Freeholder Board's UCACT Program Supports New Musical WENDY'S SHADOW in Rahway

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to support Mystic Vision Players, a nonprofit community theatre organization based in Linden, in the world premiere of Wendy's Shadow at UCPAC's Hamilton Stage in Rahway next week, March 24-26.

"The Freeholder Board is proud to support the artistic talent of Union County organizations through the UCACT program," said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. "This production brings to the community a unique opportunity for Union County residents and guests to experience the world premiere of a new musical production."

In this world premiere production of Wendy's Shadow (book, music and lyrics by David Maglione with additional lyrics and material by Tomas Ruiz; and original concept by David Maglione and Tomas Ruiz), the mischievous and magical adventure of Peter Pan is retold from Wendy's grown-up perspective featuring a contemporary folk/rock score.

Under the visionary eye of director Mikaela Kafka, the superb cast, starring Michael Nigro (NBC's Sound of Music) as Peter, takes the audience back to Neverland - where dreams are born, and time is never planned - and asks if it's ever possible to truly leave the one you loved.

With energetic choreography that will leave you breathless created Amy Shera who returns to the project after directing the 2015 New York Musical Theatre Festival workshop production and soaring vocals expertly directed by graduating Kean senior Bruce De La Cruz, Wendy's Shadow promises to be a tour de force treat for the entire family.

"People are going to find something new in the way Wendy's Shadow presents this classic story," says producer, Howard Whitmore. "They are going to be moved."

Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders through the Union County Advancing Community Theatre (UCACT) program, the musical premiere of Wendy's Shadow, will run for four performances at UCPAC's Hamilton Stage from Thursday, March 24 through Saturday, March 26 at 8:00 p.m., with a second performance on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets visit ucpac.org or call the UCPAC box office at 732-499-8226.

The UCACT program launched in 2015 as a special initiative of Freeholder Mohamed S. Jalloh during his chairmanship and continues on the footsteps of last year's success, which included a diverse body of work including two original plays, a student production, a new community theatre organization, among others featuring the high-quality artistic talent of many Union County residents.

The UCACT program aims to provide a strategic platform to support the development of Union County's rich theatre talent by leveraging existing resources and broadening the definition of economic development and public recreation to include support for community theatre. For more information about UCACT visit ucnj.org/ucact.

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