Pushcart Players to Present STONE SOUP AND OTHER STORIES

Sponsored by NJ Theatre Alliance's "Stages Festival," the performance will play at the Stafford Branch - Manahawkin (March 7 at 2:00 pm), Plumstead Branch - New Egypt (March 11 at 3:30 pm), Barnegat Branch - Barnegat (March 14 at 2:00 pm) and Lacey Branch - Forked River (March 21 at 11:00 am).

The Stages Festival is a month-long event offering free and discounted performances, workshops and events at the State's professional theatres, libraries, senior centers, and other non-traditional performance venues (https://njtheatrealliance.org/stages-festival).

Pushcart Players' Stone Soup and Other Stories is a charming musical compilation of story favorites from Africa, India, Eastern Europe and the United States of America. Filled with exuberant music, fantasy, and comic story lines, each tale introduces the spirit and customs of these unique cultures. In so doing, it provides a springboard for reading and subsequent literacy-related activities.

"The play gently raises universal value clarification issues," said Ruth Fost, Pushcart's co-founder, and co-author of the play. "Family audiences will be delighted by the show. Then they'll find themselves discussing why certain characters made certain choices, and how outcomes would have differed with different behavior."

The cast of Stone Soup and Other Stories includes Oscar Castillo, Stacie Gogo, Christina Gordon, JD Lynch and Phebe Taylor.

Paul Whelihan directs the production. An actor, stage manager, producer, and Pushcart's artistic director, he's guided productions at Luna Stage Company (West Orange), Forum Theatre Cultural Arts Center (Metuchen), The Growing Stage (Netcong), Ironbound Theater (Newark) and for the New York Fringe Festival. Paul is a teaching artist in tri-state area elementary, middle and high schools.

Stone Soup and Other Stories original music and lyrics are by Carole Wechter. Incidental music and orchestrations are by Larry Hochman, who won the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for his co-orchestration of "The Book of Mormon." His orchestrations include Broadway's "Monty Python's Spamalot," "The Addams Family" and "Jane Eyre."

Since 1974, Pushcart Players has traveled over 2 million miles nationally and abroad, from the White House to the little red schoolhouse. The organization is Emmy-nominated, and is the recipient of numerous state and private awards for excellence and innovation. Pushcart's Actors' Equity Association actors and stage managers perform with innovative scenery, complete lighting and sound systems, making the production adaptable to any location. Study guides and other supplemental materials support the educational benefits of the theatre piece.

Visit the Ocean County Library at www.theoceancountylibrary.org to register your attendance at any of the performances. Visit NJ Theatre Alliance for further information on the Stages Festival at https://njtheatrealliance.org/stages-festival.