Pushcart Players Announce 2012-13 Season in NJ, NY, PA and CT

Pushcart Players, the Verona, New Jersey based professional theatre company for young audiences has announced its season of theatre productions and arts in education programs that will be available to schools, performing arts centers and community centers in the New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut area in 2012-2013.

"Wow! What A Century!," a stunning musical that highlights, in song, dance and story, the pivotal events of the 20th Century, now including current events up to 2012, will be the centerpiece of this year's programming. In addition, Pushcart will extend the availability of its current musical hit, "Let Freedom Ring," through the 2012-13 school year, a delightful show filled with familiar folk songs that spans K-8 History and Social Studies with strong curriculum connections, from the arrival of the first settlers in 1620 to the new wave of immigration at the turn of the 19th to 20th Century.

In addition to "Wow! What A Century!" and "Let Freedom Ring," many other Pushcart productions continue to be available. These include "Happily Ever After...A Cinderella Tale," the beloved story with a focus on Bullying behavior and other character development themes; "A Season of Miracles," multicultural tales celebrating the winter holidays; "Cuentos del Arbol" (Tree Tales), a bilingual musical; "Peter and the Wolf," a classic tale introducing the joys of childhood; "Red Riding Hood & Other Stories" and "Stone Soup & Other Stories," offering a delightful introduction to folk tales, fairy tales and the power of live theatre; and finally, "The Last...Butterfly," a sensitive introduction to Holocaust Education. Selections may be viewed by downloading the current brochure from www.pushcartplayers.org.

Pushcart's wide range of Arts In Education programs such as Creative Drama Workshops, Kids Do Broadway After School Programs and many others are also available and may be tailored to suit the needs of any school or organization upon request.

Pushcart Players is an ensemble of professional (Actors' Equity Association) actors dedicated to enriching, enlightening and inspiring young people through the introduction and presentation of quality theatre and arts in education programming. Pushcart is now in its 39th season and has traveled more than 2 million miles to serve more than 8 million children and their families. Based in Verona, NJ, this dynamic and highly acclaimed touring company brings the power of the arts to life in schools, theatres and community centers throughout the state of NJ, the nation and abroad.

Pushcart is well known for presenting productions filled with fun, facts, magic and wonder; and for bringing "a little bit of Broadway" to schools and local theaters. Pushcart productions provide young audiences with an excellent introduction to theatre and the arts along with lessons rich in character development and human values. All presentations are accompanied by a study guide for teachers and a question/answer session with the cast immediately following a performance.

Representatives from schools and other sponsors of theatre and arts in education programming interested in previewing or booking a performance or arts workshop should call "Pushcart" at (973) 857-1115, email Pushcart at information@pushcartplayers.org; or write to "Pushcart," 261 Bloomfield Ave., Verona, NJ 07044.

Pictured: Pushcart Players in the Charlie Chaplin/Silent Movies section of their musical play, WOW! WHAT A CENTURY!" L-R: Tricia Burr, Jim Raposa, Mandy Feiler, Eric Aschenbrenner. Photo by Geoffrey F. Morris.