A mother and daughter from Millstone Township will appear in a musical adaptation of a children’s book at the Jersey Shore Arts Center, Neptune Township.
Maura Whalen stars in NENAproductions Theater Project’s production of “The Secret Garden,” a musical adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel of the same name by Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon.
Maura will be joined in the production by her mother, Gina Whalen, who will appear in the ensemble. Gina Whelan runs the community education program for the Millstone Township K-8 School District.
“The Secret Garden” is described by NENAproductions as “a story of transforming love and redemption.” Performances will be held Oct. 5-7 at the Jersey Shore Arts Center. The show will begin at 3 p.m. Oct. 7 and at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5-6. General admission is $25 and children’s admission is $19. Tickets may be purchased at www.ticketleap.com, by phone at 732-988-1007 or at the door.
Maura portrays Mary Lennox, who is sent to live with her morose uncle in Britain after losing her parents to a cholera outbreak in India. During her time with her uncle, she changes the atmosphere of his manor and discovers a hidden garden.
Maura previously appeared in NENAproductions’ presentation of “Fun Home” as young Allison. Gina Whalen played Maura’s on-stage mother in “Fun Home” and described that opportunity as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“In this production of ‘The Secret Garden,’ I am in the ensemble, but getting to share my love of theater and music with my daughter is really special,” Whalen said. “Both of my children are involved in theater, something that started here in Millstone through the community education program, which I run for the school district.
“I have a background in theater and used to work in the industry professionally,” she said. “My son, Sean, wanted to sign up for a community education production of ‘The Little Mermaid’ when he was in first grade.
“That show got him hooked and got me back involved in theater, when I volunteered to make costumes for the show. That led to more involvement for all of us and eventually, six or seven years later, it led me to my current job as the community education director here in town,” Whelan said.