Pushcart Players to Offer Sensory Friendly Performance of A SEASON OF MIRACLES, 12/6

Pushcart Players, New Jersey's Emmy nominated and award-winning touring theater for young audiences presents a sensory friendly performance of A SEASON OF MIRACLES at 1:30 pm on Sunday December 6 at The Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum in Morristown, NJ. This magical musical warms the hearts of family audiences with the true spirit of the December holidays of Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa.

The sensory friendly performance is designed for people on the Autism spectrum or with another developmental disability. The theatre environment is a welcoming, comfortable and judgment-free space for families, groups, teachers and advocates. Theatre house lights remain up, sound levels are kept consistent and children are free to move about with supervision. Dynamics of the music and performance avoid sudden or jarring changes. To increase accessibility, Pushcart adjusts the script to make it literal, free of innuendo and other dramatic devices, keeping the integrity of the production intact.

"Season of Miracles" visits O. Henry's 'The Gift of the Magi;' an original scene in Nigeria entitled 'The Kwanzaa Kite;' a story based on the wise men of Chelm folklore called 'The Chanukah Miracle;' and E.T.A. Hoffmann's 'The Nutcracker.' Every tale reflects the spirit of the holidays and the people that celebrate them.

"As for miracles?" notes Ruth Fost, Pushcart co-founder and the production's playwright, "They are within us all and at the heart of each story. Miracles are the gifts of love, kindness, caring and sharing."

Pushcart Players artistic director Paul Whelihan directs the production. Whelihan directs, stage-manages and performs off-Broadway (47th Street Theater, 59 East 59 Theatres, NY Fringe Festival) and regionally (Royal Poincianna Playhouse, Broward Center for the Arts, Bickford Theatre, Centenary Stage, The Growing Stage, Luna Stage Company, Forum Cultural Arts Center, Quillo Arts Center) in musicals, dramas, original works and locally produced television, film and web series projects.

"A Season of Miracles" features Melissa Cox, Stacie Gogo, James Holden and JD Lynch, all playing myriad characters to illuminate the stories. Cox performed as Beth in "Little Women" in Maplewood NJ and was Martha in "Spring Awakening" and Sister in "Damn Yankees." Stacie Gogo appeared Off-Broadway as a Kit Kat Girl in 'Cabaret' at the Players Theatre, as Penny Pingleton in 'Hairspray' at the Westchester Broadway Theatre, and in the ensemble of 'Grease!' at the Surflight Theatre.

James Holden performed in theaters around the country as Uncle Ernie in "The Who's Tommy," Wolf/Cinderella's Prince in "Into the Woods," Chris in "Miss Saigon," Snoopy in "...Charlie Brown," and Albert Peterson in "Bye Bye, Birdie." JD Lynch performs extensively Off Broadway and regionally, most notably in New Hope PA (Bucks County Playhouse) and in Shawnee PA, (Shawnee Playhouse). He was recently seen in the role of Samuel in an original play, "Fading Light," at the 2015 New York Fringe Festival.

Larry Hochman musically arranges "A Season of Miracles." Hochman won both the Tony and the Drama Desk awards for best orchestrations for "The Book of Mormon." He received Tony nominations for "The Scottsboro Boys," "Monty Python's Spamalot," (Hochman also received Drama Desk nominations for both), Fiddler on the Roof (2004 revival) and "A Class Act." Larry composed additional music for Disney's "Little Mermaid,' for Stephen Spielberg's "Amazing Stories" and for numerous celebrity concerts.

Pushcart Players has traveled over 2 million miles nationally and abroad since 1974 to serve more than 8 million children and their families with meaningful theatre. From the White House to the little red schoolhouse, this dynamic company has received numerous state and private awards for excellence and innovation. A cast of professional Equity actors and stage managers come with complete scenery, lighting and sound systems, making every performance adaptable to any location.

Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum produces plays, presents jazz and special concerts along with year-round children's theatre, and classes in the performing arts. The venue is at 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960. For tickets to "Season of Miracles" call the box office at 973-971-3706. Visit http://www.morrismuseum.org.

For further information on this or any of Pushcart's programs and services, contact Pushcart Players at 973.857.1115; visit the website at www.pushcartplayers.org.

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