Pushcart Players to Stage PETER AND THE WOLF at Chevron Family Theatre Festival

Pushcart Players, New Jersey's renowned touring theatre for young audiences will perform their beloved musical production, "Peter and the Wolf" on Saturday, July 16 at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. at The Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, CA. The performances are part of the Center's annual Chevron Family Theatre Festival, a day of affordable, high quality family entertainment.

"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 artistic director Paul Whelihan, who directed the production. "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!"

Pushcart Players co-founder, Ruth Fost wrote the book and lyrics, with original music and orchestrations to Prokofiev's score by Drama Desk and Tony Award-winner, Larry Hochman. The cast includes Megan Bussiere (Peter), Oscar Castillo (Grandfather), JD Lynch (Storyteller, Puppeteer) and Robyn Rosario (Wolf).

Megan Bussiere just returned from the Palace Theatre in New Hampshire where she performed in "Billy Elliot" (Dead Mum/Mrs. Wilkinson understudy) and "Singin' in the Rain" (ensemble/Kathy understudy). Other theatre credits include: "True Love" (P!nk workshop in NYC), "White Christmas" (Judy)," My One and Only" (ensemble), "Legally Blonde" (swing), and Tokyo Disneyland (www.meganbussiere.com). 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. Robyn Rosario originated the role of Maria in "I Got Fired" at NYMF and then went on to reprise the role at the Daegu Musical Theatre Festival in South Korea. She is also an accomplished voice over actor and can be heard on campaigns for Little Caesars Pizza among others. She performed with Pushcart Players for 10 years originating roles in the productions of "Cuentos Del Arbol" and "Stone Soup...and other stories."

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), "A Class Act" and a Tony nomination the Drama Desk Award for 2016's "She Loves Me." 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.

"Peter and the Wolf" will perform in the George & Sonja Vukasin Theatre at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, CA. General admission for all performances is $5. Tickets can be ordered by calling the box office at 925.943.7469 or online by visiting www.lesherartscenter.org (Chevron Family Theatre Festival).

Each year, Chevron Family Theatre Festival welcomes thousands of children and adults to enjoy more than two dozen professional performances in the Lesher Center's three theatres, in the lobbies and right outside. Out door events are free and all shows and events are appropriate for all ages. The art center is guided by Diablo Regional Arts Association (DRAA), whose mission is to achieve excellence by providing exceptional arts programming through the quality of Live Theatre, visual arts, and youth education. DRAA celebrates the diversity of the community, and provides avenues for enriching the interpretation and discovery of the arts.

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 and Facebook at www.facebook.com/pushcartplayers.

Photo Credit: David Crow Photography

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