MTC's "42nd Street" Illuminating for Performer, Choreographer

It’s funny how things come full circle.

As an 11-year-old, Tamlyn Brooke Orlando’s love for the Cinderella story of 42nd Street started her down the path to becoming a musical theater performer.

Later, toward the end of a 10-year stint as a performer in New York City, she got to be a part of the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of the classic play.

And now, more than a decade later, she’s choreographing Moorestown Theater Company’s (MTC) production of the tap-infused show.

“It’s funny … It’s all 42nd Street,” Orlando said as she got ready for a rehearsal Thursday night. “It kind of keeps coming back in my life in different forms.”

MTC’s 42nd Street premieres tonight at 7 p.m. at the Upper Elementary School. Orlando, who lives in Marlton, described the last month and a half as a whirlwind learning experience—working with performers of varying backgrounds and experience levels—but an enriching one.

“It’s been really wonderful, because I’m really impressed with how many people are involved,” she said. “It’s a large group, it’s an enthusiastic group, and the philosophy here is everybody gets a chance, so it’s really for the love of theater … And there’s really a community here. That’s refreshing.”

The experience was also rewarding for 24-year-old Claudette Pombo. Pombo, an au pair for a Moorestown family, got on the MTC’s radar after the mother of the family she’s au pairing for heard her singing Disney songs to the family's six- and eight-year-old daughters and suggested she audition.

Pombo, who's performed in a number of shows in her native South Africa, landed a role as a chorus girl in the (completely coincidental) 42-member cast and has been enchanted by the experience.

“It’s the most beautiful thing. I love that you guys have something like this … The theater scene is not big there (in South Africa),” Pombo said. “I feel like the talent here is a lot more abundant … I think we’ll be amazing.”

Director Mark Morgan said the production ran into some snags due to Hurricane Sandy, which kept the crew from being able to work on the show for four days straight last week. As a result, Thursday’s dress rehearsal was a sort of organized chaos. But Orlando was pleased with what she saw.

“I feel good. I feel really happy to see where the cast has come,” she said. “I’ve given them some challenging choreography and they’re really taking to it.”

42nd Street premieres at 7 p.m. Friday at the Upper Elementary School, with additional shows at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, and 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17. Tickets are $15.

MTC is offering tickets for $11 at its shows on Sunday, Nov. 11, to military service members in observance of Veterans Day.

For more information or to buy tickets, visit the Moorestown Theater Company website.