an all-state choir performer.

The show is double-cast, with each cast performing each day. Just like in the summer, the casts are “black” and “red,” as opposed to the traditional “black” and “gold” for this show.

The show is two hours, 15 minutes, and carries a PG-13 rating for mild language and subject matter.

The show opens Friday night, Nov. 11, 7 p.m. at the middle school. Additional performances are on Saturday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 13, 2 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 19, 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 20, 2 p.m.

Tickets are $12. All tickets are reserved, and can be purchased online at www.MoorestownTheaterCompany.org, or at the door in the lobby 60 minutes before curtain time.

The theater will open 30 minutes before curtain time.

Call MTC at 856-778-8357 with questions or for group rates.

The William Allen Middle School is located at 801 North Stanwick Road in Moorestown.

The attached images from Thursday night's dress rehearsal were posted on the Moorestown Theater Company's Facebook page and provided by the Moorestown Theater Company.