MTC's 'West Side Story' Draws Record Number Of Male Performers

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Mark Morgan’s first performance in a production didn’t come until his senior year in high school. Morgan didn’t perform in his first musical until he was a junior in college. In fact, as a sports administration major, there were probably few things further from his mind than musical theater.

That was a long time ago. The man who would go on to become the artistic director for the Moorestown Theater Company (MTC) has come to love the theater over the years, and he’s hoping to introduce more young men to the wonderful world of the theater.

He seems to be right on track with MTC’s upcoming performance of “West Side Story: School Edition,” which opens Wednesday night, 7 p.m. at Hope Community Church, 235 West Main Street in Moorestown. The show will set a record for the number of boys in an MTC performance at 21.

There are a total of 64 performers in the all-teen stage version of the 1961 Hollywood movie that still holds the record for most Oscars by a movie musical with 10.

“It’s so cool seeing all these guys come out for this show,” said Morgan, who hopes that they’ll have so much fun doing this show that they’ll come back to do more shows in the future.

Morgan described the show, which has a PG-13 rating, as more of a “guy’s show,” with the dancing being a little more athletic and the rivalry between the “Jets” and “Sharks” gangs. There are three deaths in the show, which Morgan calls “more serious” than MTC’s other productions.

In order to perform the whole show, Morgan says you need between 12 and 16 boys, and he was happy to see the turnout. He said this show was something MTC has been building toward with shows such as “Les Miserables,” “Grease” and “Hairspray,” each of which saw the number of participating males increase.

“West Side Story” is a show that is rarely done at the high school level. High schools are limited in the number of people they can draw from, but MTC has an advantage in that it has no boundaries.

“We can draw from anywhere, and we do,” Morgan said. “We’re not just Moorestown. We accept anyone from any town, and that word is out there.”

He and his family also spend a lot of time going to see plays in other towns and at other high schools. Finally, MTC provides male actors with role models in leadership roles. Morgan makes sure there are male counselors at MTC’s Summer Camp at Hope Community Church.

The camp runs for two months, from June 26-Aug. 25, and there are five productions. “West Side Story: School Edition” is the fourth show, and it is the East Coast premiere, as MTC has special permission from Music Theatre International to perform this ‘pilot’ production.

Following Wednesday night’s opening, there are three performances on Thursday, Aug. 17, at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and two more on Friday, Aug. 18, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

All tickets are $12, and they are reserved. They can be purchased online at moorestowntheatercompany.org or in the lobby 60 minutes before curtain time. The theater will open 30 minutes before curtain time. Call MTC at 856-778-8357 with any questions or to get group rates.

Attached image posted on moorestowntheatercompany.org.