Pushcart Players to Bring PETER AND THE WOLF to Landmark on Main Street

Pushcart Players, New Jersey's renowned touring theatre for young audiences performs their beloved "Peter and the Wolf" on Saturday, May 5 at 3:00 p.m. at Landmark on Main Street - Jeanne Rimsky Theatre in Port Washington NY.

"Peter and the Wolf" is an enchanting production of a classic tale, set to the resplendent music of composer Sergei Prokofiev. Each character 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,'" said Paul Whelihan, artistic director. "The themes of this Russian folk tale are what make it a timeless classic. 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 Pushcart co-founder and executive director, Ruth Fost, the cast includes Oscar Castillo (Grandfather), JD Lynch (Storyteller, Puppeteer), Phebe Taylor (Peter) and Whelihan (Wolf). Fost wrote the book and lyrics, with original music and orchestrations to Prokofiev's score 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. JD Lynch has performed extensively throughout the country and Off Broadway, and has been a regularly featured actor in New Hope, PA (Bucks County Playhouse) and Shawnee Playhouse, PA. He was most recently seen in the role of Samuel in an original play, "Fading Light," at the New York Fringe Festival. 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, Premier Stages, 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 them adaptable to any location.

Landmark on Main Street is located at 232 Main Street in Port Washington, Nassau County, NY and is a community-based presenter of world-class arts and cultural programs for audiences of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds. Through diverse programming at the Jeanne Rimsky Theatre, Landmark enhances the spirit of the community for neighbors on Long Island, in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and beyond. Folk, Broadway/Cabaret, Roots Rock, World Music, and the Children's Series are presented throughout the year.

General admission for "Peter and the Wolf" is $18 and can be reserved by calling the box office at 516.767.6444. Email boxoffice@landmarkonmainstreet.org or visit the website: http://www.landmarkonmainstreet.org/.