Premiere Stages to Welcome Pushcart Players, 7/29

Pushcart Players, New Jersey's Emmy-nominated and award-winning theater for young audiences performs "Alice in Wonderland" at Premiere Stages at Kean University on Wednesday, July 29 at 10:30 a.m.

"Alice in Wonderland" is re-imagined and designed by Pushcart Players co-founder Ruth Fost, and directed by artistic director Paul Whelihan. Filled with madcap characters and pure nonsense, this tale about a curious and proactive young girl has enchanted readers for many generations. Cleverly adapted from Lewis Carroll's classic books, Pushcart's musical boasts spectacular scenic elements, playfully designed puppets by Terrence P. Burnett, and whimsical orchestrations by Tony and Drama Desk award-winner Larry Hochman.

"'Alice...' is perhaps one of the best-known stories for children," said Whelihan. "People often view it as a 'girl's story' and mostly appropriate for 'little kids.' But it's so much more than that, especially with Pushcart's dynamic spin. Ours is a journey of adolescent discovery. It crosses gender and age lines, and is funny and thought-provoking all at once."

Pushcart has been stirring up serious fun for more than 4 decades. Since 1974, the company's traveled over 2 million miles nationally and abroad to serve more than 8 million children and their families with meaningful theater. From the White House in the nation's capital, to the little red schoolhouse in America's rural sprawl, Pushcart productions are noted for excellence and innovation. A troupe of professional Actors' Equity Association actors and stage managers perform.

The "Alice in Wonderland" cast includes Stacie Gogo (Alice), JD Lynch (Mad Hatter, et.al.), James Holden (Cheshire Cat, et.al.), and Ruth Simone (Red Queen, et.al.). Gogo has performed off-Broadway, in national tours and regionally. She played Penny Pingleton in Westchester Broadway Theatre's "Hairspray," and appeared in Surflight Theatre's "Grease." Lynch is a graduate of DeSales University with a degree in theatre/communications. He has performed extensively in shows Off Broadway and throughout the country.

James Holden recently played Uncle Ernie in West Virginia Public Theatre's production of "The Who's Tommy." In New York, he played the loveable cop, Flapjack in both "Doubles Crossed" and the sequel "Doubles Crossed: The Ballad of Rodrigo," both with Funny...Sheesh Productions. Holden can be seen on television in "Celebrity Ghost Stories," "I'd Kill for You," and "Redrum." Simone is a writer, director, designer and performer regionally and abroad. She appeared in the original production of "Kiss the Bride," by Premiere Stages' artistic director, John Wooten.

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 Growing Stage, Luna Stage Company, Forum Cultural Arts Center, Quillo Arts Center, Dreamcatcher Rep) in musicals, dramas, original works and in locally produced television, film and web series projects.

Ruth Fost creates the scripts, designs the sets, builds the costumes and inspires the company to discover new frontiers in educational theater. Susie Paplow choreographs "Alice in Wonderland." Paplow has created the dance for the majority of Pushcart's shows, and has performed with the company, as well as in theaters throughout the eastern seaboard.

Larry Hochman 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." Hochman recently returned for one performance to the orchestra of Broadway's revival of "Pippin," celebrating the 40th anniversary of his first "gig" in a Broadway pit!

Music for "Alice in Wonderland" is by Carole Wechter, a co-founder of Pushcart Players and the company's most prolific composer to date. Wechter was a singer and guitarist with a folk trio, and performed in regional theater before dedicating herself full-time to Pushcart for 16 years as a writer, composer, performer and administrator.

Pushcart Players' innovative scenery, complete lighting and sound systems make performances adaptable to any location. Study guides and other supplemental materials enhance the educational benefits. An illustrated book of "Pushcart's Alice in Wonderland" highlights the production's significant moments and offers further arts related activities (available on amazon.com).

Premiere Stages at Kean University is located at 1100 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ. Tickets for the Wednesday, July 29th performance at can be ordered online ( http://www.kean.edu/premierestages/) or by calling 908-737-SHOW (7469).

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