(UNION, NJ) -- Pushcart Players, New Jersey’s renowned touring theater for young audiences presents “Ellis Island: Gateway to America” at Premiere Stages at Kean University on Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at 10:30am.  It is a spirited salute to the country in song, dance and story, designed to illustrate the struggles and achievements of past generations in preserving the freedoms enjoyed in the United States today.

The production takes a loving look at a small group of immigrants who came to America in 1903; they provide a symbolic representation of the many émigrés from a multitude of nations that have reached our shores. Prevailing themes throughout the presentation are the immigrant experience, ethnic diversity, and the precious legacy of freedom and democracy in America.

“This uplifting production celebrates people who came to this country seeking freedom, opportunity and a better life for themselves, their children and their children’s children,” said Paul Whelihan, artistic director. “But ‘…Gateway…’ goes on to explore some extraordinary events in American history impacted by some ordinary citizens. These include Industrialization, Unionization, our two World Wars, the roaring twenties, the Depression, FDR and the New Deal, life in the 1950’s and the Civil Rights Movement.”

Directed by Whelihan, the cast includes Stacie Gogo, Phebe Taylor, Joshua Wanger and Corey Whelihan. The production is written and designed by co-founder Ruth Fost. Original music is by Carole Wechter and orchestrations are by Tony Award-winner, Larry Hochman.

Stacie Gogo is a graduate of Wilkes University with a B.A. in Musical Theatre and a Minor in Dance. Gogo appeared Off-Broadway as a Kit Kat Girl in “Cabaret” at the Players Theatre, as Penny Pingleton in “Hairspray” at the Westchester Broadway Theatre, in the ensemble of “Grease!” at the Surflight Theatre, and in international tours.

Phebe Taylor was has been seen flying around as Peter in “Peter Pan” at Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre. She is a company member of the Heartland Actors’ Repertory Theatre in Indianapolis, where she appears in summer Shakespeare productions. Phebe is also a frequent performer at Indianapolis' Phoenix Theatre, in such shows as “Urinetown,” “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,” “The Zippers of Zoomerville,” “Boston Marriage,” “Peter and the Starcatcher,” and the National New Play Network's "Rolling World Premiere" of “End Days.”

Corey Whelihan is an alum of Ithaca College's BFA Acting program. He has appeared Off Broadway in the Pearl Theatre's production of The Winter's Tale and is a regular in the classical productions of Smith Street Stage in Brooklyn. He has also appeared nationally in Chamber Theater's touring production of Eureka! and with The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire in Manheim, PA.

Joshua Wanger received a bachelor of music degree in vocal performance from Westminster Choir College in 2013. During that summer, he performed with Westminster Choir, the choir in residence at Spoleto Festival USA, for the third and final time. Joshua worked for two years at the Juilliard School library before he was seen in A Little Night Music (Mr. Erlansen), Zuccotti Park(ensemble/cameraman), and a touring production of Skippyjon Jones: Snow What?! (Skippyjon).

Larry Hochman is the Tony Award-winner for orchestrations for “She Loves Me” (2016 revival) and Tony and Drama Desk award-winner 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) and “A Class Act.”  Larry was the orchestrator for the recent “Hello, Dolly!” revival starring Bette Midler, and composed additional music for Disney’s “Little Mermaid,’ for Stephen Spielberg’s “Amazing Stories” and for numerous celebrity concerts.  Hochman’s 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.”

Paul Whelihan directs, stage-manages and performs off-Broadway (47^th 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.

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 rural red schoolhouse to the nation’s White House.  All performances come with innovative scenery, complete lighting, and state of the art sound systems, making it adaptable to any location.

Premiere Stages at Kean University is located at 1000 Morris Avenue / Union, NJ. Tickets are $15 and can be reserved by calling the Kean Stage box office at 908-737-7469, or online at http://www.keanstage.com/event.