Queensborough PAC Welcomes Pushcart Players in STONE SOUP AND OTHER STORIES Today

Queensborough Performing Arts Center in Bayside, NY will present Pushcart Players in "Stone Soup and other Stories" today, April 17 at 10:00 and 11:45 am. Pushcart is the Emmy-nominated educational theater for families, now in its 41st year of bringing something special to every young audience.

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

"The play gently raises universal value clarification issues," said Ruth Fost, Pushcart's 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. That being said, the show is still a fun-filled romp through delightful stories."

The cast of "Stone Soup..." includes: Oscar Castillo, Stacie Gogo, Christina Gordon, JD Lynch and Phebe Taylor. Paul Whelihan directs the production. Choreography is by Susie Paplow.

Castillo co-founded The Theatre Project and performs with Peculiar Works Productions throughout Manhattan. Stacie Gogo performs off-Broadway, in national tours, and regionally, including Westchester Broadway Theatre's "Hairspray," Surflight Theatre's "Grease" and Pushcart Players' "Alice in Wonderland." Christina Gordon received her Masters in Fine Arts from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University and toured with the Pushcart Players throughout Northern and Southern California. JD Lynch is a graduate of DeSales University with a degree in theatre/communications, and has performed extensively Off Broadway and throughout the country. Phebe Taylor is a company member of the Heartland Actors' Repertory Theatre and a frequent performer at the Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis. (Gogo and Taylor share their role, performing alternately.)

Paul Whelihan, Pushcart's artistic director, has directed, stage-managed and performed 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 Growing Stage, Luna Stage Company, Forum Cultural Arts Center, Quillo Arts Center, Dreamcatcher Rep) in musicals, dramas, original works and appears in locally produced television, film and web series projects.

Since it's founding in 1974, Pushcart Players has traveled over 2 million miles nationally and abroad, from the White House to the little red schoolhouse. Nominated for an Emmy©, the organization is the recipient of numerous state and private awards for excellence and innovation. Pushcart addresses social studies, literature, history, the autism spectrum, special educational needs and values clarification. All performances by professional artists and stage managers (Actors' Equity Association) are supported by study guides and other supplemental materials, and adapt to any location with innovative scenery, lighting and sound systems.

Tickets for the Friday, April 17th performances of "Stone Soup" at Queensborough PAC (222-05 56th Ave, Bayside, NY) can be reserved by calling 718.266.0202 or emailing info@aosny.com. Visit http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/qpac/childrenSeries.asp.

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.