Pushcart CLEBRATES NEW JERSEY at Marsh Elementary School

Pushcart Players, New Jersey’s acclaimed touring theatre for
young audiences performs “Celebrating New Jersey” at Marsh Elementary
School in Absecon on Wednesday, March 5 at 3:00 pm as part of New Jersey
Theatre Alliance’s Stages Festival.

A timely folk musical that coincides with New
Jersey’s 350th Anniversary, “Celebrating New Jersey” reaches
across more than three centuries, linking young viewers to the past while
breathing new life into a most creative period in the Garden State’s history.
From the arrival of the first settlers to the American Revolution, from the
writing of the Constitution to the significant participation in the Civil War,
from Thomas Edison’s life-changing work in West Orange to New Jersey’s pivotal
role in industry, “Celebrating New Jersey” is a spirited and stylish
exploration of the innovation and diversity that continue to define New Jersey.

“The production is brimming with humor, conflict and
discovery,” said Ruth Fost, Pushcart’s co-founder and executive artistic
director. Fost is the playwright and lyricist for the production as well. “I
think people will be surprised by the many ‘firsts’ from NJ, which include the
steam locomotive, America’s first copper mine, the first World Series radio
broadcast and movies. There’s a lot of pride!”

Phebe Taylor and
Harry Patrick Christian perform “Celebrating New Jersey.” Taylor
is a Pushcart Player since 2004. 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. Christian performed in the one-man show,
"Santaland Diaries " in Quincy, IL and at Luna Stage, NJ. Appearing
in improvisational shows, cabarets and regional theatre, he most recently was
seen in "The Language Archive" and "The Other
Place," for Dreamcatcher Repertory Theater in Summit. Through
Pushcart Players, Christian brings theatre arts to teenagers who are first-time
violent crime offenders with the Passaic Police Department's Youth Services
Division.

Paul Whelihan directs the production. Whelihan is an actor,
stage manager, producer and playwright who’s directed the majority of
Pushcart’s productions throughout its history. He has directed at Luna Stage
(West Orange), Forum Theatre Cultural Arts Center (Metuchen), The Growing Stage
(Netcong) and for the New York Fringe Festival. Paul is a teaching artist in
the tri-state area in elementary, middle and high schools.

The music of “Celebrating New Jersey” combines traditional
folk songs with original works. Incidental music and orchestrations are by
Larry Hochman, who has collaborated with Pushcart co-founder Carole Wechter,
since the company’s inception. Hochman won the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for
his co-orchestration of “The Book of Mormon.” He orchestrated  “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” “The Addams
Family” and “Jane Eyre” among others.