(VERONA, NJ) -- Pushcart Players has been an award-winning touring theater company specializing in arts education for children since 1974. Twice nominated for an Emmy, Pushcart is the recipient of numerous state and private awards for excellence and innovation. 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 little red schoolhouse to the White House. And now they're offering a video of one of their works, ELLIS ISLAND: Gateway to America, for free for a limited time.
"During this unprecedented and seemingly turbulent time, we're all experiencing how the things we do as a community to unite us are the very things that could now make us ill. Many of us are working remotely, our children are learning in virtual classrooms, and some of us are challenged with nurturing our creativity," wrote Ellen Beattie in an email to followers of the theater company.
This spirited musical production for family audiences takes a loving look at a small group of immigrants who come to the United States in 1903; they provide a symbolic representation of the many émigrés from a multitude of nations that have reached our shores. Their stories illustrate the struggles and achievements of past generations in creating and preserving the precious legacy of freedom and democracy in America.
Click here for the complete video recording of ELLIS ISLAND: Gateway to America.
"We encourage teachers to use the presentation and study guide for a lesson plan," continued Beattie. "We encourage families to watch and discuss the play together. Most importantly, we encourage you to take care of yourself and each other."
Pushcart Players' programs and services through May 2020 have been cancelled or postponed. While we know this is temporary, we do not know when programming will resume. In the meantime, Pushcart is determined to overcome the immediate challenges of the coming months, and looks forward to returning better than ever with extraordinary musical theater and innovative educational opportunities for young learners everywhere.
Pushcart Players addresses social studies, literature, history, the Autism spectrum, special educational needs, and values clarification for young people, their families and their educators. All performances by professional artists (Actors’ Equity Association) are supported by study guides, post-performance assessments and other supplemental materials, and adapt to any location with innovative scenery, lighting and sound systems. Pushcart has a substantive theater education program, providing in-school workshops, direction of student productions and curriculum development for elementary and middle schools. Among Pushcart cast members are experienced teaching artists, who provide workshops, acting classes and residency programs to schools, community centers and summer session programs.
