MoorArts will present MoorArts has TALENT, a showcase of exceptional entertainment, featuring a variety of vocal, dance and instrumental performances. The performances will be held on Friday, July 10 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, July 11 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Moorestown High School auditorium, with an ASL interpretation and special needs accommodation performance at the Saturday matinee. Tickets are $10 before and $12 at the door with reserved seating. Proceeds will go to local scholarships and teacher grants.
“Our goal is to expose the community as much as possible to the wealth of the art in our community and outside to get them a broader art experience. MoorArts has TALENT is a little way for us to showcase the talent of these people who have performed in our productions,” said Candace Coleman, a MoorArts communication trustee.
MoorArts, often mistaken for a theater company, is a non-profit organization started more than two decades ago that provides unique artistic entertainment and educational opportunities for Moorestown citizens in all areas of the arts. Living up to its tagline “inspiring creativity” and its mission, MoorArts is an advocate for arts education systemwide. It believes education in the arts should be regarded as a necessity, not a luxury.
Year round, it provides a wide variety of events and opportunities to experience the arts. It offers entertainment, concerts, workshops and classes for Moorestown residents, young and old. It also partners up with local organizations such as the Department of Parks and Recreation and Moorestown Township Public Schools in these ventures.
“I think it is amazing. I was considering this yesterday: if they weren’t here, who would offer these cultural experiences? They don’t provide just entertainment, they offer social services and opportunities for people of all ages and all abilities,” said Joseph Thomas, MoorArts has TALENT production manager.
Instead of its usual summer theater production, MoorArts decided to change things up a bit and show off the talent the youth of Moorestown has to offer with MoorArts has TALENT.
“I think it is exciting there is this opportunity for performing artists to perform apart from a play or musical. It gives more freedom for someone’s artistic vision to come out,” Thomas said.
For the show, there are 16 performers with a plethora of talent. There are singers, dancers and instrumentalists in a variety of genres. They are, in order of appearance: Christopher Robinson, Carrie Wagner, Zach Taylor, Bridget Hartshorne, Sophie Agnew, Caroline Kienzle, Olivia Saouaf, Gwen Wilkie, Danny McGilloway, Alexandra Celluzi, Alyssa Caffrey, Olivia Manlove, Madeline Yankel, Nahdira Lawrence, Faith McCleery and Sarah Zimmer.
“We wanted to offer a variety. This is an opportunity to spotlight and perform what they want. We gave them a lot of choice and worked with them to shape their performances through rehearsals,” Thomas said.
Emcees for MoorArts has TALENT are Mayor Victoria Napolitano and Moorestown Community House Executive Director Brad Kenney, both of whom have participated in previous performances with MoorArts.
MoorArts has TALENT production leaders Thomas, vocal director Katie Carpenter and assistant production manager Tommy Kienzle all took part in MoorArts productions and events, and came back to volunteer and give back to the organization that gave them so much.
“It is really great they came back. They’re all talented and give different strengths to the production. The younger kids really look up to them. It is just a great cycle,” Coleman said.
As it is MoorArts’ goal to bring the arts to everyone, it is sure to include ALS and special needs individuals as well. At every production, it tries to include at least one ALS and special needs accommodating show, including this Saturday’s matinee.
“It is something we consciously try to do. We try to accommodate ALS and special needs individuals at least at one of all our performances. It is important we bring arts to everyone and provide experience for every population,” Coleman said.
Coleman and Thomas hope everyone comes out to the show to see the talent the community has to offer. The performance provides excellent and unique entertainment that attendees wouldn’t normally see.
All proceeds for the event, and all MoorArts events, go to scholarships and teacher grants that allow for teachers in the arts to bring concepts and outside experts to kids it normally wouldn’t be able to do without the funding. Scholarships are for students who pursue the arts in a variety of ways, not just music or theater.
The shows are reserved seating, and you save $2 by ordering in advance. Order tickets by going online at www.MoorArts.org or by calling ShowTix4U toll free at (800) 967–8167.
“When they buy a ticket, they’ll be supporting the arts in Moorestown and bringing more arts to the younger population. They will be entertained, but their money will go toward something really special, committing to broadening the arts in the community. Once they buy it, they are a part of it,” Coleman said.
For more information on MoorArts and MoorArts has TALENT, visit www.MoorArts.org, call (856) 778–6600 ext. 18033 or email [email protected].
