Morris Plains Summer Theater to Present Godspell

Students from the summer theatre program in Morris Plains will hit the stage with their production of Godspell on Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. in the Auditorium.

Tickets are available at the door and cost $5 per person, a bargain price for a family evening out.

Maggie Slawinski, a member of the recreation commission who oversees theater programs, said that the students have been hard at work for about five weeks. They range in age from incoming fourth-graders to those starting senior year in high school.

"This is probably the seventh year, Slawinski said. "We started with eight participants. This year, there are 45 kids in the show."

The program, according to Slawinski, is a wonderful mentoring opportunity. "You have the older kids in high school helping the younger kids ... It helps them in so many ways; culture, self-confidence, public speaking." A theater program, she said, provides an alternative activity in "a very sports-oriented world." 

The director of the show is Joe Wohlgemuth. "Joe does the plays at the high school," Slawinski said, adding that Pamela Johnson is assistant director and Skip Yingling, musical director.

The program is co-sponsored by the Morris Plains Recreation Commission and the Morris Plains Municipal Alliance.