By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor
To say that Pennsauken’s MJ Wermuth’s been bitten by the acting bug is an understatement. Since the age of 8, he’s been a regular in local theatre productions. Now, the 12-year-old actor is hitting the stage in the oldest operating theatre in the country for a Christmas classic.
For the holidays, MJ is playing the role of bully Scut Farkus as a member of the “Red Team” weekday cast of “A Christmas Story: The Musical,” now playing at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. The seventh grader at Saint Peter School in Merchantville was encouraged to send in his resumé and audition for the show by his music and religion teacher, Sarah DuVall Pearson, who is also the artistic director and owner of the Cherry Hill Performing Arts Center, where Wermuth has played lead roles in a variety of productions, including Charlie in “Willy Wonka Jr.,” Nemo in “Finding Nemo Jr.,” Captain Hook in “Peter Pan Jr.,” Daddy Warbucks in “Annie Jr.,” and Fester Addams in “The Addams Family Jr.” His was one of over 200 applications sent in for the production.
“[Sarah] recommended that I send in my resume for Walnut and audition. I got picked for an audition for Ralphie. And then callbacks came around, and I was offered the role of Scut Farkas,” explained MJ. “It’s more than I could ever imagine. I never thought I’d make it this far at my young age.”
Opening night for MJ was one of excitement, as opposed to nerves.
“I was super anxious to perform,” said Wermuth. “I couldn’t wait.”
This is not MJ’s first foray into playing the “bad guy.” In fact, he enjoys playing them, as a lot of times they have a lot more back story.
“[Farkus] is hilarious. He’s a great, great character. He’s funny in a way that just makes me crack up.”
MJ also enjoys working alongside his castmates.
“Everybody there is a professional and they perfect everything,” said MJ. “They’re great. It’s all amazing. Everybody is super close.”
MJ is very appreciative of all the support he’s had throughout this experience. It wouldn’t be possible without his family, who have made sure he’s on time for rehearsals and performances, as well as making sure he gets plenty of rest.
“Theatre is his sport,” said MJ’s mom, Lisa. “We’re incredibly proud of him.”
A lot of classmates from Saint Peter’s are also coming to see him perform; and the school is extremely proud of what he’s been able to accomplish.
“We are extremely grateful to our Saint Peter family, especially Principal Kathy O’Callaghan, Sarah Duvall Pearson and the rest of MJ’s teachers for being so supportive,” said MJ’s dad, Mike.
As for a career on stage, MJ actually is leaning toward the sciences. But he’s not ruling out the theatre just yet.
“I’m going to be a scientist when I grow up. But I also kind of want to keep acting in my life,” said MJ. “So, I will probably try to find time to continue to perform when I’m older. I really enjoy it.”
You can see MJ perform as Scut Farkus in the Walnut Street Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Story: The Musical” Tuesday through Friday, with the exceptions of Dec. 19, and Jan. 2. Order tickets at WalnutStreetTheatre.org and use code KIDACS to save $20 on your purchase.
