10-Year-Old Mahwah Actor to Take the Stage in Paper Mill Production

The Paper Mill Playhouse is set to open its newest show, a production of Oliver!, this Thursday. A 10-year-old actor and singer from Mahwah will make his Paper Mill debut in the new show.

Colton Maurer, a Mahwah singer who goes to St. Paul’s in Ramsey, will take the stage as one of the orphan boys in the workhouse. He said performing some of the classic show’s most famous numbers like Food, Glorious Food, on a big stage is a dream come true.

“When I used to go see Broadway shows as a little kid, I just wanted to be the actors,” Maurer said. “It seemed like so much fun.”

At 10, he’s built up a pretty impressive acting resume. So far, he’s been in 10 shows – everything from St. Paul’s annual productions to a performance at the Helen Hayes Youth Theater in Nyack, NY.

Over the summer, he tried out for Paper Mill’s Conservatory for young actors, and made it into a five-week intensive course that culminated in two stage performances. Oliver marks his first outright Paper Mill production.

Maurer made it through three rounds of callbacks that whittled down about 220 prospective actors to a cast of 14 orphans. For the past two months, he’s been rehearsing in Manhattan with the rest of the show’s cast. The actor said the production is ready for opening night.

“I like everything about this show. One of my favorite parts is getting to jump all over the stage. The choreography is so great,” he said.

“I would love for people to come see the show, whether they’ve seen Oliver before or not. It’s a really magical show, and a good thing to do with your family over the holiday season.”

Oliver is playing at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn from Nov. 21 to Dec. 29. Check out a video of the rehearsals here.