MAYOR’S COLUMN
“I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.”
Thornton Wilder
The Voorhees Theatre Company (VTC) is a non-profit community theatre based at the Voorhees Middle School Theater. The mission of the VTC is to offer performance and educational opportunities to artists on stage and behind the scenes and to bring audiences professional-caliber performances within and beyond the walls of the theater. VTC is well known for educating and nurturing young performers and for offering performance and theatre opportunities to local artists of all ages. VTC offers a safe harbor to all participants who want to explore the arts.
Since forming in 2002, the VTC has staged a wide array of productions, including South Pacific, Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Grease, West Side Story, Peter Pan, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Wizard of Oz, Cabaret, Bye Bye Birdie, Godspell, Annie, Fiddler on the Roof, The Music Man, Beauty and the Beast and Seussical.
One of the most successful programs of the VTC has been the six-week Summer Theatre Camp held at the Voorhees Middle School. The camp provides a complete theatrical experience and offers a choice of concentrations in performing theatre or technical theatre. The performance camp provides instructions in all aspects of performing and offers a chance for participants to perform and stage a musical production at the end of camp. Tech campers focus on the technical support that brings the magic on stage to life. Lighting, sound, sets and props are vital parts to any show. The performance camp is open to children entering 3rd Grade through 8th Grade. The tech camp is open to children entering 7th Grade through 10 Grade. This year’s Summer Theatre Camp is from June 26 through Aug. 3.
The fall production of the VTC will be Oliver. This Tony and Olivier Award winning show is one of the few musicals to win an Academy Award for Best Picture and is widely hailed as a true theatrical masterpiece by actors and audience members alike. The show will run from Oct. 27 through Oct. 29.
To learn more about the VTC, including information about upcoming shows, the Summer Theatre Camp and available scholarships, visit www.voorheestheatre.org or call (856) 206-3556.
Eastern Regional High School’s recent production of Les Miserables was named Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical at the 22nd Annual Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Awards on June 6. Eastern’s Dr. Gregg Molotsky won the award for Outstanding Direction and Achievement by a Teacher and Senior Gary Bowman won the award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.
Voorhees is proud to have such wonderful and talented groups providing a stage for the stars and future stars of our community.
** The first show in our 2017 Summer Twilight Series will be on Thursday, June 22, and will feature Beginnings, the World’s #1 Tribute to Chicago. They are billed as “The ultimate Chicago Band” and will be one of the most enjoyable and entertaining shows you will ever see. Chicago’s timeless classics transcend generations. The show is free and starts at 7:30 p.m. on the “Great Lawn” at Connolly Park. A “Beer Garden” and food trucks will open at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.voorheesnj.com or call the show hot line at (856) 882-SHOW.
** The “Smiles from Kara” 5k Run/Walk will be held on Saturday, July 8. Race day registration begins at 5:30 p.m. and the run/walk will start at 7 p.m. at Eastern Regional High School, Laurel Oak Rd. in Voorhees. Cost is $25 for registration before July 8 and $30 the day of the race. Proceeds will be used to provide financial assistance for sports registration fees, scholarships and donations to local charitable events.
** Voorhees Township is offering discounted tickets to Morey’s Piers in Wildwood. Tickets are available in the Municipal Clerk’s Office at Voorhees Town Hall. Prices vary according to the type of ticket and several options are available to residents and non-residents. For more information about tickets visit www.voorheesnj.com.
