Pushcart Players Presents A SEASON OF MIRACLES in December

Pushcart Players, New Jersey's Emmy nominated and award-winning touring theater for young audiences presents "A Season of Miracles - Holiday Tales" throughout the region during the month of December, 2015. The delightful musical theater production will enchant audiences in New Jersey, New York and Maryland with this multi-cultural collection of stories celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa and Chanukah.

"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 wisemen of Chelm folklore called 'The Chanukah Miracle;' and E.T.A. Hoffmann's 'The Nutcracker.' Every tale reflects the spirit of the holiday 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."

Public performances include Queens College, Flushing NY (Dec 3), Bickford Theatre, Morristown NJ (Dec 6), Newark Museum, Newark NJ (Dec 13), College of S.I., Staten Island NY (Dec 14, 15, 16) and Gloucester College, Towson, MD (Dec 17 & 18). Young audiences throughout the region are treated to the performance in their own schools. Some dates are still available for on-school-time performances.

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, Dreamcatcher Rep) 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 at 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 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.

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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