(NETCONG, NJ) -- The Growing Stage: The Children's Theatre of New Jersey is presenting Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl's Baseball Dream weekends from February 14-23, 2025. It tells the spirited story of the Black girl who grew up to become "Toni Stone," the first woman to play for an all-male professional baseball team. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.

With the crack of a bat, Marcenia Lyle rounds the bases with ease and slides into home. It’s the ball field she knows and loves best. So, when famous baseball manager Gabby Street comes scouting players for summer camp, Marcenia steps up to the plate to compete. She’s determined to pursue her passion and defy the naysayers who discourage her from following her dream because she’s a girl.

Adapted from the book by Crystal Hubbard, Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl’s Baseball Dream has Book and Lyrics by Nichole Jackson and Music and Lyrics by Tyrone L. Robinson. The production is directed by Stephen L. Fredericks, TGS Founder/Executive Director with musical direction by Melinda Bass O’Neill and choreography by Cari Sanchez.

This production runs February 14-23, 2025 with performances on Saturdays at 4:00pm, Sundays at 2:00pm.  Tickets are available for purchase online or by calling the Box Office at (973) 347-4946. Performances take in the Historic Palace Theatre on Route 183 in Netcong, New Jersey.

Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl’s Baseball Dream features a professional company of artists including Nyah Anderson (TGS Debut) of Westampton, NJ  as Marcenia Lyle; Jeffry Foote (Boogie, How I Became A Pirate) of Flanders, NJ  as Papa Lyle; Alyssia Marte (TGS Debut) of Jersey City, NJ  as Mama Lyle/Others; Patrick Cogan (TGS Debut) of Union Beach, NJ as Mr. Street; Kyle Javon (TGS Debut) of New Brunswick, NJ as Clarence and Tyler Miranda (The Lightning Thief, Arthur & Friends) of Highland Falls, NY as Harold.

Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl’s Baseball Dream is produced by special arrangement with Gurman Agency LLC.

The Growing Stage-The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey is a non-profit professional performing arts center dedicated to theatre for young audiences. Through their programming they provide opportunities for all to learn and grow through participation in the arts.

Here are more photos from the production.

John Posada is a New Jersey based photographer specializing in photographing live theatre and music performances. For more than 15 years, John has photographed live events where he mastered the techniques of timing and capturing fast moving action under challenging lighting conditions. Currently, John has spent the last 3 years concentrating on photographing almost 200 theatre productions for over 70 different theatres. Click here for John's website.