Pushcart Players to Present PETER AND THE WOLF

Pushcart Players, New Jersey's renowned touring theatre for young audiences presents "Peter and the Wolf" on Saturday, March 5 at 11:00 a.m. at Point Pleasant Borough Branch, Ocean County Library and on Tuesday, March 8 at 6:00 pm at Vineland Public Library. The performances are presented free to the public as part of the NJ Theatre Alliance's 19th Annual Stages Festival.

"Peter and the Wolf" is an enchanting production of a classic tale, set to the resplendent music of composer Sergei Prokofiev. Each character in the story is represented by a different musical motif in this story of a spirited young boy who confronts the dangers of the forest with courage, creativity and leadership. With a professional cast (Actors' Equity Association) who employs various forms of puppetry, singing and choreography, "Peter and the Wolf" is a universal theatrical celebration that has toured nationally and abroad.

"Pushcart puts its' trademark spin on 'Peter and the Wolf." The themes of this Russian folk tale are what make it a timeless, beloved classic," said Paul Whelihan, artistic director. "Friendship and caring. Arrogance and prejudice. Youth and maturity. Conflict resolution and beauty in the natural order of life. All worthy of celebration!"

Directed by Whelihan, the cast includes Oscar Castillo (Grandfather), Layan Elwazani (the Wolf), JD Lynch (Storyteller, Puppeteer), and Phebe Taylor (Peter). The production is written and designed by co-founder Ruth Fost. Original music and orchestrations to Prokofiev's score is by Tony Award-winner, Larry Hochman.

Oscar Castillo has been a member of Pushcart Players for twelve years. A graduate of Kean University with a BFA in theatre, he co-founded The Theatre Project and performs frequently throughout NYC with Peculiar Works Productions. Layan Elwazani's recent credits include Louise in "Gypsy," Anita in "West Side Story", and The Human Race Theatre Company's production of "Mame." She is a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from Wright State University.

JD Lynch is a graduate of DeSales University with a degree in theatre/communications. He has performed extensively throughout the country and Off Broadway, and has been a beloved matinee idol in New Hope PA (Bucks County Playhouse) and Shawnee, PA. He was most recently seen in the role of Samuel in an original play, "Fading Light," at the New York Fringe Festival in August. Phebe Taylor has been a Pushcart Player since 2004. She was recently seen flying around as Peter in "Peter Pan" at Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama, Phebe is a company member of the Heartland Actors' Repertory Theatre and a frequent performer at the Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis.

Paul Whelihan directs, stage-manages and performs off-Broadway (47th Street Theater, 59 East 59 Theatres, NY Fringe Festival, 54 Below) and regionally (Royal Poincianna Playhouse, Broward Center for the Arts, Centenary Stage, The Bickford Theatre, 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.

Larry Hochman is the Tony and Drama Desk award-winner 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. Other awards include the ASCAP Award for Musical Theater ("One Man Band"), 4 Emmy Awards for "The Wonder Pets" television series, and a Bistro Award for composing "One Man Band." He has orchestrated and/or written the scores for the majority of Pushcart's productions.

PUSHCART PLAYERS is the award-winning professional touring theater company specializing in arts education for children. Twice nominated for an Emmy©, Pushcart is the recipient of numerous state and private awards for excellence and innovation. A social-profit organization founded in 1974, Pushcart brings substantive musical theater, workshops, and residencies to young people and their families in schools and theaters nationwide. The company has traveled more than 2 million miles nationally and abroad, from the nation's White House to the rural red schoolhouse. All performances come with innovative scenery, complete lighting and state of the art sound systems, making it adaptable to any location.

The NJ Theatre Alliance is the coalition of all the State's professional theatres. Every March, The Stages Festival offers free and discounted performances, workshops, play readings, and behind-the-scenes events for all ages (www.njtheatrealliance.org). The Point Pleasant Branch Library is located at 834 Beaver Dam Road, Point Pleasant NJ. For reservations call 732-295-1555. The Vineland Public Library is located at 1058 E. Landis Ave, Vineland NJ. For reservations call 856-794-4244 x4246. For further information on this or any of Pushcart's programs and services, contact Pushcart Players at 973-857-1115 or visit the website at www.pushcartplayers.org.

PHOTO CREDIT: David Crow Photography

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PUSHCART PLAYERS
261 Bloomfield Avenue, Suite A
Verona, New Jersey 07044-2403
973.857.1115 * www.pushcartplayers.org